Lady Aryeong

Lady Aryeong (Korean: 알영부인; Hanja: 閼英夫人; 53 BC — 4 BC) was married to Hyeokgeose of Silla who was the founder of Silla. According to Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), Aryeong was born from the left side of the dragon which appeared near the well. However, the Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), says it was the right side.

Lady Aryeong
Hangul
알영부인
Hanja
閼英夫人
Revised RomanizationAryŏng Buin
McCune–ReischauerAryeong Buin

History

According to the Samguk sagi, In the spring of the 5th year (B.C. 53) a dragon appeared in the Alyeongjeong (알영정, 閼英井), Gyeongju. A girl was born on the right side. But according to the Samguk Yusa, an unnamed human woman and a man named Gyeryong (계룡, 鷄龍) appeared at Alyeongjeong Pavilion in Saryang-ri where the human woman gave birth to Aryeong from the left side.

Either way, an old age woman found it bizarre and raised the girl. As she grew up, her virtue and appearance were outstanding, and King greeted her when he heard the news and made her his queen. At this time, people called them two saints.

Historical context

According to the Samguk Yusa, A ship carrying Talhae reached Azin Port (阿珍浦口). That was 39th year (B.C.19). At that time, an old mother (老母) on the beach collected and raised him. The old mother's name is Ahjinuisun (阿珍義先). The Hyukgeose's fishing grandmother (海尺之母) is Ahjinuisun (阿珍義先) too. In record "she didn't know if it was good or bad, so she went to the sky". Based on this record, Old mother(老母) is Jinhan's shaman and Aryeong's old age woman (老嫗) may also symbolize the same shaman group. addition, it can be inferred that Aryeong is highly related to shaman based on the record of Namhae Chachaung(南解 次次雄) who is Aryeong's son, a Silla dialect, "Chachaung"(次次雄) calling a shaman.

It can also be interpreted that Alyeong has the character of representing the natives in the early days of the foundation of Saro, from being described as another saint(聖人).

Outline

Lady Aryeong was a daughter of Lady Saso who was said to come from the Chinese royal family and moved to the Jinhan confederacy according to legends.[1][2][3][4] However, whether Lady Saso was of Chinese origin is attested and is highly unlikely, considering the fact that deitifications were common back in the days when the 'Middle Kingdoms (中原)' was considered the center of civilization. The sources of these claims also comes from China during the Song Dynasty, roughly a thousand years later; something highly respected scholars and bureaucrats such as Kim Bu-sik (who is of royal Silla descent) has never heard of.[5]

She was married to Hyeokgeose of Silla who was the founder of Silla and he was also a son of Lady Saso.[1][2] According to Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), Aryeong was born from the left side of the dragon which appeared near the well. However, the Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), says it was the right side. According to the Buddhist monk Il-yeon, the “dragon” in these histories refers to Lady Saso.[4]

The following description is from the Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the three Kingdoms), volume 5, clause 7.

其始到辰韓也。生聖子為東國始君。蓋赫居閼英二聖之所自也。故稱雞龍雞林白馬等。雞屬西故也。嘗使諸天仙織羅。緋染作朝衣。贈其夫。國人因此始知神驗。

She came to the Jinhan confederacy in the beginning, gave birth to sacred children and became the first king of the eastern country. One day, Saso made a fairy of the heavens weave silk cloth, dye it in scarlet and make a Korean garment. She sent this garment to her husband. This was the first time people in the country knew of her miracles. Probably those children were Aryeong and Hyeokgeose of Silla. That’s why they are called Gye-Nong (Hangul:계농), Gye-Rim (Hangul:계림), Baek-Ma (Hangul:백마) and so on: because Gye (Hangul:계) belongs to the west side.

Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article:

However, the first mention of "Gye-Rim (Hangul:계림), Gye (Hangul:계)" is mentioned for the first time in the Kim Al-ji legend. [6]

Family
N/A사소부인
Saso
혁거세 거서간
Hyeokgeose		알영부인
Aryeong
남해 차차웅
Namhae
  • Husband - Park Hyeokgeose, King of Silla (혁거세 거서간) (69 BC — 4 BC)
    • Unnamed father-in-law[7]
    • Mother-in-law - Lady Saso (사소부인)
  • Issue
    • Son - Park Teuk (박특)
    • Son - Park Namhae, King of Silla (남해 차차웅) (50 BC - 24 BC)[8]
      • Daughter-in-law - Lady Woonje (운제부인) or Lady Ahru (아루부인)
        • Grandson - Il-ji King Galmun (일지 갈문왕)
        • Grandson - Park Yuri, King of Silla (유리 이사금) (? - 57 BC)
        • Granddaughter - Lady Ahyo of the Miryang Park clan (아효부인 박씨)
          • Grandson-in-law - Seok Talhae, King of Silla (탈해 이사금) (19 BC/5 BC - 80 BC August)
            • Great-Grandson - Seok Gu-gwang (석구광)
            • Great-Grandson - Seok Gu-chu (석구추, 昔仇鄒)
            • Adoptive Great-Grandson - Kim Al-ji (김알지, 金閼智) (65 BC - ?) or Kim Seonghan, King of Silla (김성한, 金星漢)[9]
        • Grandson - Park Hwan (박환, 朴桓)
        • Grandson - Park Na-ro (박나로, 朴奈老)
    • Daughter - Princess Ahro (아로공주)
    • Son - Il-ji King Galmun (일지 갈문왕)
      • Granddaughter - Lady Yiri of the Miryang Park clan (이리생부인 박씨)
    • Son - Park Heo-ru, King Galmun (허루 갈문왕)

Worship

She was worshipped as a goddess after death. She was worshipped during droughts, as it was believed she could pour water to stimulate rain. Her holy well was a place of pilgrimage for women who wished to become pregnant.[10]

References
  1. "Encyclopedia of Korean Culture 사소 娑蘇". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
  2. "국어국문학자료사전 사소 娑蘇". 국어국문학자료사전.
  3. 野村伸一. 東シナ海周辺の女神信仰という視点 (PDF). 慶應義塾大学日吉紀要. 言語・文化・コミュニケーション No.26. 慶應義塾大学日吉紀要刊行委員会. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
  4. 延恩株. 新羅の始祖神話と日神信仰の考察 ― 三氏（朴・昔・金）の始祖説話と娑蘇神母説話を中心に ― (PDF). 桜美林大学桜美林論考『言語文化研究』第2号. 桜美林大学. p. 94. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
  5. