Pattern meaning - Dan-GunDan-Gun is named after the Holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year 2333 B.C.
The second Taekwon-Do pattern Dan-Gun continues the Korean creation mythology begun with the creation of the world in Chon-Ji », with the founding of the first kingdom of Korea. Legend of Dan-GunDan-Gun's (also Dangun Wanggeom ») ancestry legend begins with his grandfather Hwanin » (환인) the "Lord of Heaven". Hwanin had a son, Hwanung », who yearned to live on the earth among the valleys and the mountains. Hwanin permitted Hwanung and 3,000 followers to descend onto Baekdu Mountain » (referred to in Juche » and Chon-Ji »), which is where Hwanung founded Sinsi » (신시; "City of God").
A tiger and a bear prayed to Hwanung that they may become human. Upon hearing their prayers, Hwanung gave them 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort, ordering them to eat only this sacred food and remain out of the sunlight for a set number of days (different versions use either 100, 40 or 21 days, in Taekwon-Do we use the 21 days). The tiger could not complete the task and gave up and left the cave after about 20 days. However, the bear remained and after 21 days (or 3 weeks) and was transformed into a woman. The bear-woman (Ungnyeo ») was grateful and made offerings to Hwanung. However, she lacked a husband, and soon became sad and prayed beneath a "Sindansu »" ("Divine Betula »") tree to be blessed with a child. Hwanung, moved by her prayers, took her for his wife and soon she gave birth to a son, who was named Dan-Gun Wanggeom, the legendary founder of Gojoseon » (the first kingdom of Korea, in present-day Liaoning, Manchuria, and the Korean Peninsula) also known as the human form of Hwanung. Lake Chon-Ji » on Baekdu Mountain » is the first residency of Dan-Gun before he established his capital at Asadal » (now Pyongyang) in 2333B.C. |
YouTube video - Mr Jaroslaw Suska, Poland
The use of the number 3
The number three is very important in Korea and considered to be very lucky and is the most esteemed of all numbers.
This is why:
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