Dangun is the mythical founder of Korea. The oldest existing record of the founding myth of Korea involving him appears in the Samguk Yusa, a 13th-century collection of legends and stories. Hangul (한글) is the native alphabet used to write the Korean language, as opposed to the Hanja system borrowed from China. ... Hanja (lit. ... The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language romanization system in South Korea. ... McCune-Reischauer is one of the two most widely used Korean language romanization systems, along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which replaced (a modified) McCune-Reischauer as the official romanization system in South Korea in 2000. ... Korea (한국/韓國/Hanguk, used by South / 조선/朝鮮/Joseon, used by North) is a formerly unified country, situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia, bordering on China to the northwest and Russia to the north. ... A long time ago when Hwanung, a son of heaven, ruled the people, there lived a tiger and a bear. ... Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla), as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ...

Story

Dangun's ancestry begins with his grandfather Hwanin (환인; 桓因;), the "Lord of Heaven" (a name which also appears in Indian Buddhist texts). Hwanin had a son Hwanung who yearned to live on the earth among the valleys and the mountains. Hwanin chose Mount Taebaek (태백산; 太伯山) for his son to settle down in and sent him with 3,000 helpers to rule the earth and provide humans with great happiness. Hwanung descended to Mount Taebaek and founded a city, which he named Sinsi (신시; 神市), or "City of God." Along with his ministers of clouds, rain, and wind, he instituted laws and moral codes and taught the humans various arts, medicine, and agriculture. Hwanin in medieval Korean mythology is Indra, the ruler of heaven and earth in Buddhism. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE in India. ...

A tiger and a bear living in a cave together prayed to Hwanung that they may become human. Upon hearing their prayers, Hwanung called them to him and gave them 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort. He then ordered them to only eat this sacred food and remain out of the sunlight for 100 days. The tiger shortly gave up and left the cave. However, the bear remained and after 21 days was transformed into a woman. Binomial name Artemisa vulgaris L. Mugwort or Common Wormwood (Artemisia vulgaris) is a species from the daisy family Asteraceae. ...

The bear-woman (Ungnyeo; 웅녀; 熊女) was very grateful and made offerings to Hwanung. She lacked a husband, however, and soon became sad and prayed beneath a sandalwood 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 (단군 왕검; 檀君王儉). The branches of a young sandalwood tree found in Hawaii Sandalwood is the wood of trees of the genus Santalum. ...

Dangun ascended to the throne in the 50th year of the reign of the Emperor Yao (the legendary Chinese sage Yao), the year of Gengyin, built the walled city of P'yŏngyang, and called the kingdom Joseon. He then moved his capital to Asadal on Mount Baegak (or Mount Gunghol). 1,500 years later, in the year Kimyo, King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty enfeoffed Jizi 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. The Three August Ones and Five Emperors (Chinese: 三皇五帝; pinyin: sānhuáng wǔdì, Wade-Giles: san-huang wu-ti) were mythological rulers of China during the period preceding the Xia dynasty from 2500 BC to 2205 BC. The Three August Ones The Three August Ones, sometimes known as the Three Sovereigns... The Three August Ones and Five Emperors (Chinese: 三皇五帝; pinyin: sānhuáng wǔdì, Wade-Giles: san-huang wu-ti) were mythological rulers of China during the period preceding the Xia dynasty from 2500 BC to 2205 BC. The Three August Ones The Three August Ones, sometimes known as the Three Sovereigns... The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar formed by combining a purely lunar calendar with a solar calendar. ... Pyŏngyang (평양 / 平壤) is the capital city of North Korea, located in the northwest of the country, situated on the Taedong River. ... Go-Joseon, or Old Korea (2333 - 206 BC), was the first Korean kingdom. ... The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar formed by combining a purely lunar calendar with a solar calendar. ... King Wu was a posthumous title often given to the king who won martial glory. ... The Zhou Dynasty (周朝; Wade-Giles: Chou Dynasty) (late 10th century BC or 9th century BC to 256 BC) followed the Shang (Yin) Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty in China. ... Jizi (Gija in Korean) or Viscount of Ji was a semi-legendary Chinese sage who is said to have ruled Korea in the 9th century BC. His family name was Zi (子) and given name was Xuyu (胥餘/서여 xūyú/seoyeo, or 須臾/수유 xūyú/suyu). ...

