Tan'gun

BeastKorea · East AsiaLegendFear 5/10

Description

한국 설화에 등장하는 Beast. Tan'gun (Korean: 단군; Hanja: 檀君; RR: Dangun; pronounced [tan.ɡun]), also known as Tan'gun Wanggŏm (단군

Origin & Background

Dangun is the legendary founder and first king of Gojoseon, said to have established Gojoseon in 2333 BC. His legend appears in the 13th-century 'Samguk Yusa' as the earliest record, which cites Korea's lost historical record 'Gogi' and China's 'Weishu'.

The Legend

In Korean mythology, the legend of Dangun's ancestry begins with his grandfather Hwanin. Hwanin is known as 'the Lord of Heaven', and his son Hwanung wished to live in the human world. Hwanin allowed Hwanung and 3,000 followers to descend to Taebaeksan (Taebaek Mountain), where Hwanung established Sinsi (the City of God), enacted laws and morals, and taught humans various arts, medicine, and agriculture. When a bear and a tiger prayed to become human, the bear persevered and transformed into a woman, marrying Hwanung and giving birth to Dangun Wanggeom. Dangun ascended to the throne, established a city called Asadal, and founded Gojoseon.

In Popular Culture

Dangun is commemorated in Korea on October 3rd, known as Gaecheonjeol, a national holiday celebrating the founding of Gojoseon. It began as a religious holiday worshipping Dangun in accordance with the beliefs of the Daejonggyo religion. In modern times, the second poomsae of Taekwondo, 'Dangun', honors Dangun, and he is worshipped as a king deity in Korean shamanism.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Tan'gun" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia