Tan'gun

Tan'gun was a legendary king. He started the first Korean kingdom.

Stories say he was a grandson of heaven. His father was Hwanung. Hwanung lived in the mountains.

A bear and a tiger wanted to be human. The bear stayed in a cave. She became a woman.

Tan'gun was the son of that woman. He built a city called Asadal. He ruled the land of Gojoseon.

People in Korea celebrate him today. They have a holiday on October 3. It is a special day for the nation.

Tan'gun was the legendary founder of Gojoseon. This was the first Korean kingdom.

Many stories say he started his rule in 2333 BC.

His family story is very special. His grandfather was Hwanin, the Lord of Heaven. Hwanin's son was Hwanung. Hwanung wanted to live on Earth. He went to a mountain with 3,000 followers. He taught people about farming and medicine.

One famous legend tells of a bear and a tiger. They wanted to become human. Hwanung told them to eat garlic and mugwort. They had to stay out of the sun for 100 days. The tiger left early. The bear stayed and became a woman named Ungnyeo. She married Hwanung and had a son named Tan'gun.

Tan'gun built a city called Asadal. He ruled the land of Gojoseon. Today, people in South Korea celebrate him. They have a holiday on October 3 called National Foundation Day. In North Korea, leaders have said Tan'gun was a real person. They even built a site called the Mausoleum of Tan'gun.

Tan'gun is the legendary founder of Gojoseon. This was the very first Korean kingdom.

Many stories say he began his rule in 2333 BC. He is often called the grandson of heaven. Some also call him the son of a bear. These stories help explain how the first kingdom started. People have wondered about his life for a very long time.

The legend of his family is quite amazing. His grandfather was Hwanin, known as the Lord of Heaven. Hwanin's son was Hwanung, who wanted to live on Earth. Hwanung went to a mountain with 3,000 followers. He founded a place called Sinsi, or the City of God. He taught humans about medicine and farming. He also taught them about laws and many different arts.

There is a famous story about a tiger and a bear. Both animals prayed to Hwanung to become human. He gave them garlic and mugwort to eat. They had to stay in a cave for 100 days. The tiger gave up after only twenty days. However, the bear stayed and became a woman named Ungnyeo. She married Hwanung and gave birth to a son named Tan'gun.

Tan'gun built a walled city called Asadal. He called his kingdom Joseon, which we now call Gojoseon.

He moved his capital to Mount Paegak or Mount Gunghol. The stories of Tan'gun helped people feel proud of their country. In the past, kings held special rituals to honor their ancestors. These rituals were also a way for people to gather together.

Today, Tan'gun is still very important to many people. South Korea celebrates National Foundation Day on October 3. This is a public holiday to honor the start of the kingdom. In North Korea, leaders have said Tan'gun was a real person. They even built the Mausoleum of Tan'gun to mark his site. Even in martial arts like taekwondo, students learn about him. He is a symbol of history and faith.

Tan'gun, also known as Tan'gun Wanggeom, is the legendary founder of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was the first Korean kingdom, located in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.

Many traditions state that he established this first dynasty in 2333 BC. He is often described by titles such as the "grandson of heaven" and the "son of a bear." These stories serve to establish the legitimacy of the early Korean kingship. They also provided a sense of dignity for the country during its earliest eras.

The myth of Tan'gun begins with a celestial family lineage. His grandfather was Hwanin, who was known as the Lord of Heaven. Hwanin's son, Hwanung, desired to live on Earth among the mountains and valleys. Hwanung descended to Taebaeksan, which is now believed to be Paektu Mountain, with 3,000 followers. There, he founded a place called Sinsi, or the City of God. Hwanung acted as a teacher to humans by introducing laws, moral codes, and various arts. He also taught people about agriculture and medicine. Some legends even attribute the development of acupuncture and moxibustion to this period.

A central part of the legend involves a tiger and a bear. Both animals prayed to Hwanung to be transformed into humans. To test them, Hwanung provided twenty cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort. He commanded them to eat only this sacred food and avoid sunlight for 100 days. The tiger was unable to endure the trial and left the cave after twenty days. However, the bear persevered and successfully transformed into a woman named Ungnyeo. This story is often interpreted as representing two different tribes seeking favor from a heavenly prince.

After her transformation, Ungnyeo became a wife to Hwanung. She prayed beneath a divine birch tree to be blessed with a child. This prayer was answered, and she gave birth to a son named Tan'gun Wanggeom. Upon reaching adulthood, Tan'gun ascended to the throne and founded the kingdom of Joseon. Modern historians refer to this era as Gojoseon to distinguish it from a later kingdom established 2,000 years later. Tan'gun built a walled city called Asadal, located near modern-day Pyongyang. He eventually moved his capital to Mount Paegak or Mount Gunghol.

Historical records regarding the exact dates of Tan'gun's reign vary between different sources. The *Tongguk t'onggam*, written in 1485, calculates his rule beginning in 2333 BCE. This date is based on his reign occurring during the 25th year of the legendary Chinese Emperor Yao. However, the *Samguk yusa*, a 13th-century text, suggests he ascended during the 50th year of Yao's reign. Other sources place his rule between 2357 BC and 2256 BC. The earliest recorded version of this legend in the *Samguk yusa* cites a lost Korean record called *Gogi*. It also mentions the Chinese *Book of Wei*, though no records of Tan'gun appear in the surviving version of that book.

The significance of Tan'gun has evolved through different periods of Korean history. During the late Goryeo dynasty, the figure gained attention as Koreans fought against the Mongolian Yuan dynasty. In the Joseon period, he was worshiped as a national ancestor. A shrine was even built in Pyongyang dedicated to Tan'gun and King Chumo. By the end of the 19th century, Tan'gun became a central figure for nationalism during imperialist invasions. This led to the development of Dangunkyo, a religion centered on his legacy. During the Japanese colonial period, his story provided a spiritual foundation for the independence movement.

Today, Tan'gun remains a vital cultural and religious figure in both North and South Korea. In South Korea, October 3 is celebrated as National Foundation Day, or Gaecheonjeol. This is a public holiday that honors the founding of the nation. Followers of Daejongism also observe this day as a religious anniversary. In North Korea, the government has taken a different approach to the legend. Former leader Kim Il Sung insisted that Tan'gun was a real historical person rather than a myth. Consequently, North Korean archaeologists located what they claim is his grave, known as the Mausoleum of Tangun.

Tan'gun's influence extends into modern cultural practices as well. In the martial art of Taekwondo, Tan'gun is honored through specific movements. The second pattern, or *hyeong*, in the International Taekwon-Do Federation is named after him. Students learn that this pattern represents the legendary founder from 2333 BC. Whether viewed as a mythological figure or a historical king, Tan'gun remains a powerful symbol of Korean identity and heritage.