The last fallen moon vol.., p.30
The Last Fallen Moon (Volume 2), page 30
We will be prepared.
Korean beliefs around the afterlife vary greatly, having been influenced over time by many different cultures and customs, from its shamanistic roots and ancestor-worship rituals, to Buddhism that entered into Korea from India via China, and, more recently, by Christianity and the Western world.
I have always been fascinated by these beliefs, in particular the more traditional rituals, like the sasipgujae. Literally the forty-nine-day rite, it involves seven ceremonies held over a forty-nine-day period, once every seven days, by the bereaved’s close family. The last of the seven ceremonies is the largest and most important, in which even the extended family take part, where they burn ceremonial clothing, give prayer, bow, and offer food to the spirit of the deceased.
The ritual embodies the idea that all souls go through an interim period between life and death, in which they are sent to the seven stages of hell to be judged on how they lived their lives. The result of these seven trials—each one lasting one week (hence the forty-nine days)—will determine what kind of new life they will be reincarnated into. The weekly ceremonies are believed to help the soul as they make their way through this journey—the food offerings keeping them fed, and the family’s prayers cheering them on.
While the types of hells/trials seem to vary depending on the source, the spiritual significance of the forty-nine-day period is widely accepted. Even those who don’t believe in the sasipgujae may appreciate the way the rite provides a structured approach to mourning. Interestingly, in traditional Korean burial custom, the body is bound from head to foot with shrouds in seven layers, and bound with ropes seven times. It is believed that this will enable the soul to have a clean, new outfit for each of their seven trials. Fancy that!
The sasipgujae was my inspiration for the Spiritrealm in The Last Fallen Moon, mixed in with a good dollop of my imagination. I hope you enjoyed Riley’s journey to the afterlife even without this explanation, but equally, that this insight gives you additional appreciation of her adventures.
There is such beauty in the diversity of beliefs about the afterlife. But regardless of the mystery that awaits, perhaps the most magical of all is knowing that there is one thing that is guaranteed for all of us—that is, our present moment, in the right here and now.
annyeong (AHN-yong) the Korean word for hello and also for good-bye (the informal version you use for people you’re close with, normally of the same age).
annyeong haseyo (AHN-yong hah-say-yo) the Korean word for hello and also for good-bye (the formal, polite version you use for adults or people you don’t know).
“Arirang” (AH-ri-rahng) a Korean folk song that is often considered to be the anthem of Korea.
baduk (BAH-dook) a strategy board game played on a grid with small black and white stones. The aim of the game is to take over as much of the board as you can. Appa calls it Korean people’s chess.
banchan (BAHN-chahn) small side dishes on a Korean meal table that you eat with a bowl of hot rice. Gimchi is the most typical example of banchan.
bingsu (BEENG-soo) a shaved-ice dessert with yummy toppings like chewy rice cakes, sweet red beans, and condensed milk.
binyeo (BEE-nyo) a traditional Korean hairpin that kind of looks like a fat needle with an ornament on one end that’s used to keep your bun in place.
boricha (BOH-ree-chah) a nutty, toasty tea made by steeping roasted barley in water. You can have it hot or cold. Lots of Korean homes drink it as a replacement for water.
chadolbaegi (CHAH-DOLL-baggy) really thinly shaved beef brisket that’s a staple in Korean BBQ. It’s extra nommy when dipped in sesame oil with salt and pepper. Anyone hungry?
Cheondang (CHONE-dahng) the Korean word for heaven.
Cheongyang (CHONG-yahng) a super-spicy variety of chili pepper that comes from Cheongyang County in South Korea.
Cheonyeo Gwisin (CHONE-yo GWEE-sheen) the creepy ghost of a woman who died as an unmarried virgin. Whatever you do, don’t google it.
Chonggak Gwisin (CHONG-gahk GWEE-sheen) the creepy ghost of a man who died as an unmarried bachelor. Sometimes people organize wedding rituals to marry a Cheonyeo Gwisin with a Chonggak Gwisin so they might find marital bliss in death. True story.
