Tan'gun

Tan'gun, also known as Tan'gun Wanggŏm, is a famous legend. He is said to be the first king of Gojoseon, the first kingdom in Korea. The story says he started the kingdom in the north part of the Korean Peninsula around the year 2333 BC. Tan'gun is described as the “grandson of heaven” and the “son of a bear.”

The oldest story about Tan'gun comes from a book named Samguk yusa. This book was written in the 1300s. Koreans celebrate Tan'gun each year on October 3rd, called National Foundation Day. This holiday started with a group named Daejongism, which honors Tan'gun.

Some Korean historians think the names Tan'gun and Tengri might mean similar things.

Myth and interpretations

In Korean mythology, Tan'gun’s story begins with his grandfather Hwanin, the “Lord of Heaven”. Hwanin had a son named Hwanung who wanted to live on earth. Hwanin let Hwanung and 3,000 followers come down to Paektu Mountain. There, Hwanung made a place called Sinsi, meaning “City of God”. He made laws, taught people useful skills, and helped them learn about medicine and farming.

A tiger and a bear asked Hwanung to let them become human. Hwanung gave them garlic and mugwort to eat and told them to stay out of sunlight for 100 days. The tiger gave up early, but the bear kept going and turned into a woman named Ungnyeo. She prayed for a child, and Hwanung agreed to marry her. They had a son named Tan'gun Wang'gŏm.

Tan'gun became the first king and founded the kingdom of Gojoseon. He built a walled city near Pyongyang and named the kingdom Joseon. The story of Tan'gun helped people feel proud of their kingdom and their king.

Dates

Tan'gun is said to have started his rule in 2333 BCE, according to some old Korean records. Different sources give slightly different years, but they all place it during the time of a famous Chinese leader named Emperor Yao. In South Korea, there is a special holiday called “National Foundation Day” that marks these ancient beginnings.

Historical perception

Interest in Tan'gun grew during times when Korea faced tough times and fought for independence. People honored him as a national ancestor. Over time, Tan'gun became a symbol of Korean pride and independence, especially during periods when Korea was under foreign control. Scholars in South Korea studied Tan'gun to understand early Korean society, while in North Korea, the story of Tan'gun was used to support their ideas about Korea's ancient history.

Appearances

The story of Tan'gun is first written down in a book from the 13th century called the Samguk yusa. It uses information from an old Chinese book called the Book of Wei. Today, people who follow Cheondoism and Daejongism honor Tan'gun as a god.

In taekwondo, Tan'gun is the second pattern, or shape, that students learn. It reminds them of the legendary first leader of Korea.

Mausoleum of Tan'gun

Main article: Mausoleum of Tangun

North Korea's leader Kim Il Sung thought Tan'gun was a real person, not just a story. Because of this, people in North Korea looked for Tan'gun's grave.

A North Korean book says the Mausoleum of Tan'gun is where Tan'gun is said to be buried.