Haneullim

Haneunim

Haneunim

Sky god of Cheondoism and Jeungsanism

Haneunim or Hanunim (Korean: 하느님; lit. Heavenly Lord; Lord of Heaven)[lower-alpha 1][1] is the sky God of Cheondoism and Jeungsanism.[1] 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 also known as Okhwang Sangje (옥황상제; 玉皇上帝; lit. Highest Deity the Jade Emperor) and under that name, he is a deity in the Poncheongyo religion.[2]

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.[3] Myths similar to that of Dangun are found in Ainu[4] and Siberian cultures.[5]

The myth starts with prince Hwanung ("Heavenly Prince"), son of Hwanin. The prince asked his father to grant him governance over Korea.[6] Hwanin accepted, and Hwanung was sent to Earth bearing three Heavenly Seals and accompanied by three thousand followers.[6] The prince arrived under the Sindansu/Shindansu (신단수; 神檀樹, "Holy Tree of Sandalwood")[7] on the holy mountain, where he founded his holy city.[6]

At the time of his reign, Ungnyeo or Ungnye (웅녀, 熊女)[7]—who was a 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.[6] 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.[6] The woman Ungnyeo was overjoyed, and visiting the sandalwood city she prayed that she might become the mother of a child.[6]

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".[6] 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.[6]

According to some scholars, the name Dangun is related to the Turko-Mongol Tengri ("Heaven"),[8] 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, including Chinese theological thought.[9] Later in the myth, Dangun becomes the Sansin, the "Mountain God" (metaphorically of civilising growth, prosperity).[10]

See also

Counterparts of Haneullim in other Asian cultures

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")

References

  1. [1]
    Hong (2009), p. 39.
  2. [2]
    "Okhwangsangje". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  3. [3]
    Lee (1981), p. 13.
  4. [4]
    Lee (1981), p. 20.
  5. [5]
    Lee (1981), p. 21.
  6. [6]
    Lee (1981), p. 14.
  7. [7]
    Lee (2010s), pp. 10–13.
  8. [8]
    Lee (1981), pp. 17–18.
  9. [9]
    Didier (2009), passim but especially Vol. I, pp. 143, 154.
  10. [10]
    Lee (1981), pp. 16–18.

Sources
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