Dangun Wanggeom was the legendary founder of
GojoseonGojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom, considered the first proper nation of the Korean people. According to the Samguk Yusa and other Korean medieval-era records, Gojoseon is said to have been founded in 2333 BC by the legendary Dangun, who is said to be the Posterity of Heaven...
, the first
KoreaKorea is a civilization and formerly unified nation currently divided into two states. Located on the Korean Peninsula, it borders China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait....
n kingdom, around present-day
Liaoning' is a northeastern province of the People's Republic of China. Its one-character abbreviation is Liao ."Liáo" is an ancient name for this region, which was adopted by the Liao Dynasty which ruled this area between 907 and 1125. "Níng" means "peacefulness"...
,
ManchuriaManchuria is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria either falls entirely within China, or is divided between China and Russia...
, and the
Korean PeninsulaThe Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan on the east, the East China Sea to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two...
. He is said to be the grandson of heaven, and to have founded the kingdom in 2333 BC. Although the term
Dangun commonly refers to the founder, some believe it was a title meaning "high priest" used by all rulers of Gojoseon, and that Wanggeom was the proper name of the founder. The earliest recorded version of the Dangun legend appears in the 13th century
Samguk YusaSamguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea , as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period.The text was written in Classical Chinese, which was...
, which cites China's
Book of WeiThe Book of Wei is a classic Chinese historical writing compiled by Wei Shou from 551 to 554, and serves as an important historical text describing the Northern Wei and Eastern Wei from 386 to 550....
and Korea's lost history text Gogi (古記).
Dangun's ancestry legend begins with his grandfather
HwaninHwanin, or Divine Regent is a figure in Korean mythology.In the traditional Dangun mythology he is portrayed as the Emperor of Heaven himself, with his son Hwanung 환웅 and his grandson Dangun being the mythical founder of Korea...
or Hwaneen (환인; 桓因), the "Lord of Heaven".
Dangun Wanggeom was the legendary founder of
GojoseonGojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom, considered the first proper nation of the Korean people. According to the Samguk Yusa and other Korean medieval-era records, Gojoseon is said to have been founded in 2333 BC by the legendary Dangun, who is said to be the Posterity of Heaven...
, the first
KoreaKorea is a civilization and formerly unified nation currently divided into two states. Located on the Korean Peninsula, it borders China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait....
n kingdom, around present-day
Liaoning' is a northeastern province of the People's Republic of China. Its one-character abbreviation is Liao ."Liáo" is an ancient name for this region, which was adopted by the Liao Dynasty which ruled this area between 907 and 1125. "Níng" means "peacefulness"...
,
ManchuriaManchuria is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria either falls entirely within China, or is divided between China and Russia...
, and the
Korean PeninsulaThe Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan on the east, the East China Sea to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two...
. He is said to be the grandson of heaven, and to have founded the kingdom in 2333 BC. Although the term
Dangun commonly refers to the founder, some believe it was a title meaning "high priest" used by all rulers of Gojoseon, and that Wanggeom was the proper name of the founder. The earliest recorded version of the Dangun legend appears in the 13th century
Samguk YusaSamguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea , as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period.The text was written in Classical Chinese, which was...
, which cites China's
Book of WeiThe Book of Wei is a classic Chinese historical writing compiled by Wei Shou from 551 to 554, and serves as an important historical text describing the Northern Wei and Eastern Wei from 386 to 550....
and Korea's lost history text Gogi (古記).
Story
Dangun's ancestry legend begins with his grandfather
HwaninHwanin, or Divine Regent is a figure in Korean mythology.In the traditional Dangun mythology he is portrayed as the Emperor of Heaven himself, with his son Hwanung 환웅 and his grandson Dangun being the mythical founder of Korea...
or Hwaneen (환인; 桓因), the "Lord of Heaven". Hwanin had a son
HwanungHwanung or Supreme Divine Regent is an important figure in the mythological origins of Korea. He plays a central role in the story of Dangun Wanggeom , the legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first kingdom of Korea....
who yearned to live on the earth among the valleys and the mountains. Hwanin permitted Hwanung and 3,000 followers to descend onto
Baekdu MountainBaekdu Mountain, also known as Changbai Mountain in China, is a volcanic mountain on the border between North Korea and China, located at . At , it is the highest mountain of the Changbai mountain range to the north and Baekdudaegan mountain range to the south...
