Quick rundown of Hunter Lore in KPDH Reverse AU:
The demon hunting organization (or hunter clan) was founded during the Three Kingdoms Periods of Korean history, based from the Silla Kingdom (which is South Korea in current times).
The demon hunters started from an elite organization of warriors known as the Hwarang (화랑; “Flowering Knights” or “Flowering Youths”), who were men who would adorn themselves with visual-striking and intricate clothes (as well forms of armor like plate armor and lamellar armor and even fish-scale armor) and makeup (historically, they would wear white face makeup for a fairer complexion and red eyeshadow), and accessories such as gold earrings.
Silla Period - Gold earrings
Historically, the hunters would wear headbands as part of their distinctive look, which involved letting their long hair hang loose as opposed to being in a topknot secured by a headband (manggeon) that most Joseon men had. The headbands were meant to prevent their long hair from falling in their faces, and to distinguish them from other warriors.
They would also carry incense with them, which both contributed to their reputation of being associated with beauty and refinement, as well as a part of their religious/ritualistic use such as purification, creating a more harmonious atmosphere, and repelling of negative energies/harmful spirits if the right herbs are burned.
With this in mind, the hunters would traditionally carry hyangnang (miniature pouches that carry incense) with them.
In addition, the original hunters had waist pendants (as this was the archetype of norigae during the Silla Period), that were passed down through the generations of hunters. Serving as magical pendants that enhanced a hunter’s power, and allowed them to channel the Honmoon’s magic and the souls’ of those around them (like their fans) better.
Historical hyangnang & several norigae
The men were trained in both music such as singing and dancing, as well as martial arts, archery, swordsmanship, horse riding, and religious/spiritual practices such as that of Korean Buddhism and Korean shamanism. They served as warriors, scholars, artists, and spiritual leaders within their community.
With the founding of the first group of hunters, the Honmoon was created, and from then on, new hunters would be chosen (selected for their potential) and trained by the current generation to safeguard and maintain the Honmoon. Keeping the human world free of demons and Gwi-Ma’s influence.
The hunters would live communally with their own groups, which were often led by one of their members, which made for the formation of groups that had strong camaraderie between them. And this in turn, helped the hunters unify not just themselves but others as well.
After hunters reach a certain age, they subsequently retire from hunting (and idol life) to pursue other careers, but many would keep their ties to the hunter organization. And many would still maintain their hunter skills even after retiring.
One of the hunters’ most integral mantras was: “We are hunters, voices strong. Slaying demons with our song. Fix the world and make it right. When darkness finally meets the light”. (Basically the same as in the movie)
To the public, the hunters would be k-pop idols, but they would secretly be demon hunters meant to empower the Honmoon with the souls of their fans (by unifying all of them with their music), and prevent demons from taking souls to Gwi-Ma by killing them.
The nangdo (낭도) who were members from the public who became the disciples/students (and followers) of the hunters. And they were trained by the hunters, and were meant to replace the older generation of hunters once they retired. In the past, the students were often boys from elite families, but the organization also had its doors open to boys from commoner families.
During their hunter training, a hunter’s student will discover their choice of weapon (which they can summon from the energy that makes up the Honmoon).
It is common for a hunter’s weapon to change, up until they find their “perfect fit” of a weapon. Some discover it almost immediately, while others struggle and take longer to figure it out.
Additionally, the future hunters will engage in numerous training exercises that are essential for increasing cooperation within their group, as camaraderie is the main basis of a team formation.
All recent generations of hunters were required to learn Hwarang-do, a martial art based on the martial arts used by the first hunters in their history, as a part of their hunter training. (Note: the actual irl modern art of hwarangdo was developed in 1960s by two brothers)
While in current times, the hunters have an ideology of “kill all demons, no matter what” in the past, the hunters had a rule that prevented them from killing indiscriminately and unnecessary violence. However, this rule has long since been skewed as the hatred the hunters felt for Gwi-Ma and all demons corroded this aspect of the hunter code. This was mainly caused by a certain event in hunter history when a hunter and a demon fell in love and had a child. Which was thought by the hunters at that time to be one of their own having been enthralled by the enemy (or conspiring with the enemy) and allowing Gwi-Ma to “infiltrate” their ranks.
Resulting in a new integrated belief in the hunter organization that all demons must die, with no expectations, which was later passed down through generations all the way to the current generation of hunters (the Saja Boys).
There is also a belief of needing to hide all faults and fears for the sake of preserving the Honmoon (much like in the movie). This has also caused a sense of needed perfection to subtly find its way into the hunter organization as well, resulting in added pressure on its hunters.
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