Dating

It is often said that Dangun ascended to the throne in 2333 BC, based on the description of the Dongguk Tonggam (1485), but the date differs among historical sources; nevertheless, all of them put it during Yao's reign (traditional dates: 2357 BC-2256 BC). The Samguk Yusa say 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. (Redirected from 2333 BC) (25th century BC - 24th century BC - 23rd century BC - other centuries) (4th millennium BC - 3rd millennium BC - 2nd millennium BC) Events 2900 - 2334 BC -- Mesopotamian wars of the Early Dynastic period 2350 BC - End of the Early Dynastic IIIb Period in Mesopotamia 2334 - 2279 BC -- Sargon... The Dongguk Tonggam is a chronicle of early Korean history, compiled under the reign of Seongjong of Joseon, in the 15th century. ... Events August 22 - Battle of Bosworth Field is fought between the armies of King Richard III of England and rival claimant to the throne of England Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. ...

Annals of Danguns

Annals of the Danguns are recorded in Gyuwon Sahwa. Gyuwon Sahwa is a credible historical record written in 1675 which is based on earlier records that are now lost. Unfortunately, the existing Gyuwon Sahwa is part of Hwandan Gogi, a 1911 transcription purporting to describes Korean history back to the 8th millennium BC. Most scholars consider Hwandan Gogi as a collection to be apocryphal, but parts of it are based on Gyuwon Sahwa and other known records. Events January 5 - The Battle of Turckeim August 10 - Building of the Royal Greenwich Observatory began November 11 - Guru Gobind Singh becomes the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs. ... 1911 was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... (9th millennium BC – 8th millennium BC – 7th millennium BC – other millennia) // Events The south area of Çatalhöyük. ...

1. Dangun Wanggeom BC 2333-BC 2240
2. Dangun Buru BC 2240-BC 2182
3. Dangun Garuk BC 2182-BC 2137
4. Dangun Osagu BC 2137-BC 2099
5. Dangun Gueul BC 2099-BC 2083
6. Dangun Dalmun BC 2083-BC 2047
7. Dangun Hanyul BC 2047-BC 1993
8. Dangun Useohan BC 1993-BC 1985
9. Dangun Asul BC 1985-BC 1950
10. Dangun Noeul BC 1950-BC 1891
11. Dangun Dohae BC 1891-BC 1834
12. Dangun Ahan BC 1834-BC 1782
13. Dangun Holdal (a.k.a. Daeumdal) BC 1782-BC 1721
14. Dangun Gobul BC 1721-BC 1661
15. Dangun Daeum (a.k.a. Huhuldal) BC 1661-BC 1610
16. Dangun Wina BC 1610-BC 1552
17. Dangun Yeoul BC 1552-BC 1484
18. Dangun Dongum BC 1484-BC 1435
19. Dangun Gumoso BC 1435-BC 1380
20. Dangun Sotae BC 1337-BC 1285
21. Dangun Saekbullu BC 1285-BC 1237
22. Dangun Aheul BC 1237-BC 1161
23. Dangun Solna BC 1150-BC 1062
24. Dangun Churo BC 1062-BC 997
25. Dangun Dumil BC 997-BC 971
26. Dangun Haemo BC 971-BC 943
27. Dangun Mahyu BC 943-BC 909
28. Dangun Naehyu BC 909-BC 874
29. Dangun Deungol BC 874-BC 849
30. Dangun Chumil BC 849-BC 819
31. Dangun Gammul BC 819-BC 795
32. Dangun Orumun BC 795-BC 772
33. Dangun Sabeol BC 772-BC 704
34. Dangun Maeruk BC 704-BC 646
35. Dangun Mamul BC 646-BC 590
36. Dangun Damul BC 590-BC 545
37. Dangun Duhol BC 545-BC 509
38. Dangun Daleum BC 509-BC 491
39. Dangun Umcha BC 491-BC 471
40. Dangun Uleuji BC 471-BC 461
41. Dangun Mulli BC 461-BC 425
42. Dangun Gumul BC 425-BC 396
43. Dangun Yeoru BC 396-BC 341
44. Dangun Boeul BC 341-BC 295
45. Dangun Goyeolga BC 295-BC 237

