Ancient Korean History
 History of Korea
Myths and Legends of Ancient Korea
This page is concerned with themes and motifs in the founding
legends of ancient Korea.
Glossary of texts, motifs, and figures
- SHE-BEAR
- The she-bear in the Legend of Tangun represents endurance for undergoing the trial in the dark cave.
She is contrasted with the
tiger.
- TIGER
- The tiger in the Legend of
Tangun, unable to endure the trial in the cave and acheive
humanity, represents the untamed forces of nature.
- EGG
- A recurrent motif in the founding legends of the three
kingdoms. The egg descends from heaven or is born of a woman
miraculously impregnated by the sun. It is
worshipped, or feared and abandoned. See episodes in The Lay of King Tongmyong; in
The Legend of Pak
Hyôkkôse; in The Legend
of King T'arhae.
- SUN
- Among the natural objects such as mountains, rivers, and
trees which were accorded status as divinities in the animistic
religion of the early occupants of Korea, the sun is foremost.
Sun worship is demonstrated by the many examples of mythical
birth from eggs after impregnation by the sun. See episodes in
The Lay of King
Tongmyong; in The Legend of
Pak Hyôkkôse; in Husband Yôno, Wife Sô.
- TRICKERY
- Trickery figures significantly in many legends of ancient
Korea. See episodes in The Lay of King
Tongmyong; in The Legend of
King T'arhae.
- JOURNEY
- Escapes, journeys, and migrations are important features of
many of the legends of ancient Korea. See episodes in The Lay of King Tongmyong;
in The Legend of King Onjo; in The Legend of King T'arhae; in Husband Yôno, Wife Sô.
- SAMGUK YUSA
- Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, compiled by the
Sôn Buddhist master Iryôn in the thirteenth century.
This text is the source of most of the legends of ancient Korea.
- SAMGUK SAGI
- Historical Record of the Three Kingdoms, 1146,
compiled by the historian Kim Pusik in the twelfth century.
- CHEWANG UNGI
- Rhymed Record of Emperors and Kings, by Yi
Sûnghyu (1224-1300). This text contains an alternate
version of the Legend of Tangun.
- TONGUK YI SANGUKGIP
- Collected Works of Minister Yi of Korea, 1241-1251.
This text contains The Lay of King Tongmyong.
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