Goblin Mangwa — Fierce Face, Friendly Side

This time, a fierce face. The bulging eyes have pierced pupils, the eyebrows and whiskers are twisted on like rope, and three horn-like peaks rise above the head — a goblin mangwa that glared down evil spirits from the end of the roof ridge.

The mangwa is the roof’s talisman. Perched at the very end of the tiled ridge where the house meets the sky, it turned away bad fortune and fire. The scarier the face, the better it worked, people believed — so this ferocity is, strictly speaking, proof of diligence. Look closely, though, and the drooping corners of the mouth seem faintly aggrieved; it is less frightening than endearing.

It is the exact opposite in temperament to the gentle, cat-like mangwa we introduced earlier. Mild faces and fierce ones — the roofs of Joseon housed guardians of many characters.

Today it belongs on a bookshelf or by the entryway. Given its résumé of repelling evil, it stands reassuringly facing the door — and it is a face every guest ends up talking to at least once.

Related Objects in Museum Collections

A few related objects found on Korea’s e-Museum by searching for “망와”. Comparing their forms is a quiet pleasure.

Reference images: e-Museum (emuseum.go.kr), National Museum of Korea — the holding institution is noted in each caption. Click an image to open the museum record.

Fierce as it looks, this face was on our side from beginning to end.