Legent Story in Korea
AyoungCho
ENGL2310
To AKIN
Sep 27th, 2010
Legend Story in Korea Epic of Gilgamesh is a story of an oral tradition and an ancient poem from Mesopotamia around 2700 B.C. the Epic of Gilgamesh, which is the earliest known work of literature, has originated as a series of Sumerian legends and a story of King Gilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh, also as known as poems about the king Gilgamesh, is based on the story of king Gilgamesh who was the fifth king of Uruk in the late Early Dynastic II period. Today, huge stories of creation exist in the world. Korea, one of the countries in Asia with rich history and ancient legend, has a similar story as the Epic of Gilgamesh; the name of ancient Korean story is called the legend of Dangun. It is a story Dangun, who has become a first king of Korea and has contributed to the creation of one’s country. I would like to share the characteristic and similarity of the legend of the Epic of Gilgamesh and Dangun First, the epic of Gilgamesh and Dangun has a special story of the birth. The beginning of the story says “when the gods created Gilgamesh they gave him perfect body.” (The Epic Gilgamesh, page 13). He, Gilgamesh, has more special ability in many ways than general person, because he is sort of mixture of human and God, the story explains “ Two thirds they made him God and one third man” (Gilgamesh, Page 13). Dangun king has even very unique birth story compare to Gilgamesh. Also king Dangun’s father is believed as God and his mother is human. His birth story needs to be explained from the beginning of the story of his grandfather, Hwanin, the “Lord of Heavens” to understand uniqueness and distinction this story has. Hwanin, grandfather of king Dangun had a son Hwanung who is a God and has lived on the earth among the valleys and the mountains. In early period story, a tiger and bear, believed one of the most powerful God’s creations, have prayed to Hwanung to wish to become a human-being. Upon
ENGL2310
To AKIN
Sep 27th, 2010
Legend Story in Korea Epic of Gilgamesh is a story of an oral tradition and an ancient poem from Mesopotamia around 2700 B.C. the Epic of Gilgamesh, which is the earliest known work of literature, has originated as a series of Sumerian legends and a story of King Gilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh, also as known as poems about the king Gilgamesh, is based on the story of king Gilgamesh who was the fifth king of Uruk in the late Early Dynastic II period. Today, huge stories of creation exist in the world. Korea, one of the countries in Asia with rich history and ancient legend, has a similar story as the Epic of Gilgamesh; the name of ancient Korean story is called the legend of Dangun. It is a story Dangun, who has become a first king of Korea and has contributed to the creation of one’s country. I would like to share the characteristic and similarity of the legend of the Epic of Gilgamesh and Dangun First, the epic of Gilgamesh and Dangun has a special story of the birth. The beginning of the story says “when the gods created Gilgamesh they gave him perfect body.” (The Epic Gilgamesh, page 13). He, Gilgamesh, has more special ability in many ways than general person, because he is sort of mixture of human and God, the story explains “ Two thirds they made him God and one third man” (Gilgamesh, Page 13). Dangun king has even very unique birth story compare to Gilgamesh. Also king Dangun’s father is believed as God and his mother is human. His birth story needs to be explained from the beginning of the story of his grandfather, Hwanin, the “Lord of Heavens” to understand uniqueness and distinction this story has. Hwanin, grandfather of king Dangun had a son Hwanung who is a God and has lived on the earth among the valleys and the mountains. In early period story, a tiger and bear, believed one of the most powerful God’s creations, have prayed to Hwanung to wish to become a human-being. Upon
Cited: Sandars, N. K., trans. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Norton Anthology of World Literature. 2nd ed. Eds. Sarah Lawall and Maynard Mack. Volume A. New York: Norton, 2002. 658-693