Tangun tul 단군틀 Dan-Gun pattern

List of patterns

Number of movements:

21

Number of attacs:	11
Number of hand attacs:	11
Number of foot attacs:	0

Number of blocks:	10
Number of hand blocks:	10
Number of foot blocks:	0

Number of ready stances:	0
Diagram:

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Ready posture: naranhi čunbi sogi narani junbi sogi 나란히준비서기 parallel ready stance

Ready posture: naranhi čunbi sogi narani junbi sogi 나란히준비서기 parallel ready stance

Interpretation

Dan-Gun is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year of 2333 BC

Dangun Wanggeom was the legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first kingdom of Korea, in present-day Liaoning, Manchuria, and the Korean Peninsula. He is said to be the grandson of the god of heaven, and to have founded the kingdom in 2333 BC. Although the term Dangun commonly refers to the founder, some believe it was a title used by all rulers of Gojoseon, and that Wanggeom was the proper name of the founder.

Dangun´s ancestry begins with his grandfather Hwanin, the "Lord of Heaven" (a name which also appears in Indian Buddhist texts). Hwanin had a son Hwanung who yearned to live on the earth. Hwanin permitted Hwanung and 3000 followers to descend the oak arch under the sandalwood tree onto Paektu Mountain, where Hwanung founded Sinsi ("City of God"). Along with his ministers of clouds, rain, and wind, he instituted laws and moral codes and taught humans various arts, medicine, and agriculture.

On the mountainside live tiger and bear. They 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 in the cave out of the sunlight for 100 days. The tiger gave up after about twenty days and left the cave. However, the bear remained 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 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 Dangun Wanggeom (Prince of sandalwood tree).

Tangun founded the kingdom Joseon - Country of morning viridity - which ruled for almost 2000 years. At the end of his reign he settled in Adadal City on Mount Baegal and became a mountain god at the age in 1908.

Dating

Dangun´s rule is usually calculated to begin in 2333 BC, based on the description of the Dongguk Tonggam (1485) as the 50th year of the reign of the legendary Chinese Emperor Yao. Other sources vary somewhat, but also put it during Yao´s reign (traditional dates: 2357 BC - 2256 BC). Samguk Yusa states Dangun ascended to the throne in the 50th year of Yao´s reign, while Sejong Sillok says the first year and Dongguk Tonggam says the 25th year.

Until 1961, the official South Korean era (for numbering years) was called the Dangi, which began in 2333 BC. Daejong-gyo considered October 3rd in the Korean calendar as "Festival of the Opening of Heaven". This day is now a national holiday in the Gregorian calendar, called National Foundation Day.

Archaeological site

In the 1990s, North Korea claimed it had found and excavated parts of the Mausoleum of Dangun. Scholars outside of North Korea are generally skeptical of the dating methods and the extent of renovations, since the government has not permitted independent access and testing.

Scholars today regard the legend as reflecting the sun-worship and totemism common in the origin myths of Northeast Asia. The bear is often found in origin myths of Manchuria and Russian Far East. The legend therefore may hint at the relationships among various tribes that worshipped the sun, bear, and tiger.

Dangun as religion

During the Mongol invasions of Korea, the Dangun legend is thought to have played an important role in national unity and patriotic mobilization against the invaders. Gosindo, a version of Korean shamanism that considered Dangun a god, had a small following, but had largely died out by the 15th century.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a resurgence in Korean nationalism after repeated Japanese invasions and the beginning of Japanese rule (1910 - 1945), the movement was revived in Daejonggyo. It was promoted by Na Cheol (1864 - 1916), but could not survive the repression under the occupation, since it conflicted with the Japanese cultural assimilation policy. After the surrender of Japan and Korean liberation, Daejonggyo was revived, although it remains a minor religion.

Pattern Dan-Gun

Unusually for a tul, all the punches in Dangun are high section (at eye level), symbolising Dangun scaling a mountain.

Pattern is practised by the 8. Gup holder and above.