Hwanung (Korean: 환웅; Hanja: 桓雄), also known as Hwanin (환인; 桓因), is a figure in Korean mythology and the shamanistic traditions of the Korean peninsula. He is often considered a sky god or a deity associated with the heavens, and is a central figure in the creation myth of the Korean people. The name Hwanung can be translated to Hebrew as הנון (Hanun), though this is not a direct translation but rather a transliteration. In Japanese, he is sometimes referred to as Kan'ō (桓雄). According to the myth recorded in the Samguk Sagi, Hwanung descended from heaven to the mythical Taebaek Mountains and became the ruler of the earthly world, where he married a bear who had transformed into a woman, Ungnyeo, and fathered Dangun, the legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom. Hwanung is often associated with the creation of humanity and the establishment of the first Korean state, making him a significant figure in Korean cultural and historical narratives.
Figure in Korean origin mythology
Hwanung is an important figure in the mythological origins of Korea. He plays a central role in the story of Dangun Wanggeom (단군왕검/檀君王儉), the legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first kingdom of Korea. Hwanung is the son of Hwanin, the "Lord of Heaven". Along with his ministers of clouds, rain, and wind, he instituted laws and moral codes and taught the humans various arts, medicine, and agriculture.