October 3rd marks the national holiday when Koreans celebrate the establishment of the first Korean country, Gojoseon (고조선). This national holiday is called Gaecheonjeol (개천절), or the National Foundation Day in English. According to legend, Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BC by the legendary Dangun (단군), before the ancient countries of Goguryeo (고구려), Baekje (백제), and Silla (신라) were founded.

The bear is the god of the land and symbolizes the uterus that produces products in farming culture. Thus, bears are predominantly interpreted as female. Ungnyeo is also interpreted as a kind of female god.

웅녀의 지모신적 성격은 천신(天神)이며 부신(父神)인 환웅과 결합함으로써 스스로 상대적 존재임을 드러낸다. 이 같은 지모신적 성격은 문화사적으로 볼 때 천손강림신화(天孫降臨神話)를 가진 문화집단의 도래 이전에 이미 농경문화 집단이 선주(先住)하고 있었음을 반영하고 있다.

What can you tell?

Gaecheonjaeol is still celebrated today to commemorate Dangun’s founding of Gojoseon. Gaecheon literally means “the opening of heaven”, and thus this day is said to mark the day when Hwanung descended upon earth and the day when Dangun founded Gojoseon. It is still debated among historians over Dangun’s existence and the founding date of Gojoseon. However, the myth and the national holiday live on.

The story about Hwanin, Hwanung, Ungnyeo and Dangun can be found in the ancient Korean texts Samgukyusa (삼국유사, Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms). Although these books are about the Three Kingdom period in Korea, they also contain records about the aforementioned characters and their myth. It also details how the people of that time prayed to Dangun on the day of Gaecheonjeol, a custom which is now very rare.

Ungnyeo, sad over the fact that she did not have anyone to marry, prayed to Hwanung for a son. Hwanung, moved by the prayers of Ungnyeo, transformed himself into a human, and married Ungnyeo. They soon gave birth to a son and named him Dangun.

A bear and a tiger prayed to Hwanung, and told him that they wished to become humans. Hwanung, upon hearing their wishes, asked the bear and the tiger to avoid sunlight for 100 days and only eat garlic and mugwort. The bear and the tiger quickly agreed, and retreated to a nearby cave. ​In the beginning, the tiger and the bear did quite well. However, after 21 days, the tiger could not endure the situation any longer and left the cave. The bear, determined to become a human, stayed and fulfilled Hwanung’s request. Hwanung, of course, kept his promise and turned the bear into a human. The bear, finally part of humanity, took the name of Ungnyeo (웅녀, Bear Woman).