Origin of the myth

Dangun has never appeared in Chinese documents, even though they record other legends like that of Jumong (the legendary founder of Goguryeo), in detail. In addition, the Samguk Sagi--the oldest existing history book in Korea--makes no mention of Dangun, leading some people to theorize that the myth was formed some time between the 10th and 13th centuries. But Kim Busik, the author of Samguk Sagi, was a pro-Sinicist, and it is possible he omitted records of pre-Three Kingdoms history. A later work, the Samguk Yusa, which was meant to be a supplement to Samguk Sagi, describes more about Danguns. Goguryeo (also known as Koguryŏ or Gāogōulì) (37 BC-668) was an empire in Manchuria and northern Korea. ... Samguk Sagi (Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms) is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. ... The Three Kingdoms of Korea were Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium CE. The Three Kingdoms period in Korea is usually considered to run from the 4th century CE until Sillas triumph over Goguryeo in 668. ... Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla), as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period. ...

Dangun and Korean nationalism

While Shamanism, Buddhism, and Confucianism were the dominant religious and philosophical movements in Korea before the 20th century, Gosindo (고신도; 古神道) existed as a cult, which had largely died out by the 15th century. There are a number of shamanistic practices that are developed in Korea, where the role of a shaman is most frequently taken by women. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ... Korean Confucianism is the form of Confucianism developed in Korea. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ...

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a resurgence in Korean nationalism after repeated Japanese invasions and the beginning of a long brutal occupation, the movement was revived in the cults of Daejonggyo (대종교; 大宗敎) and Dangungyo (단군교; 檀君敎). // Nationalism is an ideology which holds that the nation, ethnicity or national identity is a fundamental unit of human social life, and makes certain political claims based on that belief, above all the claim that the nation is the only legitimate basis for the state and that each nation is...

The latter was promoted by Na Cheol (1864-1916), but could not survive the atrocities of the Japanese Colonial Period (1910-1945) (Taejonggyo (1999)/Tangun), since it conflicted with the practices of the Japanese occupation to eliminate traditional Korean culture. 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... In Korean history, the Period of Japanese Rule or Iljeong Sidae (일정시대; 日政時代; (Period of Japanese Rule) in Korean) describes the period from 1910 to 1945, when Korea (at that time called Chosun) was ruled by Japan. ... 1910 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

After Japan's unconditional surrender and Korean liberation, Dangungyo was revived, but lacked mass appeal with the Allied attempts to encourage Christianity in Korea as a bulwark against communism. Unconditional surrender refers to a surrender without conditions, except for those provided by international law. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament writings of his early followers. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with History of communism. ...

Nevertheless, campaigns to teach the Dangun myth as historical fact in schools partially succeeded in encouraging nationalism and patriotism in those times. Even today, while the Dangun legend is taught for its symbolic value, debate continues on the extent of historical basis for the legend.

Until 1961, the official South Korean era (for numbering years) was called the Dangi (단기; 檀紀), which began in 2333 BCE, the year of the mythical founding of Joseon by Dangun. Daejong-gyo designated October 3rd in the lunar calendar as Gaecheonjeol (개천절; 開天節), or the "Festival of the Opening of Heaven." This day is now a national holiday in the Gregorian calendar, called National Foundation Day. 1961 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 3rd October Organization is also the name of a Marxist terrorist group . ... The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar formed by combining a purely lunar calendar with a solar calendar. ... The Gregorian calendar is the calendar widely used in the Western world. ...

The Taekwondo pattern Dan-Gun was named in honor of Dangun. Taekwondo (also spelled Tae Kwon Do or Taekwon-Do) is the Korean national sport and most commonly practiced form of Korean martial arts. ... right One of the two major Taekwon-Do organisations, the other being the World Taekwondo Federation or WTF. The International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) was founded on March 22, 1955, by General Choi Hong Hi, who developed Taekwon-Do, to promote the teaching of this martial art. ...

Archaeological site

In the 1990s, the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea claimed it had found and excavated parts of the Mausoleum of Dangun. Little is known of this archaeological discovery but there is hope in the future that more work will be done in the area to verify a potentially exciting claim. // Events and trends The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining the same mindset. ... Mausoleum of Dangun is ancient burial site near Pyongyang, which is claimed to be of Dangun, mythical ruler of Go-Joseon, by North Korean historians. ...

External links

• http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Information/tangun.cfm
• http://www.taekwondobible.com/korculture/spirit/myth.html
• http://www.clickasia.co.kr/about/m2.htm
• http://www.sogang.ac.kr/~burns/cult951/tangun.html