Founding myth of kingdom has much historicity and politics. Though myth has historicity, we shouldn't believe that myth says plainly the historical fact. The real meaning and object of myth reside in representing the thought and culture of people who makes up the myth. The founding myth of Silla dynasty is plotted with founder's birth of the dynasty, sacred marriage, his enthronement, and returning his home, the sky. The Silla people explained the origin and character of kingship. They depicted the founder as a sky god and a agricultural god. So they represented their own idea on the character and role of kingship. Founding myth of dynasty was reenacted in the rites for the founder. So sacred kingship was reminded. The birth ritual, the sacred marriage ritual, the rebirth ritual, etc. was contained in the process of this rite. And the myth worked to persuading many rivals to recognize the present political relations by describing the relations as mythic one. Therefore the founding myth and the kingship rituals of Silla dynasty played a important part for kingship ideology.

Founding myth of kingdom has much historicity and politics. Though myth has historicity, we shouldn't believe that myth says plainly the historical fact. The real meaning and object of myth reside in representing the thought and culture of people who makes up the myth. The founding myth of Silla dynasty is plotted with founder's birth of the dynasty, sacred marriage, his enthronement, and returning his home, the sky. The Silla people explained the origin and character of kingship. They depicted the founder as a sky god and a agricultural god. So they represented their own idea on the character and role of kingship. Founding myth of dynasty was reenacted in the rites for the founder. So sacred kingship was reminded. The birth ritual, the sacred marriage ritual, the rebirth ritual, etc. was contained in the process of this rite. And the myth worked to persuading many rivals to recognize the present political relations by describing the relations as mythic one. Therefore the founding myth and the kingship rituals of Silla dynasty played a important part for kingship ideology.

, , ,

founding myth of dynasty, kingship ritual, sacred marriage, founder-king