Foundation myths of three kingdoms have fundamental influences for Korea history study , if we looks depth into those legendary historical Goguryeo’s founder Dongmyeong wang (Jumong)’s legendary had relevant significantly with another ancient kingdom in North-east Asia.-Buyeo, which later on became hostile country of Goguryeo According to Samguksagi, king of Buyeo – Jumong’s adoptive father Geumwa Wang was born oviparously from a glossy, golden egg , with peculiar shape Jumong was son of Hae Mo su (the son of heaven) and Yuhwa- the queen of Geumwa Wang. Hae mo su fell in love with Yuhwa but they somehow couldn’t maintain their relationship. But, Yuhwa gave the birth to a giant egg under sunlight exposure, which turned out to be Jumong later. He was definitely not happy about this egg, he felt humiliate for being cuckold by his queen and attempted to destroy the egg, but the egg seemed to be adamantine and unbreakable. After overcame innumerable hardships, she raised Jumong up with courage and patience.
As Jumong had to grew up with endless persecutes his adoptive father’s, he escaped from Buyeo palace with his follower, and founded Goguryeo As my observation, even though Jumong was an “egg”, his historical legendaries and Goguryeo’s founding myths were hugely relevant to both former dynasties and later on three kingdoms. In the other word, Goguryeo’s founding myths served as a strong bond between the previous history (such as Old Chosen, and Buyoe) and prospective history (such as baekje). For example, as I mentioned in the beginning, according to the myth, Jumong was raised up in Buyoe under the mistreat of his adoptive father- so, he was not necessary to leave his homeland and found a new kingdom if Geumwa Wang treaded him nicely. Also, according to Samguk Sagi, Jumong’s second wife, So Seo-no, left Goguryeo with her sons Biryu and Onjo to south and found Baekje, If Jumong Disparately, according to Gaya and Silla’s founding myths, Kim Suro Wang and Bak Hyeokgeose Geoseogan was “ descended from sky”
Similar with the way Jumong was born, Kim Suro Wang, the founder of Gaya, was also hatched from an egg. According to Samguk yusa,king Suro was the son’s of heaven that fell from sky with five of his brothers. He broke the egg shell at first among six of them and led everybody to establish six Gaya. Coincidentally, Bak Hyeokgeose Geoseogan, the legendary founder of Silla, was also born from an egg. According to Samguksagi, village chiefs gathered around to deliberate proper candidate for their alliance’s leadership. At the time, a white horse suddenly descended from sky, while an egg covered by brilliant radiance appeared, a baby broke the egg and turned to be Bak Hyeokgeose later, compare with three kingdoms foundation myths, it is not hard to conclude that those myths all put significant emphasis on the birth of the founders. it abundantly employs mythological have been much mythologized, Oviparous heroes and maternity-centred backgrounds appeared repeatedly in the fairy stories of ancient Korean literature.
The sun worship is a universal primitive belief and through the oviparous myth the sun worship of the ancient Koreans can be seen.
