Korean mythology is perhaps just as diverse as that of the Greek or Norse legends. Who else has a god of the spice pot or a goddess of the outhouse? But when it comes to tales of the creation artemisia and garlic, bears and tigers, even sandalwood become involved . . .
It started when the Ruler of Heaven, Hwanin, sent his son Hwangun to bring happiness to people on Earth. He chose a sandalwood tree on Mount Taebak (now Baekdu) as a suitable place.
There Hwangun created ‘Sinsi’, the City of God, along with 3,000 loyal subjects from heaven.
And all was happiness on Earth until, one day . . .
Near the sandalwood tree was a cave. In it dwelt a bear and a tiger that came every day to the tree to pray. Seeing how happy people were, they sought to be changed into humans.
Hwangun gave them 20 bulbs of garlic and divine mugwort, telling them if they remained in the cave for 100 days with nothing else to sustain them, they become humans.
Alas, the tiger could not tolerate the restriction, emerging before the 100 days were up to slink away into the forest.
The bear, however, waited patiently. On the 101st day it was transformed into a beautiful lady, Ungyo. Hwangun took her for his wife. They named their son Dangun, which has two meanings: ‘Altar Prince’ and ‘Sandalwood.’ It is said that this son came to Pyongyang and founded Gojoseon.
Later, there came a great flood. Namu Doryeong, who was the son of a laurel tree spirit, survived the flood by floating on the laurel . . . but that is another tale . . .
Wes Porter is a horticultural consultant and writer based in Toronto. Wes has over 40 years of experience in both temperate and tropical horticulture from three continents.