Chuseok (CHOO-sock) a harvest festival and a three-day holiday that falls over autumn. Eomma calls it Korean Thanksgiving Day.
Dalgyal Gwisin (DAHL-gyahl GWEE-sheen) literally egg ghost in Korean. A scary, featureless ghost who haunts poor, unassuming kids. Honestly, don’t look this up.
haenyeo (HEH-nyo) literally sea woman in Korean. A community of incredible traditional women divers, some in their late eighties or older, who don’t even use oxygen masks. They’re basically real-life mermaids.
harabeoji (HAH-rah-boh-jee) Korean for grandfather.
hell gavel a small hammer with bronze bells used by the seven judges of hell to sentence a soul to their hell prison.
hobak-juk (HOE-BUCK-jook) a thick pumpkin pudding that’s sweet and creamy, sometimes with chewy bits of rice cakes hidden inside like surprise jewels.
hyeokdae (HYOCK-day) a traditional Korean waist belt lined with jade, worn by a king.
ikseongwan (EEK-song-gwahn) a traditional Korean black velvet crown worn by a king that kind of looks like an equestrian hat, but with an extra bump and small Mickey Mouse ears at the back. It’s so cute.
imugi (EE-moo-ghee) a creature that is part snake, part yong. The original imugi was a snake who failed Mago Halmi’s assignment to become a yong (aka dragon), and then got stuck as a weird snake-yong hybrid for the rest of its days.
ineo (EE-naw) a creature that is half human, half fish. They are the Korean cousins of the Western merpeople, but they prefer the term ineo.
japchae (JAHP-chay) a dish of glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables and often, strips of beef. Interesting fact: the glass noodles are made from sweet potatoes.
jeokseok (JOCK-sock) traditional Korean red boots secured with ankle ribbons that were worn by the king.
Jiok (JEE-yock) the Korean word for hell.
Jokbo (JOCK-boh) the genealogy book for all humanity, made from the Tree of Life. Mago Halmi used her own blood and sweat to inscribe the names of every soul she brought into the world on it. It’s also the word used for individual families’ genealogy books.
KakaoTalk a mobile messaging app for smartphones that’s popular in the Korean community, and in particular among the gifted community. Often informally referred to as KaTalk.
naengmyeon (NAYNG-myon) a yummy soup of icy-cold buckwheat noodles, topped with boiled egg, cucumber, and pickled radish. Literally the best thing to eat on a hot summer’s day.
Nuguseyo? (noo-goo-say-yo) Korean for Who are you?
Pepero long skinny chocolate-covered pretzel sticks that are totally addictive. The Horangi HQ has a vending machine filled with all the newest, coolest flavors.
River of Reincarnation the river that runs through the Spiritrealm that is the literal path that souls take to be reborn into their new lives. It’s also the main water supply that flows into the homes of Cheondang and services the hells and businesses of Jiok.
Saint Heo Jun the patriarch of traditional Korean medicine, and one of the most celebrated Gom healers in history. He was appointed as a court physician for King Seonjo in the Joseon Dynasty at the young age of twenty-nine, and now lives in the heavenly borough of the Spiritrealm helping heal the imprisoned souls of hell for all eternity.
salmosa a divine tiger serpent created by the Mountain Tiger Goddess, using her own arm. Its poison is so lethal, it has been known to wipe out entire civilizations. It’s also the name of one of the most venomous snakes in South Korea.
Seollal (SOUL-lahl) Korean New Year; it falls on the first day of the Korean lunar calendar (which means it changes in date every year).
sirutteok (SHEE-ROO-ddok) steamed rice cakes, most often topped with sweet red beans. They’re chewy and delicious but not too sweet. We get them from H-Mart, but I hear they were traditionally made by steaming sweet rice flour in a siru (a large earthenware vessel used for steaming), which gives sirutteok its name.
Soup of Forgetting the soup that souls need to consume before getting on the ferry of rebirth. This dish wipes souls’ memories before they’re ferried into their new lives. It’s their last meal in the Spiritrealm, and what allows them to have a clean slate of memories in their new mortal life.
