Sample Translations
Haewang Jeong Dangun Mythology E ng l i s h
Book Information
Dangun Mythology (단군신화) Hyeonamsa Publishing corp. / 2009 / 49 p. / ISBN 9788932372570 74810 For further information, please visit: http://library.klti.or.kr/node/772
This sample translation was produced with support from LTI Korea. Please contact the LTI Korea Library for further information. library@klti.or.kr
Dangun Mythology Written by Jeong Haewang, Illustrated by Yoo Namyoung
It was a very long time ago. The Emperor who reigned over the Heavens had a son named Hwanung. Whenever he could, Hwanung took a look at the world where humans lived. And he would always mumble to himself, “It is truly beautiful where the humans live. I wish to go down there and live amongst them.”
The Emperor could read his son’s mind well. “Son, behold the fertile land near the three high-rising slopes. If you settle down there, you could become a happy ruler for many people.” The Emperor presented Hwanung with a golden scarf. “Inside, you’ll find a mirror, knife, and bell. These are precious things only I can give you. These treasures will protect you in the future.”
The Emperor also gave three thousand heavenly escorts to Hwanung. “Go now with your three thousand subjects. And become a good ruler to the humans. Hwanung bowed deeply to the Emperor. He then set forth with his group of three thousand escorts.
1
In order to live a good life, one must have good crops. For a successful harvest, ideal weather is important. Hwanung gave clear instructions to his subjects in charge of the weather. “Wind master, make sure the wind blows properly. Rain master, make sure the rain falls evenly. Cloud master, make sure the clouds gather and disperse in a timely manner.”
Hwanung and his escorts came down to the place where the Emperor had chosen. There, they saw an enormous tree that almost reached the Heavens. Hwanung pointed at this tree, and shouted in a loud, clear voice, “This is Shindansu, the Heavenly tree. We shall build a new city around it.” His three thousand subjects began building the houses. Then the people who lived on Earth gathered around them. The Heavenly beings and the people of Earth worked on building a city together. And they called this new city, “Shinshi.”
Hwanung was a good ruler of Shinshi. To the people who hunted and ate berries off the trees He taughtthem how to farm. For those who were sick, he healed them with medicine. He also showed them how to tell a good deed from a bad deed, And let them know a bad deed will bring punishment. As a result, there was plenty of food in Shinshi And people were happy and peaceful.
2
Then one day, A bear and a tiger came to Shinshi. The two animals bowed before Hwanung. “Esteemed Hwanung, we want to become human beings. We’ll live in peace according to your teachings. Please allow us to be reborn as a person.”
Hwanung became momentarily reflective. He then asked his subject to bring mugwort and garlic. Offering them to the bear and tiger, Hwanung said, “I have here a bunch of mugwort and twenty garlic. In the cave you must subsist on them and wait one hundred days. You can then become a human.” The bear and the tiger bowed deeply to Hwanung and went to the cave.
The cave was very dark because there was no sunlight. There was nothing to see, and nothing to plays with. Therefore they felt terribly bored and confined. Not only that, there was nothing to eat but only bitter mugwort and pungent garlic.Mugwort for breakfast, garlic for dinner; mugwort for breakfast, garlic for dinner… Scratching the cave wall, the tiger roared, “Roar! I can’t stand it anymore. I am going back to the woods.” Finally, the tiger ran out of the cave.
But the bear was different.
3
Its will to become human was indomitable, and it was more patient than the tiger. One day passed, then another… days kept passing. The bear conquered fear, hunger, and loneliness. Then one day, awoken from sleep, the bear shouted in astonishment, “Ah, I have at last become a human. Thank you, Esteemed Hwanung!” Before she knew it, the bear had turned into a lovely maiden
Hwanung gave the bear, who became a maiden, the name, “Ungnyeo.” It meant, “Bear woman.” But Ungnyeo had another wish. Like other women, she wished to have children of her own. Under the Heavenly tree, she prayed and prayed. “Emperor, I wish to have a child. Please hear my prayer.”
One day, Hwanung passing by the tree heard Ungnyeo’s prayer. He grinned and asked Ungnyeo gently, “How could a maiden have a child without being married? I wish to take you as my wife. Will you accept my hand?” Instead of replying, Ungnyeo blushed and bowed. Several days later, there was big feast in Shinshi. The Son of the Emperor, Hwanung, and the bear maiden, Ungnyeo were getting married.
Ungnyeo’s wish came true and she gave birth to a baby. It was a very healthy and intelligent-looking boy.
4
Hwanung, who became a father, smiled joyfully and said, “We shall name the baby, ‘Dangun.’ He shall become a great man who will reign over many people.”
Dangun was strong and healthy. As he grew older, no one could compete with his courage and wisdom. As time passed, there were more and more people who trusted and followed him. When Dangun became a man, he left Shinshi and ventured to a vast land. He chose Pyeongyang as the center of the country and gave it the name, “Joseon.” Joseon, the first Kingdom of Korea came into being.
Dangun abided by his Grandfather and Father’s will And ruled over his people peacefully and happily. Other tribes heard about it and came to him To become the subjects of his country. Dangun reigned Joseon for over fifteen hundred years He then went into the deep mountains and became a deity.
Did a bear really become a human?
The historians do not think that the bear and the tiger from Dangun mythology were actual animals; rather, they believe they were the name of tribes. That is, there was a tribe that revered the bear and a tribe that revered the tiger. Hwanung, who founded the new city, took the hand of the bear tribe and the tiger tribe slowly disappeared.
5
The power of mugwort and garlic
Judging by the appearance of mugwort and garlic, we can conclude that the people from Gojoseon ate vegetables in addition to grains. Whereas mugwort is a plant that grows in the field and mountains, garlic is a vegetable that is cultivated. But garlic did not come into the peninsula until long after the Dangun period. Therefore, the garlic, which is mentioned in the Dangun myth, is probably something like wild garlic that grows naturally. People from long time ago believed that mugwort and garlic chased away evil spirits and kept the body and mind, sound and healthy. Even today, garlic and mugwort are used as medicinal herbs.
Joseon versus Gojoseon
Joseon is derived from the characters, “Jo” which means morning, and “Seon” meaning refreshing; in other words, the land of refreshing morning. You will find the name “Joseon” many times in Korean history; for example, Joseon ruled by Gija and Joseon established by Yi SeongGye. That is the reason why historians put “Go” before Joseon, founded by Dangun for the name, Gojoseon.
Did Dangun rule for 1,500 hundred by himself?
The historians believe that the name “Dangun” is not a proper noun, referring to a single person but to a lineage of kings. Therefore, it is not one single Dangun (King) who reigned the Kingdom of Gojoseon but a number of “Dangun” who ruled for 1,500 years.
6