Bulgae

Region: East Asia
Location:Korea (mythological celestial realms)

Bulgae are fiery, supernatural dogs from Korean mythology, originating in the realm of the underworld kingdom known as Gamangnara. According to legend, the king of this dark world desired the light of the sun and moon. He sent his hounds — massive, black or red-furred dogs with burning eyes and bodies made of embers — to chase and capture these celestial lights. When the Bulgae attempted to bite the sun, its heat scorched them, leaving their fur smoldering and their bodies aflame. Their attempts to seize the moon resulted in cool burn scars that gave them a ghostly glow.
  Some legends use the Bulgae to explain eclipses. During a solar or lunar eclipse, people believed the Bulgae were attempting once again to take the celestial bodies, partially swallowing or covering them. The myth gave shape to the fear and awe surrounding sudden changes in the sky. The dogs’ failure — always burned or blinded by the brilliance of their prey — portrayed them as tragic figures, creatures of darkness yearning for light they could never hold.
  Bulgae also appear symbolically in Korean art and folklore as embodiments of relentless pursuit. They are not evil beings but servants of a misguided master, driven to chase something impossible. Their burning bodies illuminate the night sky in stories, appearing as streaks of fire or glowing shapes. Though less common in modern storytelling than other yokai or spirits, the Bulgae remain a vivid mythic explanation for celestial events and the cycle of light and shadow.

World
Koina
Owner
kaixabu
Views
5
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

The spark is human. The polish is digital.

 

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