Masks That Caught Death

What if laughter could trap death itself?On Korea's storm-battered southern coast, fishermen once faced a plague that fed on fear until a Dragon King appeared in dreams with an impossible prescription: carve five masks and laugh the darkness out. In this riveting exploration of the Ogwangdae myth, discover how a forgotten Korean ritual became the most subversive spiritual practice on earth transforming comedy into medicine, mockery into resistance, and wooden faces into vessels of divine rebellion. Drawing on the mythological insights of Korea, this book reveals how five sacred masks the Pompous Noble, the Hypocritical Monk, the Resilient Wife, the Oppressed Butcher, and the Truth-Telling Fool became Korea's secret weapon against occupation, despair, and death itself. You'll learn:Why joy is the oldest form of rebellionHow to laugh without malice (and why it matters)The spiritual power of not taking yourself seriouslyWhy indigenous wisdom knew what modern psychology is just discoveringPerfect for seekers of mythology, Korean culture enthusiasts, and anyone who suspects that the path to enlightenment might include a good belly laugh. Because sometimes the most sacred thing you can do is make fun of what's killing you.