Myths, legends, and folklore are more than incredible and magical stories and tales. They have a profound purpose in the human world. They explain how human beings perceived and tried to understand how our world operated. Myths give us insight into the working of the human mind from ancient times. Myths are timeless and offer guidance and solutions to many of our problems and misunderstandings. Korean mythology and folklore is full of gods, goddesses, and deities, drawn from the rich heritage of the primary belief systems. Known as "Shin," which means deity or spirit, they are supernatural beings endowed with the power to influence the human world. Shins are served by female shamans known as Mudang, especially during Gut or sacred rituals. Each god is given responsibility for a special area, although these vary depending on which version of the myth is being told.