Coordinates: 33°30′17″N 126°31′45″E / 33.5047°N 126.5293°E / 33.5047; 126.5293

Samseonghyeol

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Samseonghyeol
The three depressions in the ground (2016)
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Official nameSamseonghyeol Shrine, Jeju
DesignatedJune 10, 1964
Reference no.134
Korean name
Hangul
삼성혈
Hanja
三姓穴
RRSamseonghyeol
MRSamsŏnghyŏl

The Samseonghyeol (Korean삼성혈; Hanja三姓穴; lit. three clans' holes) is an archeological, historical, and cultural landmark in Jeju City, Jeju Province, South Korea.

It is associated with a Jeju founding legend. It is believed that three demigods emerged from the holes in the ground on this site, and became the first people of the island.

Information

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The site is located in the city center of Jeju City and consists mainly of a shrine and a depression from which,[1] according to legend, three demigods emerged from the ground to become the founding fathers of the ancient kingdom of Tamna and its people.[2] Three families (or clans) bear the name and claim descendance from those deities.[1]

  • Go Eulna (고을나; 高乙那; Ko Ŭlla)[1]
  • Yang Eulna (양을나; 良乙那; Yang Ŭlla)[1]
  • Bu Eulna (부을나; 夫乙那; Pu Ŭlla)[1]

The Legend of the Eulna

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The myth states that in the beginning, there were no people in Tamna. According to old records (Goryeosa, Yeongjuji), there first was a strangely outstanding mountain called Hallasan. The clouds and the sea were clearly visible far above and below, and Hallasan, the main mountain, cast out three gods at a place called 'Moheung' at the northern foot of the island.[2] This was about 4,300 years ago, and the place is now called Samseonghyeol (三姓穴) because of the Samshinin (三神人) that came out (湧出).[citation needed]Lua error: not enough memory.Lua error: not enough memory. These deities were called Eulna. They were the founders of the three surnames, and they founded the kingdom of Tamna.[2]

The shrine

The deities' shapes were very tall and large, giving them the appearance of immortals not found in human society.Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. These three gods wore leather clothes and lived a primitive hunting life. One day, they climbed Hallasan and looked at the far eastern sea, where they saw a wooden box sealed with purple soil coming up along with the waves. Following the wooden chest, they arrived at the seashore of Onpyeong-ri, Seongsan-eup, and opened the wooden chest. There was a round jade box the shape of an egg inside, and a messenger wearing a purple robe.[2]

When the deities opened the jade box, three virgins, elegantly dressed in blue clothes with beautiful purple hues came out. They sat down together and brought cattle and five-grain seeds out on the coastal hill of Yeonhonpo.[2]

Accordingly, the three gods carefully prepared offerings, performed rites, and announced to the heavens that they would marry each of the three princesses. They set up a bridal chamber in a cave next to the pond, and lived from then on as human beings.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.

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