Second Degree
Edgewood
December 13, 2014
While being in Tae Kwon Do, I have learned many forms. There are forms I don’t practically care for and some forms I enjoy doing. However, my favorite form is Dan Gun. Dan Gun is a beginner form and is a yellow belt form.
When you are learning a new form, you not only learn the form itself, but you also learn the meaning of the form. So the meaning of the yellow belt form Dan Guns is this “21 movements. Named after the Holy Dan Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year 2333 B.C.”
Since Dan Gun is my favorite form, I thought I’d so some research and find more out than just meaning of the form. While doing the form of Dan Gun, I like the flow of the form. The punches are said to symbolize Dan Gun scaling a mountain. Now when I do this form, I’ll be thinking about that.
Legend has it that Dan Gun’s grandfather was the King of heaven. His name was Hwanin Kwan-in. The king of heaven sent his son, Hwang-Ung to build a new country. At this time, animals were able to speak like humans. Before Hwang-Ung, a bear and a tiger went requesting to become human. Hwang-Ung would grant their request if they followed his orders. The tiger was unable to complete the task. The bear completed the task and slowly started losing its fur and transforming into a beautiful woman. This woman “became known as UNG-Yo, which means “the girl incarnated from a bear”.” Hwang-ung took Ung-Yo as his wife and had a son Dan Gun.
The first alter built is believed to be built by Dan Gun on the Kang-Wha Island. Today, the “alter is atop the island’s highest peak, muni-san”. Dan Gun became a king at the age of 408. Legend has it, that after 1,211 years of reigning, Dan Gun “fled from the Ki-Ja forces to the won of Mun-Wha, where he resumed his spirit form and disappeared from the earth”. He died at the age of 1,908.
While doing research on this form, it has given me a better understanding of the form, Dan Gun, realizing their where different dynasties which different rulers for each one. I also learned Dan Gun is still, to this day, worshipped as the first ancestor of the Korean people. Korea has designated October 3 as a national holiday where they remember the founding
While being in Tae Kwon Do, I have been blessed with many opportunities in which I would not normally have had. I have met some amazing people; have gotten to travel for tournaments and now I will be going to China, North and South Korea in April. I am really looking forward to going on this trip with the rest of the Tae Kwon Do family. While on our trip, I am looking forward to being able to see Dan Gun’s tomb and do Dan Gun there.
