고려중기 三韓聖母의 등장 배경과 의미

Abstract

Examined in this study is how Queen Wisuk(威肅王后) Han(韓氏), who was also the mother of Founder King Taejo Wang Geon, came to be revered as the “Three Hans’ Holy Mother(Samhan Seongmo, 三韓聖母),” and was eventually merged with Mt. Jiri’s “Heavenly Lord(天王)” deity. Also examined here is the meaning of such conceptual merge. The history of Wang Geon’s ancestors, described in The History of Generations that led to Goryeo(Goryeo Segye, 高麗世系), displays a historical notion of Goryeo being one with the late Goguryeo and then unifying the Three Hans by merging itself with Shilla. But at the same time, within the narratives, there is another notion that insinuates Goryeo’s existence as a different entity from Goguryeo, which still managed to unite the Three Hans notwithstanding. We can see this from the fact that Queen Wisuk was later referred to as the “Mother of all Three Hans(三韓之母).” While Mt. Baekdu symbolized the notion of Goryeo succeeding Goguryeo’s legacy, as it was always considered to be the origin of Goryeo(The Eastern Country)’s geographic feature, Mt. Jiri reflected the notion that all Three Hans were one, not only because it was the culmination point of Goryeo’s such features, but also because it was one of the country’s most representative mountains. In other words, the Goryeo people perceived the Three Hans as a result of the unification, and Mt. Jiri became the embodiment of such legacy. Just as the “Mother Deity(Shinmo, 神母) at Mt. Seondo” was reinterpreted as the “Mother Deity Dongshin (Dongshin Seongmo, 東神聖母),” the “Heavenly lord of Mt. Jiri(智異山)” came to be regarded as the reincarnation of Queen Wisuk. This led to a new title “Mother Deity as the Heavenly Lord(Seongmo Cheon’wang, 聖母天王),” which bred a new historical legacy referencing the Three Hans’ ultimate unification.