Haneunim orHanunim (Korean: 하느님;lit. Lord of Heaven; Heavenly Lord)[a] is the sky god inKorean mythology.[1][2] In the moreBuddhist-aligned parts of these religions, he is identified withIndra. In the moreTaoist-aligned parts of these religions, he is identified withOkhwang Sangje (옥황상제;玉皇上帝;lit. Jade Emperor). Under that name, he is adeity in the Poncheongyoreligion.[3]
Dangun is traditionally considered to be the grandson ofHwanin, the "Heavenly King", and founder of the Korean nation.[4] Myths similar to that of Dangun are found inAinu[5] and Siberian cultures.[6]
The myth starts with princeHwanung ("Heavenly Prince"), son of Hwanin. The prince asked his father to grant him governance over Korea.[7] Hwanin accepted, and Hwanung was sent to Earth bearing three Heavenly Seals and accompanied by three thousand followers.[7] The prince arrived under thesindansu (신단수;神檀樹;lit. Holy Tree of Sandalwood)[8] on the holy mountain, where he founded his holy city.[7]
At the time of his reign,Ungnyeo[8]—bear—and atiger were living in a cave near the holy city, praying earnestly that their wish to become part of humankind might be fulfilled.[7] Ungnyeo patiently endured weariness and hunger, and after twenty-one days she was transformed into a woman, while the tiger ran away for it could not tolerate the effort.[7] The woman Ungnyeo was overjoyed, and visiting the sandalwood city she prayed that she might become the mother of a child.[7]
Ungnye's wish was fulfilled, so that she became the queen and gave birth to a prince who was given the royal name of Dangun: the "Sandalwood King".[7] Dangun reigned as the first human king of Korea, giving to his kingdom the name ofJoseon, "Land of the Morning Calm", in 2333 BC.[7]
According to some scholars, the nameDangun is related to the Turko-MongolTengri ("Heaven"),[9] while the bear is a symbol of theBig Dipper (i.e.Ursa Major), itself a symbol of the supreme God in many Eurasian cultures. Later in the myth, Dangun becomes theSansin, the "Mountain God" (metaphorically of civilising growth, prosperity).[10]
Counterparts of Haneullim in other Asian cultures