Spiritrealm the realm all gifted people go to when they die. The place is split into two main boroughs: Jiok (aka hell), and Cheondang (aka heaven). You have to go through hell—or hells, if you’re unlucky—before you get to heaven. But the idea is that eventually, everyone gets to enjoy Cheondang for as long as you want. Then when you’re ready, you get to be reincarnated into a whole new life up in the Mortalrealm. It’s the circle of life.
Spring of Eternal Life the liquid of life that flows into the River of Reincarnation and allows for the cycle of rebirth. It powers the current in the river that leads up to the Mortalrealm, but it’s also used to make the Soup of Forgetting, and has powerful medicinal properties that, if prepared and consumed in the right way, can cure suffering—completely and forever. Powerful stuff.
sujeongga (SOO-jong-gah) sweet cinnamon punch, sometimes with delicious pine nuts and chopped dates sprinkled inside. So, so good, people.
yakgwa (YAHG-gwah) traditional fried Korean cookies made with honey and ginger syrup. They’re sweet and slightly chewy, and often made in pretty flower shapes.
yeo-ui-ju (YAW-ee-joo) the pearl of wisdom that some believe can grant immortality, or carry the knowledge of the universe. It’s the stuff of legend, though, because we mortals have never had it in our possession to know for sure.
Yonggung (YONG-goong) the third underwater borough of the Spiritrealm that many don’t even realize exists. Also sometimes known as the Dragon Palace.
Yongwang (YONG-wahng) the Dragon King, the ruler of the rivers and seas, and the younger cousin of the Water Dragon Goddess.
I have been struck so many times in the past few years just how many hands are involved in the birth of a book. I am going to attempt to thank as many of those people here, but I am conscious there are many others who have been integral to The Last Fallen Moon that I haven’t had the chance to know. To those of you I might have missed—I’m so sorry. Please know that I am eternally grateful for you.
First, my love and admiration to my editors, Rebecca Kuss, Stephanie Lurie, and Rick Riordan. I still don’t understand what I did to deserve such a team of brilliant minds. I thank Mago every single day that I get to work with you all. Thank you to the Spiritrealm and back!
To Carrie Pestritto, who always pushed me to be the best I can be. I’m still spinning from the day we realized that I was a Korean author working with a Korean agent and Korean editor on a Korean mythology–inspired book. Representation matters today and every day, and I’m so blessed to be sharing this journey with the both of you.
To my agent, Jodi Reamer, for believing in me and for jumping on this moving bus. I can’t wait to see what magic we’ll be cooking up together!
To my publisher, Kieran Viola; copy chief Guy Cunningham and his copyediting staff; creative director Joann Hill; production director Marybeth Tregarthen and her production group; school and library marketing director Dina Sherman and LaToya Maitland; publicity director Seale Ballenger; Holly Nagel, Andrew Sansone, Danielle DiMartino, Jennifer Chan, and Kyle Wilson; and all the other awesome folks in the marketing, publicity, and sales teams at Disney—thank you for enduring my endless questions, and for always having so much time for me. Your creativity knows no bounds, and I hope I can show you around Cheondang one day. :)
A huge thank-you to my Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Hachette teams, especially to Melanee Winder, Maiko Lenting-Lu, Alison Shucksmith, Tania Mackenzie-Cooke, Suzy Maddox, Sacha Beguely, Dom Visini, Sharon Galey, and Avoka Faualo in the Auckland wha¯nau. I still think you have the coolest digs!
A special shout-out to Vivienne To, who is not only the talented cover artist for the Gifted Clans series but also a dear friend of mine. Viv, get on a plane so we can go get some kai!
My heartfelt gratitude to Veronica Kim, who prepared the accompanying educator’s guides for the series. Thank you for injecting so much attention and care into the materials. I know readers are going to love them.
A million hugs to Kat Cho, Zoraida Córdova, J. Elle, Jessica Kim, Axie Oh, Ellen Oh, and Linda Sue Park for taking time from their busy schedules to read and blurb The Last Fallen Star. I never got to thank you, and the back cover of the book is a masterpiece thanks to your kind words.
