8. Tan’gun Was the founder of Korea the son of a god and a bear? The tale of Tan’gun Hwan-ung, son of the ruler of Heaven wanted to live on earth. Hwan-ung landed on Mount T'aebaeksan and establishes a city which he named Shinshi. Hwan-ung hears a tiger and bear praying to become human. He orders them to eat sacred food and to stay out of sunlight. The tiger gives up, but the bear, being wise, listened to Hwan-ung and transforms into a woman. The woman prays under a tree to be blessed with a child. Hwan-ung takes her for his wife and gives birth to Tan-gun. Tan-gun became a powerful leader and creates the Choson kingdom. Finally, he returns to Shinshi and becomes the mountain god. Or… A Royal Descendant From the Shang dynasty of china Korea: * Had their own traditions * Shaped their traditions From Chinese influences Creation of Korea By: Katie Zheng