, where Hwanung founded Sinsi (신시; 神市, "City of God"). Along with his ministers of clouds, rain, and wind, he instituted laws and moral codes and taught humans various arts, medicine, and agriculture.
A tiger and a bear prayed to Hwanung that they may become human. Upon hearing their prayers, Hwanung gave them 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort, ordering them to eat only this sacred food and remain out of the sunlight for 100 days. The tiger gave up after about twenty days and left the cave. However, the bear remained and was transformed into a woman.
The bear-woman (
UngnyeoUngnyeo was a bear that became a woman. She was featured prominently in the creation myth of the Korean nation.-Story:In the tale, a tiger and a bear lived together in a cave and prayed to the divine king, Hwanung to be made human...
; 웅녀; 熊女) was grateful and made offerings to Hwanung. However, she lacked a husband, and soon became sad and prayed beneath a Sindansu (신단수; 神檀樹, "Divine Betula") tree to be blessed with a child. Hwanung, moved by her prayers, took her for his wife and soon she gave birth to a son, who was named Dangun Wanggeom.
Dangun ascended to the throne, built the walled city of Unknown, situated near
PyongyangPyongyang is the capital of North Korea, located on the Taedong River. According to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, it has a population of 3,255,388.The city was split from the South P'yŏngan province in 1946...
(present capital of
North KoreaNorth Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , is a state in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer area between North Korea and South Korea...
), and called the kingdom Joseon—referred to today as "Old/Ancient Joseon" (Korean: "Gojoseon") so as not to be confused with the
JoseonJoseon , was a Korean sovereign state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
kingdom which occurred much later. He then moved his capital to
AsadalIn Korean mythology and history, Asadal was the capital city of Gojoseon, which some Korean historians allege was the first recorded kingdom of Korea. It is thought that Asadal was located in Manchuria, Hwanghae, or Pyongyang. The first Korean historical work to mention it is the Samguk Yusa,...
on Mount Baegak (or Mount Gunghol). Fifteen hundred years later, in the year
KimyoThe Chinese calendar is lunisolar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures. It is often referred to as the Chinese calendar because it was first perfected by the Chinese around 500 BCE...
,
King WuKing Wu may refer to:* King Wu of Zhou or King Wu of Chou, , first sovereign, or ruler of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty* King Wu of Qin, ruler of the state Qin during 310-307 BC...
of the
Zhou DynastyThe Zhou Dynasty followed the Shang Dynasty and was followed by the Qin Dynasty in China. The Zhou dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history—though the actual political and military control of China by the dynasty only lasted during the Western Zhou...
enfeoffed
JiziJizi was a semi-legendary Chinese sage who is said to have ruled Gojoseon by theory in the 12th century BCE. His family name was Zi/Ja and given name was Xuyu/Suyu .-Legend:...
to Joseon, and Dangun moved his capital to Jangdangyeong. Finally, he returned to Asadal and became a mountain god at the age of 1,908.
Dating
Emperor Dangun's rule is usually calculated to begin in 2333 BC, based on the description of the
Dongguk TonggamThe Dongguk Tonggam is a chronicle of early Korean history, compiled by Seo Geo-jeong and other scholars in the 15th century. Originally commissioned by King Sejo in 1446, it was completed under the reign of Seongjong of Joseon, in 1485. The official Ch'oe Pu was one of the scholars who helped...
(1485) as the 50th year of the reign of the legendary
ChineseChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
Emperor
YaoYao was a Chinese ruler, one of the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors. Also known as Taotang-shi , he was born Yi Fangxun or Yi Qi as the second son to Emperor Ku and Qingdu...
. Other sources vary somewhat, but also put it during Yao's reign (traditional dates: 2357 BC-2256 BC).
