Seohyosa: The Roots of the Korean People

Weight, balance beam, and pan of a scale in Dangun Joseon period

[誓效詞]

戊寅元年이라.
壬子三十五年이라 會諸汗于常春하시고 
祭三神于九月山하실새 使神誌發理로 
作誓効詞하시니 其詞에 曰

朝光先受地에 三神赫世臨이로다
桓因出象先하사 樹德宏且深이로다
諸神議遣雄하사 承詔始開天이로다
蚩尤起靑邱하시니 萬古振武聲이로다. 
淮岱皆歸王하니 天下莫能侵이로다
王儉受大命하시니 懽聲動九桓이로다
魚水民其蘇오 草風德化新이로다
怨者先解怨이오 病者先去病이로다 
一心存仁孝하시니 四海盡光明이로다
眞韓鎭國中하니 治道咸維新이로다
慕韓保其左하고 番韓控其南이로다
巉岩圍四壁하니 聖主幸新京이로다
如秤錘極器하니 極器白牙岡이오 
秤榦蘇密浪이오 錘者安德鄕이로다
首尾均平位하야 賴德護神精이로다
興邦保太平하야 朝降七十國이로다
永保三韓義라야 王業有興隆이로다
興廢莫爲說하라 誠在事天神이로다

[Seohyosa: The Great Epic Poem Detailing the Roots of the Korean People]

The first year of Dangun Dalmun’s reign was 2083 BCE. 
In Dangun Dalmun’s thirty-fifth year of rule (2049 BCE), he had all of his vassal kings gather in Sangchun and conducted an offering ritual to Samsin on Mt. Guwolsan. It was on this occasion that he ordered Sinji Balli to compose Seohyosa. Its lyrics declared:

Samsin, “the Triune Spirit,” descends in radiance to this land, where the morning sunshine is bestowed first.
Heavenly Sovereign Hwanin first revealed the dao of Samsin, sowing virtue deeply and widely.
An assembly of spiritual leaders communed and dispatched Hwanung, who, in obedience to a mandate from Hwanin, founded the East’s first nation.
Heavenly Emperor Chiu rose up at Cheonggu, and his martial valor became renowned for tens of thousands of years. After the regions of the Huai River and Mt. Tai came under the aegis of Chiu, none dared assail the country.

Dangun Wanggeom received a mandate from heaven, and joy resounded throughout the nine Hwan clans. The people were as invigorated as fish returned to water; his virtue renewed the people like wind caressing a field. For the bitter and resentful, Dangun Wanggeom first resolved their bitterness and resentment; the sick were first cured of their illness. Dangun Wanggeom maintained benevolence and filial piety through one mind; all the land became filled with brightness.

Jinhan State stood fast as the center of the Samhan (the “Three Han States”)and entirely new ways of governing arose. Mohan State protects the left; Beonhan State guards the right. Steep walls of rock soar on all sides, and Dangun VI moves in procession to the new capital. The three Samhan capitals are the balance beam, weight, and pan of a scale. The pan is Baekagang, the capital of Mohan. The balance beam is Somillang, the capital of Jinhan. The weight is Andeokhyang, the capital of Beonhan. The head and tail of the scale stand in even balance; the Spirit of Samsin has been well preserved by the king’s virtue.

The land has prospered and enjoys great peace, so the rulers of seventy states have sworn an oath of devotion. The Spirit of Samhan must be perpetually preserved if the reign of the king is to succeed and flourish. Speak not of the rise and fall of the country, for truly this depends upon whether you serve Samsin Sangjenim

---

Mohan. Refers to Mahan. A renowned Korean historian, Sin Chae-ho (1880-1936), argued that ‘Mohan,’ ‘Malhan,’ and ‘Makhan’ were all alternative names for Mahan. 
Baekagang: The capital of Mahan. In Joseon Sanggosa (“The Ancient History of Joseon”), Sin Chae-ho recorded that it was located in the area that is now present-day Pyeongyang, North Korea.
Somillang: The capital of Jinhan. In Joseon Sanggosa, Sin Chae-ho recorded that it was located in the region that is now present-day Harbin. 
Andeokhyang: The capital of Beonhan. In Joseon Sanggosa, Sin Chae-ho recorded that it was located in Tangjibo, a place to the northeast of Gaepyeongbu, the home of Ansiseong Fortress during the Goguryeo Dynasty.