"Krsnik" redirects here. For the Slavic deity, see Krsnik (deity).
A krsnik (female: krsnica[1][2]) or kresnik is a type of vampire hunter, a shaman whose spirit wanders from the body in the form of an animal. The krsnik turns into an animal at night to fight off the kudlak, his evil vampire antithesis, with the krsnik appearing as a white animal and the kudlak as a black one.[3] The krsnik's soul leaves the body, either voluntarily or due to a higher power, to fight evil agents and ensure good harvest, health, and happiness.[4]
The legend evolved from a pre-Christian myth present in Slovenia and Croatia (mainly Istria and the islands), where the celestial pagan god Perun is locked in eternal combat with the evil snake of the underworld, Veles.[2] The krsnik is taught magic by Vile (fairies),[5] and in traditional medicine has the ability to heal people and cattle.[2] However, due to the undocumented nature of oral tradition, it's difficult to determine with certainty how much of kresnik folklore originated from Slavic mythology, and how much arose from a separate shamanistic tradition.[6] After Christianization, the kresnik instead was claimed to have learned magic at the School of Black Magic in Babylon, but retained benevolent traits as a generous and powerful friend of the poor.[7]
The origin of the name may be from the word krst, which means "cross",[3] and which in Serbia is the word for a stone sign denoting village boundaries.[4] It may also be derived from the same root as the Slav word for "resurrection,"[7] so that the word itself means something approximating "resurrector."[5]
Similar beliefs circulated among the Italian Benandanti cult.
In the novel, anime, and manga series Trinity Blood, a "Crusnik" is a vampire that feeds on the blood of other vampires. Lilith Sahl, Cain, Seth, and Abel Nightroad are Crusnik who are much more powerful than regular vampires, who have the bacillus kudlak. They all take different forms: Cain appears as an angel with white wings, even though he is the antagonist, whereas Abel appears slightly demonic with black wings and red eyes, while being the protagonist. Kudlak also appears in the series as a bacillus that is responsible of the creation of "normal" vampires.
Kresnik and Kudlak are recurring characters in the Shin Megami Tensei series of video games.
Kresnik is the name of a mythological hero in Tales of Xillia. A superweapon bearing the name "Lance of Kresnik" is a plot device. The sequel features one of the hero's descendants, named Ludger Will Kresnik. A plot-significant machine named Kudlak is also present.
The main villain in Darkness Hunts by Keri Arthur is a male serial killer who believes he is a kresnik hunting down supposed kudlaks and murdering them.
Kudlak appears as a card in the online collectible card gameShadowverse. The mechanics of the card allow copies of Kudlak to be placed in the player’s deck after his defeat, which mirrors the theme of Kudlak’s recurring return.
^Nada Kerševan, Vəkuli riti v garžet: Zgodbe s Kraškega roba do Brkinov, Sežane in Razdrtega, 2016, ISBN9612548889, p.75
^ abcVinšćak, Tomo (December 2005). "On "Štrige", "Štriguni" and "Krsnici" on Istrian Peninsula". Studia ethnologica Croatica. 17 (1): 221–235.
^ abPerkowski, Jan L. (1989). The Darkling: A Treatise on Slavic Vampirism. Columbus, Ohio: Slavica Publishers. pp. 31–32. ISBN978-0-89357-200-6.
^ abŠmitek, Zmago (December 2005). "Shamanism on Slovenian Territory? Dilemmas Concerning the Phenomena of Shamanism, Spirit Possession and Ecstasy". Studia ethnologica Croatica. 17 (1): 171–198.
^Šmitek, Zmago (1998). "Kresnik: An Attempt at Mythological Reconstruction" (PDF). Studia Mythologica Slavica. 1: 93–118. doi:10.3986/sms.v1i0.1867.
^ abCopeland, Fanny S. (April 1933). "Slovene Myths". The Slavonic and East European Review. 11 (33): 631–651. JSTOR 4202822.
Further readingEdit
Bošković-Stulli, Maja (1960). "Kresnik—Krsnik, ein Wesen aus der kroatischen und slovenischen Volksüberlieferung". Fabula (in German). 3 (2): 275–298. doi:10.1515/fabl.1960.3.2.275.
Bošković-Stulli, Maja, et al. “SULLE ORME DEL KRESNIK E DEL BENANDANTE”. In: Lares, vol. 69, no. 3, 2003, pp. 607–38. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26233898. Accessed 28 Apr. 2023.
Šešo, Luka; Polonijo, Ivana (Translator). "O krsniku: od tradicijske pojave u predajama do stvarnog iscjelitelja" [Krsnik: from Tradition to Actual Healing]. In: Studia ethnologica Croatica 14/15 (2003): 23-53.
Vinšćak, Tomo. "O štrigama, štrigunima i krsnicima u Istri" [On Štrige, Štriguni and Krsnici on Istrian Peninsula]. In: Studia ethnologica Croatica 17 (2005): 221-235.