Samguk Yusa states Dangun ascended to the throne in the 50th year of Yao's reign, while
Sejong Sillok says the first year and
Dongguk Tonggam says the 25th year.
Until 1961, the official
South KoreaSouth Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often simply referred to as Korea, is a country in East Asia, located on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north. Its capital is Seoul, the second largest...
n era (for numbering years) was called the
DangiThe origin and meaning of the word Dangi cannot be asserted with exactness. There are many different interpretations of the word. It is associated with the geographical nature of the county where the Dangis might have lived....
(단기, 檀紀), which began in 2333 BC. Daejonggyo considered October 3 in the
Korean calendarThe traditional Korean calendar is a lunisolar calendar which, like the traditional calendars of other East Asian countries, was based on the Chinese calendar...
as
GaecheonjeolGaecheonjeol is a public holiday in South Korea on October 3. Also known by the English name National Foundation Day, this holiday celebrates the creation of the state of Gojoseon founded by Dangun Wanggeom in the year 2333 BCE....
(개천절, 開天節, "Festival of the Opening of Heaven"). This day is now a
national holidayIn South Korea, each public holiday belongs to one or more of three possible categories: National Celebration Day, National Flag Raising Day and/or Public Day Off. Because each of these three categories has a different legal basis, a certain holiday may or may not be considered all three...
in the
Gregorian calendarThe Gregorian calendar is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was first proposed by the Calabrian doctor Aloysius Lilius, and decreed by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, on 24 February 1582 by the papal bull Inter gravissimas...
, called National Foundation Day.
North KoreaNorth Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , is a state in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer area between North Korea and South Korea...
dates Dangun's founding of Gojoseon to early 30th century BCE.
Interpretation
The earliest recorded version of the Dangun legend appears in the 13th century
Samguk YusaSamguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea , as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period.The text was written in Classical Chinese, which was...
, which cites China's
Book of WeiThe Book of Wei is a classic Chinese historical writing compiled by Wei Shou from 551 to 554, and serves as an important historical text describing the Northern Wei and Eastern Wei from 386 to 550....
and Korea's lost history text Gogi (古記). This is the best known and most studied version, but similar versions are recorded in the
Jewang Un-gi by the late Goryeo scholar Yi Seunghyu 李承休 (1224-1300), as well as the
Eungje Siju and
Sejong Sillok of the early
Joseon dynastyJoseon , was a Korean sovereign state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
.
Scholars today regard the legend as reflecting the
sun-worshipA Solar Deity is a deity who represents the sun, or an aspect of it, usually by its perceived power and strength. Solar deities and sun worship can be found through-out most of recorded history in various forms...
and totemism common in the origin myths of Northeast Asia. The bear is often found in origin myths of
ManchuriaManchuria is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria either falls entirely within China, or is divided between China and Russia...
and
Russian Far EastRussian Far East is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i.e., extreme east parts of Russia, between Siberia and the Pacific Ocean...
. The legend therefore may hint at the relationships among various tribes that worshipped the sun, bear, and tiger.
Simply re-interpreted, the legend can become this:
" Around the time of
Emperor Yao'sYao was a Chinese ruler, one of the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors. Also known as Taotang-shi , he was born Yi Fangxun or Yi Qi as the second son to Emperor Ku and Qingdu...
reign in China, a tribal nation which worshipped the sun grew strong and began to incorporate other primitive Korean tribes and began to build a confederacy of tribes. One group, worshipping the bear as its totem, was incorporated. Another, which worshipped the tiger, was excluded from this union. From the union of the Sun tribe (in the legend, Shinshi) and the Bear tribe, Dangun Wanggeom was born, and Dangun later founded a nation, and named it
JoseonJoseon , was a Korean sovereign state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
. His descendants ruled Joseon until the rebellion of
WimanWiman may refer to:*Wiman of Gojoseon, founder of a kingdom in north-western Korea in the 2nd century BC*Al Wiman, American reporter*Ann-Marie Wiman , Swedish actress and composer*Carl Wiman , Swedish paleontologist...
