17. The Language Dreaming of the East!

17. The Language Dreaming of the East!  ““Looking down at the three dangers, the great uncle can benefit humanity.”(Samguk Yusa) The founding spirit of the Dangun myth is the Hongik Ingan (benefiting all mankind) spirit. As shown in the “Samguk Yusa” and “Jewang Ungi,” Dangun concretely realized this Hongik Ingan through the state of Joseon and aimed to spread it to all humanity for the common prosperity of mankind. In other words, he focused on the world from the eastern extremity to the western extremity. After returning from his journey, Hwanung rested for a while. During this time, he met the loyal subjects of the previous dynasty who had been hiding from his foster father Nimrod’s purge, and he also met his biological father. Upon learning that the man he thought was his biological father was not actually his father, he fell into a new dilemma. Should he reclaim the usurped Assyria, or should he remain loyal to Nimrod, who raised him as his father? He couldn’t help but ponder. During this process, Hwanung remembered Asanyeo’s story. Asanyeo’s story, which said that small worries disappear when viewed from a larger perspective! He also remembered the words of his biological father, King Eber, who said that God would guide and be with him, and that he should be faithful and do his best in the tasks given to him. After much contemplation, Hwanung decided to acknowledge that the father who raised him was also his father and chose the path of filial piety, deciding not to go against Nimrod while finding another way. He then thought of leaving the land filled with worldly desires, conflicts, and hatred to find a new land where he could fully serve God and benefit people widely. The suitable land was the one given by God! He decided to leave for the land at the easternmost end where the sun rises. While preparing for this, Hwanung first informed the leaders of the Bear and Tiger tribes, his biological father King Eber, his brother Peleg, and the leaders of the Tiger and Bear tribes. He also persuaded the people of Assyria, all the Semites, and even the descendants of Ham and Japheth. Among the descendants of Ham and Japheth who lived scattered in various places, those who wanted to live according to God’s will gathered and decided to follow Hwanung to find the land of the morning where they could truly realize God’s will. One day, while Hwanung was pondering where God’s will lay, the leader of the Tiger tribe came to him and told him a story. It was that when Shem, Ham, and Japheth each decided on their directions and scattered, Shem’s grandfather had already thought like Hwanung and tried to move east but failed. Hwanung’s ears perked up at the thought that this might be the answer to the problem he had been pondering for so long. He decided to visit Shem’s grandfather. Shem was now old and bedridden. When he heard that Hwanung had come, he initially did not know who it was. It was understandable since Joktan, the great-grandson of his third son, had been adopted by his second son and changed his name to Hwanung, and later became the adopted son of his great-nephew Nimrod. However, upon Hwanung’s explanation, Shem finally remembered and was surprised to learn that Hwanung was his great-great-grandson. He felt that Hwanung did not resemble the wicked Nimrod in appearance or behavior but had depth and dignity. Shem warmly grasped Hwanung’s hand. “Grandfather, are you very ill?” “Yes, it seems I have reached my limit.” “No, grandfather. You are still strong. You have no problem living your life, so please gather your strength and get up soon, grandfather!” “Thank you, but I have no face to meet God. When my descendants decided to go their separate ways, I promised God that I would make my descendants a people who only serve God in the new land of the East. But…” Tears welled up in Shem’s eyes. Hwanung then said to Shem, “Grandfather, since you are not well, can’t someone else go and fulfill that promise?” Shem weakly replied, “That’s true, but there are no sons or grandsons with that intention, so my heart aches.” Hwanung then held Shem’s hand and said, “Grandfather, can I go to the East?” Shem, who had been listening weakly, suddenly sat up upon hearing Hwanung’s words. Hwanung was so surprised that he exclaimed, “Grandfather!” He hurriedly tried to stop Shem, but Shem, with newfound strength, sat up and looked at Hwanung, “What did you say? You will go?” Hwanung, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, “Yes, grandfather. I have actually been thinking the same way since I was young. But now that it seems difficult for you to do it, I thought I could take over and fulfill that task.” Shem’s grip on Hwanung’s hand tightened, and tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke,“Hwanung, you are truly blessed! If you do this, not only you but your descendants will be blessed for generations, and one day your descendants will be greatly used because of you. They will share that blessing with all people. God will greatly use your descendants!” “Grandfather, I am determined and ready to fulfill that task, so please stay here and pray for me and guide the other descendants who remain here.” “Yes, if you do that, I also have the task of ensuring that the many descendants who remain here do not deviate from their faith.” Shem nodded to himself and continued, “Yes, there is work to be done. There is work to be done…” “Thank you, grandfather!” “No, I am grateful! Hwanung, Hwanung, I am grateful!” Shem held Hwanung’s hand tightly, and his face, which had been full of life, gradually faded as he said, “Thank you! Thank you!” A tear rolled down his cheek, and he finally closed his eyes peacefully.Shem had tried to fulfill his father’s wish to realize it on this land but could not guide his children properly and left the world with great regret. Meeting Hwanung, he felt his task was finally resolved and could close his eyes peacefully. After meeting Shem, Hwanung solidified his resolve and finally confessed his dilemma and plan to his foster father Nimrod. Upon hearing Hwanung’s story, Nimrod was shocked. He had raised Hwanung with great care to pass on the throne, but now hearing that he wanted to leave for the East, Nimrod could not bear it. He could not leave Hwanung’s teacher who had influenced him like this. So, he had the teacher brought in and executed in front of Hwanung to change his mind. Before his execution, Hwanwoong’s mentor resolutely declared that the current state of the nation was fundamentally flawed. Although it appeared prosperous and happy on the surface, it was actually a nation in decline, and its people were inevitably doomed. He insisted that the country needed to be changed immediately. Nimrod, enraged by Hwanwoong’s mentor’s words, became even more furious and executed not only the mentor but also all his disciples who had studied under him, accusing them of the same crime. Nimrod’s anger stemmed from Hwanwoong’s refusal to accept the throne. Nimrod then began to pressure Hwanwoong to promise to inherit the throne. However, Hwanwoong had already firmly decided on his own path and was unwavering in his resolve. Seeing Hwanwoong’s unshakable stance, even the mighty Nimrod was at a loss. Canaan, who understood Nimrod’s predicament well, suggested to Nimrod that since Hwanwoong’s mind was already set, there was no way to change it. Instead, Canaan proposed that if they could produce a son to replace Hwanwoong, they could send Hwanwoong away as he wished. Knowing that Hwanwoong would not easily comply, Canaan advised Nimrod to confine Hwanwoong in a small space within the palace and have beautiful maidens bear his children, thus obtaining the son the king desired. Despite being the most powerful man in the world, Nimrod had no way to counter Canaan’s cunning plan. If it succeeded, the maidens brought by Canaan would bear Hwanwoong’s children, who would then inherit the throne, effectively making Assyria his own. Nimrod repeatedly fell for Canaan’s schemes and tactics. Thus, Nimrod confined Hwanwoong in a small space within the palace and selected a few beautiful maidens prepared by Canaan. He forced Hwanwoong into a non-consensual union with them, attempting to divert Hwanwoong’s attention. Nimrod waited for Hwanwoong to abandon his dream of building a new nation in the East. However, as time passed, Hwanwoong’s dream of establishing a divine nation in the East grew more vivid, like a rainbow. Despite the circumstances, Hwanwoong fathered thirteen sons with the maidens confined with him by Canaan’s scheme: Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. Despite the long and intense conflict between Nimrod and Hwanwoong, Hwanwoong’s resolve remained unchanged. Finally, seeing Hwanwoong’s unwavering determination, Nimrod, who had loved Hwanwoong, had no choice but to allow him to go to the East.