1. What is Korean myth? What is a creation myth?
In sociology, mythology is broadly-defined as stories, legends, sagas, songs passed down through generations. In Korean mythology, there are either oral myths told by shamans and mansin or written myths in works such as the Samguk Yusa and Samguk Sagi after the Later Three Kingdoms Period. Korea myth is the center of the Korean shamanist belief, even still.
A “creation myth” is a legend passed down through centuries in a civilization which narrates the beginning of a culture. Like in India, the Hindu creation myth dictates Brahma — the creator God in the Holy Trinity of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma — creates the universe in many depictions. In Christian lore, God creates the Earth and the Universe in the span of seven days.
Although the above examples are examples of religious lore, they meet even still, an intersection with mythology in an academic perspective. Most Koreans in the modern era do not hold Shamanist beliefs, due to the winds of the modern era; although creation myths do exist. Each historic kingdom of Korea, has its own creation myth. The most widely honored foundational myth of the whole of Korea is that of the Gojoseon; the first, “Korean” state.
2. Gojoseon
Gojoseon (고조선) is the first Korean dynasty according to the aforementioned Samguk Yusa and Samguk Sagi, compiled in Classical Chinese, by Buddhist monk Iryeon in the late 1270s. Later also compiled in the Jewang Ungi in 1287.
Joseon, or Gojoseon, as known academically according to historiographers, was the first Kingdom of the Korean peninsula, mythologically placed at a timespan of 2333 BCE to 108 BCE. It was inhabited by a proto-Koreanic ethnic group, the Yemaek, according to scholars and the Yemaek language was spoken.
3. The Legend
Milennia ago, it is said the Sky God, Hwanin, (환인) also known as Haneunim (하느님), which itself is a derivative from the Korean word for the “sky.” He is considered a supreme deity to traditional religions in Korea.
The son of Hwanin, Prince Hwanung, had always a longing for the Earth and it’s nature. The Prince requested his father to grant him domain and governance over Korea, to which Hwanin agreed. Hwanung was sent to Earth bearing “Three Heavenly Seals,” accompanied by three thousand followers. When the Prince reached a Shindansu Tree (신단수) atop Mountain Baekdu, where he founded the holy city of “Sinsi,” (신시) or the “City of God.” According to legend, he was accompanied by his ‘ministers,’ the clouds, rain and wind, at his excursion in the city.
In Sinsi, Prince Hwanung instituted traditional Korean laws, moral codes and taught Humans the arts and agriculture.
On Earth, a bear (곰) and a tiger (호랑이) would visit the court of Hwanung and pray to him to turn them Human. Upon hearing their prayers, he gave them 20 cloves of garlic and some mugwort. They were to only eat this, until a 100 days should they want to become human. The tiger gave up, although the bear persisted and on the 100th day, the bear – Ungnyeo transformed into a beautiful woman.
Ungnyeo would pray again to Hwanung through the Shindansu, for a child. Moved by her prayers, Hwanung would take Ungnyeo as his wife and they would conceive the namesake of the myth, Dangun Wanggeom.
Dangun would thereafter become the legendary first king of Joseon. He ascended the throne, and built the walled city of ‘Asadal.’ (아사달) The location of Asadal is unknown and disputed. Most scholars agree that the location is somewhere in the Liadong Peninsula or Manchuria, modern day China. He called his kingdom, the Kingdom of Joseon. Later, he moved his capital to Mount Paegak. (패박)
Dangun also taught these proto-Koreans acupuncture and moxibustion (rubbing burned dried mugwort as traditional medicine.) After this it is said, that Dangun would rule Joseon for 1500 years before ascending to heaven once again.
The time-period of the lifetime of Dangun varies from record to record. Traditional historiography aligns his lifespan with the Chinese Emperor, Yao. According to the ‘Joseon Sillok‘ (실록) or the ‘Veritable Annals of the Joseon Dynasty,’ Dangun ascended to the throne at Asadal in the 1st year of the reign of Yao, whereas other records state the 40th or the 50th year of his reign is when Dangun ascended.
4. Interpretation
Like many creation myths, we see that the Dangun myth begins with a Sky God, who is said to be an “overseeing creator.” We can draw parallels to Zeus, or Jupiter in Greek and Roman mythology respectively; and also to the Vedic Hindu God: Dyoshpitr, the Supreme Sky God. Hwanin, (환인) as interpreted by 14th century Joseon scholars, is a parallel figure to Indra, a lesser God in Hinduism — who is historically an offshoot of Dyoshpitr himself — to solidify our interpretation.
We cannot say that the Dangun myth is outright truth, as there is no credible archeological or peer record evidence of his existence. Although the oral transmission of this myth, can be a literary interpretation of the lives of early Koreans passed down through generations. Most scholars now feel, that the meeting of the bear-woman and the sky prince was literary symbolism for the historical alliance of two proto-Korean tribes, which forged a collective identity, for the future. The figure of the tiger is interpreted by some, a tribe with which an alliance which could not form.
Moreover, as the historical veracity of the myth is highly-dubious, some believe that Dangun was more of a title, and that “Dangun” was not one person, but a lineage of rulers.
5. Impact
This myth of Dangun, had reflected the political and social nation-building interests of the Yemaek and Proto-Korean people of the Upper Korean Peninsula and Manchuria. The myth became a political plaster-of-Paris to bind together the Korean monarchy.
In the 20th century, to resist Japanese imperialist suppression of traditional Korean beliefs, the story of Dangun transcended a mere myth and transformed into a religion: Dangungyo. (단군교) Also during this time, followers of Shamanist sects in Korea compiled the early histories and myth of Korea, to non-violently protest against Japanese irredentism and brutality.
In the modern era, it is believed that, in lieu of the Gregorian Calendar, ‘National Foundation Day‘ was on October 3rd. It is celebrated as a public holiday in South and North Korea.
Traditionally, it is believed that National Foundation Day was on the 3rd Day of the 10th Month of the Korean Lunisolar Calendar (Dangun Calendar). In Korean, ‘National Foundation Day’ is “개천절” or literally “Heaven-Opened Day.”
Kim Ilsung would insist that Dangun was an actual king and not just a myth. Hence North Korean archeologists would ardently try to prove the existence of Dangun. In 1994, the alleged uncovering of the Mausoleum of Dangun in North Korea in 1994, took place, although it is unknown if it is merely just a hoax fabricated by the regime.
Although many such stories of the founding of Korea exist, for Silla, Baekje, Jeju and many other folktales, the story we walked through is widely revered by all Koreans. Something about the story itself is purely “Korean.” The themes of cooperation, perseverance and unity help all Koreans find something to unite with, through invasions and suppression. Hence in a way, the story is prophetic, a sign for Korean unity and prosperity.
By, Shantanu Dayal Sharan