As oral literature, a myth generally tends to have various versions of the
different times. This study intended to arrange narrative’s line of two myths
of goddess which has various temporal features. From the temporal features,
‘antiquity’ of myth at the time of pre-ancient kingdom and ‘the ancient feature’
at the time of ancient kingdom are searched. In widespread narratives after
13C, a goddess of ancient kingdom Shilla, Holy mother Seosul[Seosul-seongmo],
would be called in the name of the goddess Seondo[Seondosan-sinmo]: Two
character, one identity. This understanding became popular after the 13C book
“Samguk yusa” and subsequent Josun dynasty’s various books.
However, these myths are difficult to see as myth of same goddess. Different
world views are perceived : Mythological world view, Buddhist world view,
Taoistic world view. It could be presumed two myths had been formed
through separate courses.
To examine the separate courses, according to main character of Seosul and
Seondo, episodes were divided. Over the several motifs and episodes, logical
questions were arisen : Why the version of “Samguk yusa” has different motifs, like hawk, Chinese emperor, emperor’s letter etc., while “Samguk yusa” quoted
“Samguk sagi” which delivered the Seondo myth for the first time in Koryo.
As an answer of the question in this study, the motifs, episodes were analysed
by their temporal features and were belonged to a proper myth.
In conclusion, the myth of goddess Seosul had been changed at least 5
times through more than 1,000 years from the first formulation of prehistoric
time, before Ancient kingdom Shilla to 13C(cir. 1281 A.D.), in which the myths
were recorded in “Samguk-yusa” of Koryo dynasty.
- The first version of Seosul myth : Antiquity of myth before ancient
kingdom with nature worship in a short narrative.
- The second version : Birth episode of Shilla Geoseogan[king] Park Hyeok
was added(cir. 57 B.C.E. according to a history book “Samguk-sagi”).
- The third version : Buddist episode was added(cir. 565-632 A.D.) by
the buddist king.
- The fourth version : Episode of king Kyeongmyong and a hawk was
added. (cir. 924 A.D.)
- The fifth myth : goddess Seosul and goddess Seondo regarded as the
same identity.(cir.1281 A.D.)
Meanwhile, the myth of goddess Seondo was delivered from China in Koryo
dynasty (cir.1145 A.D.) by Kim Busik, the author of “Samguk-sagi”. Therefore,
logically, goddess Seondo could not been a narional mother goddess of Shilla,
the country before Koryo. With very political reason to reinforce the power
of Buddism, the second variation was made by Il Yeon, the author of
“Samguk-yusa”. He intended to use the traditional dignity of Seosul and make
Taoistic Seondo as Buddism supporting goddess. So, one powerful goddess
were born. After this version, two goddesses would been regarded as one goddess.
Through variations of two goddesses myths, several signifiers based on
various world views and beliefs could had been clustered and made new
meanings[signified] which had political power and influenced to the opposing
group off the author Il Yeon.
Those interpretations can be understood as post-evental interpretation with
premises of Lacanian pychoanalysis perspective. It means through various
signifiers, a goddess of mythological gained new meanings over the first
mythical meaning. The signifiers such as ‘a goddess surpporting buddism’, ‘a
goddess who has divine power over the nature’, ‘Taoistic goddess’ could
generate the new signified by metaphor.