August 27, 2023
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Krsnik redirects here For the Slavic deity see Krsnik deity A krsnik female krsnica 1 2 or kresnik is a type of vampire hunter a shaman whose spirit wanders from the body in the form of an animal The krsnik turns into an animal at night to fight off the kudlak his evil vampire antithesis with the krsnik appearing as a white animal and the kudlak as a black one 3 The krsnik s soul leaves the body either voluntarily or due to a higher power to fight evil agents and ensure good harvest health and happiness 4 The legend evolved from a pre Christian myth present in Slovenia and Croatia mainly Istria and the islands where the celestial pagan god Perun is locked in eternal combat with the evil snake of the underworld Veles 2 The krsnik is taught magic by Vile fairies 5 and in traditional medicine has the ability to heal people and cattle 2 However due to the undocumented nature of oral tradition it s difficult to determine with certainty how much of kresnik folklore originated from Slavic mythology and how much arose from a separate shamanistic tradition 6 After Christianization the kresnik instead was claimed to have learned magic at the School of Black Magic in Babylon but retained benevolent traits as a generous and powerful friend of the poor 7 The origin of the name may be from the word krst which means cross 3 and which in Serbia is the word for a stone sign denoting village boundaries 4 It may also be derived from the same root as the Slav word for resurrection 7 so that the word itself means something approximating resurrector 5 Similar beliefs circulated among the Italian Benandanti cult Contents 1 In popular culture 2 See also 3 References 4 Further readingIn popular culture EditIn the novel anime and manga series Trinity Blood a Crusnik is a vampire that feeds on the blood of other vampires Lilith Sahl Cain Seth and Abel Nightroad are Crusnik who are much more powerful than regular vampires who have the bacillus kudlak They all take different forms Cain appears as an angel with white wings even though he is the antagonist whereas Abel appears slightly demonic with black wings and red eyes while being the protagonist Kudlak also appears in the series as a bacillus that is responsible of the creation of normal vampires Kresnik and Kudlak are recurring characters in the Shin Megami Tensei series of video games Kresnik is the name of a mythological hero in Tales of Xillia A superweapon bearing the name Lance of Kresnik is a plot device The sequel features one of the hero s descendants named Ludger Will Kresnik A plot significant machine named Kudlak is also present The main villain in Darkness Hunts by Keri Arthur is a male serial killer who believes he is a kresnik hunting down supposed kudlaks and murdering them Kudlak appears as a card in the online collectible card game Shadowverse The mechanics of the card allow copies of Kudlak to be placed in the player s deck after his defeat which mirrors the theme of Kudlak s recurring return See also EditKresnik deity Vampire hunter Vedmak Wendigo hunter ZduhacReferences Edit Nada Kersevan Vekuli riti v garzet Zgodbe s Kraskega roba do Brkinov Sezane in Razdrtega 2016 ISBN 9612548889 p 75 a b c Vinscak Tomo December 2005 On Strige Striguni and Krsnici on Istrian Peninsula Studia ethnologica Croatica 17 1 221 235 a b Perkowski Jan L 1989 The Darkling A Treatise on Slavic Vampirism Columbus Ohio Slavica Publishers pp 31 32 ISBN 978 0 89357 200 6 a b Smitek Zmago December 2005 Shamanism on Slovenian Territory Dilemmas Concerning the Phenomena of Shamanism Spirit Possession and Ecstasy Studia ethnologica Croatica 17 1 171 198 a b Copeland F S December 31 1931 Slovene Folklore Folklore 42 4 405 446 doi 10 1080 0015587x 1931 9718415 JSTOR 1256300 Smitek Zmago 1998 Kresnik An Attempt at Mythological Reconstruction PDF Studia Mythologica Slavica 1 93 118 doi 10 3986 sms v1i0 1867 a b Copeland Fanny S April 1933 Slovene Myths The Slavonic and East European Review 11 33 631 651 JSTOR 4202822 Further reading EditBoskovic Stulli Maja 1960 Kresnik Krsnik ein Wesen aus der kroatischen und slovenischen Volksuberlieferung Fabula in German 3 2 275 298 doi 10 1515 fabl 1960 3 2 275 Boskovic Stulli Maja et al SULLE ORME DEL KRESNIK E DEL BENANDANTE In Lares vol 69 no 3 2003 pp 607 38 JSTOR http www jstor org stable 26233898 Accessed 28 Apr 2023 Seso Luka Polonijo Ivana Translator O krsniku od tradicijske pojave u predajama do stvarnog iscjelitelja Krsnik from Tradition to Actual Healing In Studia ethnologica Croatica 14 15 2003 23 53 Vinscak Tomo O strigama strigunima i krsnicima u Istri On Strige Striguni and Krsnici on Istrian Peninsula In Studia ethnologica Croatica 17 2005 221 235 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Krsnik vampire hunter amp oldid 1152130901, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
