Haneunim

Haneunim or Hanunim (Korean: 하느님; lit. Lord of Heaven; Heavenly Lord)^[a] is the sky god in Korean mythology.^[1][2] In the more Buddhist-aligned parts of these religions, he is identified with Indra. In the more Taoist-aligned parts of these religions, he is identified with Okhwang Sangje (옥황상제; 玉皇上帝; lit. Jade Emperor). Under that name, he is a deity in the Poncheongyo religion.^[3]

Hwanin represented at the Samseonggung.

Dangun myth

Further information: Dangun

Dangun is traditionally considered to be the grandson of Hwanin, the "Heavenly King", and founder of the Korean nation.^[4] Myths similar to that of Dangun are found in Ainu^[5] and Siberian cultures.^[6]

The myth starts with prince Hwanung ("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 the sindansu (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 a tiger 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 of Joseon, "Land of the Morning Calm", in 2333 BC.^[7]

According to some scholars, the name Dangun is related to the Turko-Mongol Tengri ("Heaven"),^[9] while the bear is a symbol of the Big Dipper (i.e. Ursa Major), itself a symbol of the supreme God in many Eurasian cultures. Later in the myth, Dangun becomes the Sansin, the "Mountain God" (metaphorically of civilising growth, prosperity).^[10]

See also

• Chinese theology
  • Tao
  • Three Pure Ones
  • Tian—Shangdi

Counterparts of Haneullim in other Asian cultures

• Amenominakanushi, the Japanese counterpart
• Indra/Trimurti, the Hindu counterpart
• Jade Emperor, the Chinese counterpart
• Ông Trời, the Vietnamese counterpart
• Śakra/Adi Buddha, the Buddhist counterpart
• Tengri, the Turko-Mongolian counterpart
• Thagyamin, the Burmese Buddhist representation of Śakra, a counterpart of the Jade Emperor

Notes

1. also spelled Hanallim (하ㄴㆍㄹ님/하날님), Hanullim (한울님), birth name Hwanin (환인; 桓仁 or 桓因), also called Sangje (상제; 上帝, "Highest Deity"), Sangjenim (상제님; 上帝任/mixed script: 上帝님, "Highest Divine Lord"), or Cheonju (천주; 天主, "Heavenly Lord"/"Lord of Heaven"), or known simply as Haneul (하늘 "Heaven"), Cheon (천; 天, "Heaven", in Sino-Korean), Cheonje (천제; 天帝, "Heavenly Emperor"/"Emperor of Heaven", in Sino-Korean), or Cheon-sin / Cheon-shin (천신; 天神, "God of Heaven")