A huge thank-you to Karina Evans, Karah Sutton, and Swati Teerdhala for being such generous and insightful critique partners. You always see my words at their worst, and yet you still read them. I appreciate the hells out of you.
To J. Elle, for all the Whatsapp calls and messages, for not letting me forget my vision and dreams. You are everything. To Tracy Deonn and Jen Cervantes for letting me stand on your lofty shoulders. And to Julie Abe for riding the fellow writing-mama wave with me. What a wild ride.
To Giulia Mazzola, for being the best inner forest guide—your voice on the other line was my healing balm so many of those nights. To Tehlor Kay Mejia, Lori Lee, and Roshani Chokshi for all the uplifting chin-wags. Heart you ladies so much. And to Jamie Vulinovich (aka my half orange) for always being up for a couples massage and shared plates—LLYT, Jmejam.
My inner circle, my kimchingoos, Jessica Kim, Grace Shim, Sarah Suk, and Susan Lee—thank you for always being there to share my tears of joy and disappointment. The fact that it rains mochi donuts every first Friday of the month in Cheondang is no accident. Also, the H-Mart is for you. You’re welcome.
To my two sets of parents, both born and gained; and to my gang of sisters and brothers, also born and gained—thank you for being my most fervent cheerleaders, and for being the inspiration behind Riley’s family. Your love is the engine that powers her story, and your well of support keeps me hydrated and hopeful, even in the driest of droughts.
A special mention to my little mandu, our fierce little human, who inspires me to be a better person every day. You chose a calligraphy brush at your doljabi, so perhaps you’ll pen your own heart stories one day? May you grow up to find beauty and meaning in all that you seek.
And of course, to the love of my life, and apparently, the love of all my previous lives. I still can’t believe we drowned on a ship together…?! May our future lives involve less tragic ends, but just as much adventure as our present. Your face makes me so happy. I love you then, now, and always.
A humongous thank-you to all the amazing booksellers, librarians, teachers, parents and guardians, aunties and uncles, bloggers, bookstagrammers, booktubers, booktokers, reviewers, fan artists, meme creators, and the rest of the hype team for sharing the Gifted Clans series with your people. You are the reason I keep getting to do what I love.
Finally, to you, my beloved readers. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to each one of you who took the time to write to me, and to share your thoughts about The Last Fallen Star. They were, and continue to be, the highlight of my writing life, and I am so incredibly grateful for you. I hope I have made you proud with the second installment of Riley’s journey.
As the Haetae wrote in his note to Riley: Our choices define us, but it’s our actions that define our choices. We all have the power to take small actions, each and every day, that over time can become defining choices that empower our lives. Real magic lives in those tiny, fleeting moments, and they’re kindled by the people we choose to stand with. Thank you for standing by my side.
As always, this book is for you.
GRACI KIM is the best-selling author of The Last Fallen Star, the first book in the Gifted Clans trilogy. A Korean Kiwi diplomat turned author, Graci writes about the magic she wants to see in the world. In a previous life she used to be a cooking-show host, and she once ran a business that turned children’s drawings into cuddly toys. When she’s not lost in her imagination, you’ll find Graci drinking flat whites, eating ramyeon, and most likely hugging a dog (or ideally, many). She lives in New Zealand with her husband and daughter. Follow her on Twitter @GraciKim and Instagram @GraciKimWrites and find her at www.GraciKim.com.
RICK RIORDAN, dubbed “storyteller of the gods” by Publishers Weekly, is the author of five New York Times #1 best-selling series, including Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which brings Greek mythology to life for contemporary readers. Millions of fans across the globe have enjoyed his fast-paced and funny quest adventures. The goal of Rick Riordan Presents is to publish highly entertaining books by authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds, to allow them to tell their own stories inspired by the mythology, folklore, and culture of their heritage. Rick’s Twitter handle is @RickRiordan.
Graci Kim, The Last Fallen Moon (Volume 2)