, or, despite controversy, until the arrival of
JiziJizi was a semi-legendary Chinese sage who is said to have ruled Gojoseon by theory in the 12th century BCE. His family name was Zi/Ja and given name was Xuyu/Suyu .-Legend:...
."
It is widely accepted by present-day historians that at the time of Dangun's reign, his status was deified by placing him in the position of the Grandson of Heaven, and thus, strengthened Dangun's position as the head of a confederacy.
The story further illustrates the importance of knowledge of weather to the early agricultural peoples of Korea.
Archaeological site
In the 1990s,
North KoreaNorth Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , is a state in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer area between North Korea and South Korea...
claimed it had found and excavated parts of the
Mausoleum of DangunThe Mausoleum of Dangun is ancient burial site in Kangdong near Pyongyang, North Korea. It is claimed by North Korea to be the tomb of Dangun, legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom....
. Scholars outside of North Korea are generally skeptical of the dating methods and the extent of renovations, since the government has not permitted independent access and testing.
Dangun as religion
During the
Mongol invasions of KoreaThe Mongol invasions of Korea consisted of a series of campaigns by the Mongol Empire against Korea, then known as Goryeo, from 1231 to 1270...
, the Dangun legend is thought to have played an important role in national unity and patriotic mobilization against the invaders.
Gosindo (고신도; 古神道), a version of
Korean shamanismKorean shamanism encompasses a variety of indigenous beliefs and practices that have been influenced by Buddhism and Taoism. In contemporary Korean, shamanism is known as muism and a shaman is known as a mudang...
that considered Dangun a god, had a small following, but had largely died out by the 15th century.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a resurgence in
Korean nationalismKorean Nationalism is a term referring to the Korean version of nationalism throughout history in order to maintain their culture, the myth of a "unique and pure" bloodline, and history from foreign invaders.-Origins:...
after repeated
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese invasions and the beginning of
Japanese ruleKorea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Formally, Japanese rule ended on September 2, 1945 upon the Japanese defeat in World War II in 1945....
(1910-1945), the movement was revived in
Daejonggyo (대종교; 大宗敎). It was promoted by Na Cheol (1864-1916), but could not survive the repression under the occupation (
Taejonggyo (1999)/Tangun), since it conflicted with the Japanese
cultural imperialismCultural imperialism is the practice of promoting, distinguishing, separating, or artificially injecting the culture of one society into another. It is usually the case that the former belongs to a large, economically or militarily powerful nation and the latter belongs to a smaller, less important...
policy. After the
surrender of JapanThe surrender of Japan in August 1945 brought World War II to a close. By August 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy effectively ceased to exist, and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
and Korean liberation,
Daejonggyo was revived, although it remains a minor religion.
Dangun is worshipped today as a deity by the followers of Cheondogyo.
Dangun in Taekwondo
Dangun is the second pattern or
tulTul is a Korean martial art form.Tul or TUL may also refer to:*Tuł, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland* Technical University of Łódź* Transnational University Limburg...
in the
ITFThe International Taekwon-Do Federation was founded in March 22,1966 by General Choi Hong Hi in Seoul, South Korea. The International Taekwon-Do Federation, or , exists to promote and encourage the growth of the Korean martial art of taekwondo...
form of the Korean martial art taekwon-do. Students learn that the tul represents "the holy legendary founder of Korea in the year 2333 BC." Unusually for a tul, all the punches in Dangun are high section (at eye level), symbolising Dangun scaling a mountain.
see Dan-Gun Hyung.
See also
- Gojoseon
Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom, considered the first proper nation of the Korean people. According to the Samguk Yusa and other Korean medieval-era records, Gojoseon is said to have been founded in 2333 BC by the legendary Dangun, who is said to be the Posterity of Heaven...
- History of Korea
The history of Korea stretches from Lower Paleolithic times to the present. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began before 6000 BC, followed by the Bronze Age around 2500 BC...
- List of Korean rulers
- List of Koreans
- List of Korea-related topics
Further reading
External links