Tangun

Tangun
Mythological first king of the Koreans, whose reign began in 2333 BC.

According to one legend, Tangun's father descended from heaven to rule earth from a mountaintop. When a bear and a tiger expressed the wish to become human, he ordered them into a cave for 100 days; after the tiger grew impatient and left, the bear was transformed into the beautiful woman who became Tangun's mother. Buddhism and Daoism credited Tangun with establishing a national religion and originating the Korean maxim "Hongik-ingan" ("Love humanity"). His birthday is a school holiday.

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▪ Korean mythology
      mythological first king of the Koreans, the grandson of Hwanin, the creator, and the son of Hwanung, who fathered his child by breathing on a beautiful young woman. Tangun reportedly became king in 2333 BC.

      Legends about Tangun differ in detail. According to one account, Hwanung left heaven to rule Earth from atop Mt. T'aebaek (Daebaik). When a bear and a tiger expressed a wish to become human beings, he ordered the beasts into a cave for 100 days and gave orders that they were to eat only mugwort and garlic and avoid the sunlight. The tiger soon grew impatient and left the cave, but the bear remained and after three weeks was transformed into a beautiful woman. It was she who became the mother of Tangun. The myth is important inasmuch as it links the Korean people with a heavenly origin.

      Tangun's legendary association with agriculture has led to speculation that the myth is based on a historical leader who learned the secrets of the soil in the city-states of the Huang Ho (river) valley. Buddhism and Taoism (Daoism) clothed themselves with a Korean mantle by crediting Tangun with starting a national religion of Heavenly Teaching and with originating the Korean maxim Hongik-ingan (“Love humanity”). An altar on Kanghwa Island, which is said to have been built by Tangun himself, is periodically refurbished. Tangun's birthday (“Opening of Heaven Day”) on the 3rd day of the 10th month is a holiday for schoolchildren.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Tangun — Tan gun, n. (Zo[ o]l.) A piebald variety of the horse, native of Thibet. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • Tangun — Histoire de la Corée Grandes périodes Préhistoire de la Corée Période Gojoseon Buyeo / Samhan …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Tangun — Primer rey mitológico de los coreanos, cuyo reino empezó en 2333 BC. Según una leyenda, el padre de Tangun descendió del cielo para gobernar la Tierra desde la cima de una montaña. Cuando un oso y un tigre le manifestaron su deseo de convertirse… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • tangun — tan·gun …   English syllables

  • tangun — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mausoleum of Tangun — Chosŏn gŭl 단군릉 Hancha 檀君陵 McCune–Reischauer …   Wikipedia

  • Asadal — Tangun Histoire de la Corée Grandes périodes Préhistoire de la Corée Période Ko Chosŏn Puyŏ / …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mythologie Coréenne — Traduction à relire Korean mythology → …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mythologie coreenne — Mythologie coréenne Traduction à relire Korean mythology → …   Wikipédia en Français

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