1 / 1

Hwanung

Hwanung · Korean Sky God — Father of Dangun

In Korean mythology, son of the supreme sky god Hwanin, Hwanung descended from heaven to found the divine city Sinsi (神市). Leading three thousand spirit-officials including the lords of Wind, Rain, and Clouds, he descended beneath the sacred Sandalwood Tree (Sindansu) on Mount Taebaek and governed grain, life, sickness, punishment, and morality. He married Ungnyeo (a transformed she-bear) and fathered Dangun Wanggeom, the founder of Gojoseon.

Origin

Central to the Gojoseon foundation myth recorded in the Samguk Yusa. When Hwanin sought to send someone capable of governing humankind, Hwanung volunteered to descend. He not only ruled humanity but set the trial of mugwort and garlic by which the bear became Ungnyeo, choosing the mother of the Korean people.

Features

Young, dignified scion of heaven (Cheonson)
Founder of the divine city Sinsi beneath the Sandalwood Tree
Commands the three deities of Wind, Rain, and Clouds
Turned a she-bear into Ungnyeo using mugwort and garlic

Stories

Progenitor deity of the Korean people, central to the Dangun ideology. His descent is commemorated on Gaecheonjeol (October 3rd, National Foundation Day). In village faiths and the seonangdang shrine tradition, he is invoked as the sky god. Mount Taebaek is worshipped as sacred ground.