Discover how a tyrant king’s brutal act and a shamanic ritual intersect in history, and what this reveals about imperial thinking, victimhood, and unresolved trauma in East Asia.👇
1. The Tyranny of Yeonsangun and Shamanic Iron Spike Beliefs
1.1. A Tragic Story: King Yeonsan and the House of Prince Wolsan
King Yeonsan is remembered as the most notorious tyrant of the Joseon Dynasty. His cruelty extended beyond governance into personal depravity. His uncle, Prince Wolsan, was a refined man of letters, known for his poetry and modesty. After Wolsan’s untimely death, his wife, Lady Park (Queen Consort of Seungpyeong), lived a life of virtuous widowhood and helped raise Yeonsan, whose mother was executed by King Seongjong.
Later, as king, Yeonsan allegedly raped Lady Park—his own aunt by marriage and surrogate mother. Some sources describe this as rumor or court gossip, but the symbolic violence remains deeply unsettling. Whether driven by emotional deficiency, power obsession, or a distorted longing for maternal connection, Yeonsan’s abuse aligned with his history of targeting widows and older women for domination.
1.2. Haunting Dreams and the Iron Spike Ritual
According to unofficial histories (*yasa*), Yeonsan began having nightmares in which Prince Wolsan’s spirit tormented him in retribution. In response, Yeonsan committed a shocking act: he ordered a massive iron spike to be driven vertically into Wolsan’s tomb.
This was not random vandalism—it was based on a widespread shamanic belief that driving metal into spiritually significant ground could sever the flow of *gi* (energy), thereby neutralizing a vengeful spirit or cursed location. Such acts were seen as metaphysical warfare, intended to suppress the dead and reclaim peace for the living.
1.3. Iron as a Weapon in Korean Folk Religion
The idea of “piercing” energy lines with iron is common in Korean folk spirituality. Metal was believed to disrupt spiritual currents and was often used to block negative energy or disable sacred energies when misused. Thus, Yeonsan’s spike wasn’t merely symbolic—it was a targeted spiritual assault using deeply rooted cultural logic.
1.4. Japanese Parallels and Lingering Suspicions
Fast forward to the 20th century. During Japan’s occupation of Korea, a popular belief arose that Japanese authorities drove iron spikes into sacred mountains and royal tombs to “cut” Korea’s spiritual lifelines. While investigations in the 1990s revealed many such spikes were for mundane uses (military training, surveying, or trail safety), some unexplained instances—especially large, deeply embedded spikes in spiritually significant areas—remain suspicious.
Given Japan's historical cruelty, including Unit 731’s atrocities, it’s not irrational for Koreans to suspect symbolic violence as part of colonial control. However, definitive proof linking iron spikes to deliberate spiritual sabotage by Japan remains elusive.
2. Shamanism, Empire, and the Psychology of Domination
2.1. The Imperial Assumption: Enemies as Passive Targets
Yeonsan's act of driving a spike into his uncle’s tomb reflects a tyrant's mindset: dominate everything, even the dead. This logic extended into Japan’s imperial era. One recurring flaw of failed empires is underestimating their opponents—treating them like punching bags (*sandbags*) that won't resist.
Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor was never meant to start a full-scale war. It was a calculated gamble to shake U.S. naval power and push for favorable negotiations. But Japan misjudged the U.S. response—America declared war immediately, shattering Japan’s assumptions.
2.2. Nuclear Aftermath and Victimhood Performance
After suffering two atomic bombings, Japan adopted a narrative of total victimhood. This "nuclear hedge" became a psychological buffer, emphasizing Japan’s suffering while obscuring its own imperial aggression. For decades, Japanese society has subtly promoted the idea of being a victim of war—sometimes even demanding an apology from the U.S.
However, the U.S. saw Japan’s total resistance strategy (one hundred million dying together) as necessitating overwhelming force. The bombings were not about annihilation, but psychological collapse. Ironically, Japan survived as a people because of the very act it now uses to construct its victim identity.
2.3. Suppression of Truth and the Danger of Myth
Like Yeonsan silencing Wolsan's ghost with a spike, Japan’s post-war strategy has often been to suppress uncomfortable truths about its imperial past. This creates distorted memories and perpetuates myths—both personal and national—that hinder reconciliation and maturity.
3. Conclusion: Spikes, Spirits, and Historical Reckoning
Yeonsan’s desecration of Wolsan’s tomb reveals how power, guilt, and fear intertwine in history. His use of an iron spike wasn’t random—it reflected a cultural logic shared by tyrants and empires alike: if you cannot face your guilt, drive a spike through its memory.
This same psychology appears in Japan’s imperial legacy and its post-war identity. The lesson is clear: spiritual or historical wounds cannot be buried by force. They require truth, accountability, and the courage to confront the past—not just for the sake of justice, but to prevent history from repeating itself in more insidious forms.
