Dan-Gun (, ) is the second Taekwon-Do teul, as defined by the International Taekwon-Do Federation. The pattern consists of 21 movements and is taught to students with the 8th geup (yellow belt) and necessary to know to obtain the 7th geup (yellow-green belt).

Meaning

The pattern's name refers to Dangun, the legendary founder and first king of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom. He is believed to have founded Gojoseon in 2333 BC.

Myth In Korean mythology, Dangun's ancestry legend begins with his grandfather Haneunim, the "Lord of Heaven". Haneunim had a son, Hwanung, who yearned to live on the earth among the valleys and the mountains. Haneunim permitted Hwanung and 3,000 followers to descend onto Taebaeksan (now believed to be Mount Paektu).

A tiger and a bear prayed to Hwanung that they might become human. Upon hearing their prayers, Hwanung gave them twenty cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort, ordering them to eat only this sacred food and remain out of the sunlight for 21 days. The tiger gave up soon and left the cave. However, the bear persevered and was transformed into a woman. The bear and the tiger are said to represent two tribes that sought the favor of the heavenly prince.

The bear-woman, Ungnyeo, was grateful and made offerings to Hwanung, who later got a child who they would name Dangun Wanggeom. Dangun ascended to the throne, built the walled city of Asadal, and called the kingdom Joseon (referred to today as Gojoseon so as not to be confused with the later kingdom of Joseon).

Number of movements The 21 movements in Dan-Gun refer to the 21 days that the tiger and the bear had to remain in the cave in order to become human.

Movements Nr.English descriptionKorean description (in Hangul)Korean description (in Revised Romanisation)Parallel ready stance A facing D나란히준비서기narani junbi seogi1Move the left foot to B, forming a right L stance toward B, at the same time executing a middle-guarding block to B, with a knifehand.ㄴ자서손칼대비막기 nieunja seo sonkal daebi makgi2Move the right foot to B forming a right walking stance toward B while executing a high punch to B with the right fist.걷는서높은데앞지르기geonneun seo nopeunde ap jireugi3Move the right foot to A, forming a left L stance toward A, at the same time executing a middle guarding block to A, with a knifehand.ㄴ자서손칼대비막기 nieunja seo sonkal daebi makgi4Move the left foot to A forming a left walking stance toward A while executing a high punch to A with the left fist.걷는서높은데앞지르기geonneun seo nopeunde ap jireugi5Move the left foot to D, forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a low block to D with the left forearm.걷는서팔목낮은데막기 geonneun seo palmok najunde makgi6Move the right foot to D, forming a right walking stance toward D while executing a high punch to D with the right fist. 걷는서높은데앞지르기geonneun seo nopeunde ap jireugi7Move the left foot to D, forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a high punch to D with the left fist.걷는서높은데앞지르기geonneun seo nopeunde ap jireugi8Move the right foot to D, forming a right walking stance toward D while executing a high punch to D with the right fist.걷는서높은데앞지르기geonneun seo nopeunde ap jireugi9Move the left foot to E, turning anti-clockwise to form a right L stance towards E while executing a twin forearm block to E.ㄴ자서쌍팔목막기nieunja seo ssang palmok makgi10Move the right foot to E, forming a right walking stance toward E while executing a high punch to E with the right fist.걷는서높은데앞지르기geonneun seo nopeunde ap jireugi11Move the right foot to F, turning clockwise to form a left L stance towards F while executing a twin forearm block to F.ㄴ자서쌍팔목막기nieunja seo ssang palmok makgi12Move the left foot to F, forming a left walking stance toward F while executing a high punch to F with the left fist. 걷는서높은데앞지르기geonneun seo nopeunde ap jireugi13Move the left foot to C, forming a left walking stance toward C while executing a low block to C with the left forearm.걷는서팔목낮은데막기geonneun seo palmok najunde makgi14Execute a rising block with the left forearm, maintaining the left walking stance toward C, connected with movement 13 in continuous motion.걷는서추켜막기, 계속동작geonneun seo chukyeo makgi, gyesok dongjak15Move the right foot to C, forming a right walking stance toward C while executing a rising block with the right forearm.걷는서추켜막기geonneun seo chukyeo makgi16Move the left foot to C, forming a left walking stance toward C while executing a rising block with the left forearm.걷는서추켜막기geonneun seo chukyeo makgi17Move the right foot to C, forming a right walking stance toward C while executing a rising block with the right forearm. 걷는서추켜막기geonneun seo chukyeo makgi18Move the left foot to B, turning anti-clockwise to form a right L stance towards B while executing a middle outward strike to B with the left knifehand. ㄴ자서손칼옆때리기nieunja seo sonkal yeop ttaerigi19Move the right foot to B, forming a right walking stance toward B while executing a high punch to B with the right fist. 걷는서높은데앞지르기geonneun seo nopeunde ap jireugi20Move the right foot to A, turning clockwise to form a left L stance towards A while executing a middle outward strike to A with the right knifehand.ㄴ자서손칼옆때리기nieunja seo sonkal yeop ttaerigi21Move the left foot to A, forming a left walking stance toward A while executing a high punch to A with the right fist.걷는서높은데앞지르기geonneun seo nopeunde ap jireugiMove the left foot to parallel ready stance A facing D.나란히준비서기narani junbi seogi

Trivia

Dan-Gun is the only teul in which all punches are high. This refers Dangun climbing a mountain in a Korean myth. Dan Gun is the only teul that refers to the Gojoseon era.

References