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Journals / Şarkiyat Mecmuası / 2026 / Sayı: 48

The Heavenly Descended King: Dangun Myth and The Mythological Foundations of Korean National Identity

Gökten İnen Kral: Dangun Miti ve Kore Ulusal Kimliğinin Mitolojik Temelleri

Mehmet Ölçer(ERCİYES ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-5309-6945
Pages
313–333
Publication Date
2026-05-04
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In conclusion, the study addresses ethnic nationalism and exclusion, argues for a more inclusive reinterpretation in contemporary multicultural Korea, and aims to fill a gap in Turkish-language scholarship on Korean mythology.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study examines Dangun, Korea’s foundational myth, at the intersection of mythology, history, and literature.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Drawing from Samguk Yusa, compiled by Buddhist monk Iryeon in the 13th century, the article analyzes the myth’s structural elements, cosmological dimensions, and symbolic layers through philological analysis and structuralist mythology theory.
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Conclusion & Impact:In conclusion, the study addresses ethnic nationalism and exclusion, argues for a more inclusive reinterpretation in contemporary multicultural Korea, and aims to fill a gap in Turkish-language scholarship on Korean mythology.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Dangun · Kore Mitolojisi · Kuruluş Miti

Abstract

This study examines Dangun, Korea’s foundational myth, at the intersection of mythology, history, and literature. Drawing from Samguk Yusa, compiled by Buddhist monk Iryeon in the 13th century, the article analyzes the myth’s structural elements, cosmological dimensions, and symbolic layers through philological analysis and structuralist mythology theory. The myth narrates the descent of Hwanung, son of the Heavenly Grandfather Hwanin, his sacred marriage to a bear-woman, and the establishment of Gojoseon by their semi-divine son Dangun Wanggeom. The article traces how this myth has been reinterpreted across historical periods—from the Buddhist synthesis of Goryeo to the Confucian rationalization of Joseon, the ethnic nationalism of the colonial era, and the national symbolism of the modern period. A comparative analysis with Altaic and Turco-Mongol cosmology reveals shared North Asian motifs: celestial descent, bear totemism, sacred mountain symbolism, and cave initiation. The article further interrogates how the myth has been instrumentalized in constructing modern Korean identity and its role in forming an “imagined community,” while applying feminist critique to patriarchal readings of the Ungnyeo figure. In conclusion, the study addresses ethnic nationalism and exclusion, argues for a more inclusive reinterpretation in contemporary multicultural Korea, and aims to fill a gap in Turkish-language scholarship on Korean mythology.

Özet

Bu çalışma, Kore’nin kuruluş miti olan Dangun’u mitoloji, tarih ve edebiyat kesişiminde interdisipliner bir yaklaşımla incelemektedir. 13. yüzyılda Budist rahip İryeon tarafından derlenen Samguk Yusa (葀玿賱瓿, Üç Krallığın Kayıp Kayıtları) adlı eserdeki özgün metinden hareketle, mitin yapısal unsurları, kozmolojik boyutu ve sembolik katmanları filolojik metin analizi, yapısalcı mitoloji teorisi ve karşılaştırmalı mitoloji yöntemi çerçevesinde ele alınmaktadır. Dangun miti; göklerden gelen ata Hwanin’in () oğlu Hwanung’un () yeryüzüne inişini, bir ayı-kadına (磛“) dönüşen varlıkla gerçekleştirdiği kutsal evliliği ve yarı-tanrısal çocukları Dangun Wanggeom’un (”肢紬椸) ilk Kore krallığı Gojoseon’u (肵蟭雸) kurmasını konu almaktadır. Bu mitin farklı tarihsel dönemlerdeki dönüşümü; Goryeo döneminin Budist sentezinden Joseon’un Konfüçyan rasyonalizasyonuna, kolonyal dönemin etnik milliyetçiliğinden modern dönemin ulusal sembolizmine uzanan süreç içinde tartışılmaktadır. Makale ayrıca Dangun mitinin Altay mitolojisi ve Türk-Moğol kozmolojisiyle karşılaştırmalı analizini sunarak, gökten iniş motifi, ayı totemizmi, kutsal dağ simgeciliği ve mağara inisiyasyonu gibi Kuzey Asya kültür coğrafyasındaki ortak motifleri ortaya koymaktadır. Mitin modern Kore kimliğinin inşasında nasıl araçsallaştırıldığı ve “hayali cemaat” oluşumundaki işlevi eleştirel bir perspektifle değerlendirilmekte; feminist eleştiri çerçevesinde Ungnyeo figürünün ataerkil yorumları da sorgulanmaktadır. Sonuç olarak etnik milliyetçilik, ataerkillik ve dışlayıcılık gibi sorunlu boyutlar tartışılarak Dangun mitinin çağdaş Kore toplumunda yeniden yorumlanma ihtiyacı vurgulanmakta; çalışmanın Türkçe akademik literatürdeki boşluğu doldurma ve karşılaştırmalı mitoloji alanına özgün katkı sunma hedefi ortaya konulmaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Ölçer, M. (2026). The Heavenly Descended King: Dangun Myth and The Mythological Foundations of Korean National Identity. Şarkiyat Mecmuası, Sayı: 48, 313–333. https://doi.org/10.26650/jos.1809566

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