Korejské zakladatelské mýty

The foundation myths are important for every cultural history all over the world. Among the foundation myths of ancient Korea we could find two main prototypes represented by the Tangun's myth and myths about foundation of the so-called Three Kingdoms. They both have their political function, they describe the beginnings of Korean statehood as a will of Heaven: in all of them it is Heaven, that send the mediator of its will to the Earth, what justifies the existence of the early Korean states and their forefathers. Tangun's myth relates to the origins of the earliest Korean state Ko Chosŏn, its ruling family and the origins of its distinctive culture. Even if it is usually presented as a unique, motifs related to the Japanese foundation myth and mythts of the Central and Northeast Asia with some totemistic elements are clearly visible. Other myths – as presented in the earliest preserved Samguk sagi and Samguk yusa chronicles – prove a semi-historical and semi-legendary features, which originate from the wish of both compilators in their searching of rulers, which origins are connected with Heaven. In these, magic birth of the cultural hero sent by Heaven to the Earth mostly in a shape of the egg frequently appears. Egg as a symbol of the Sun signifies the heavenly origins of the heroes and functions as a sign of their exceptionality and ability to rule with the heavenly mandate. In these myths some similarities with the world mythology are considerable.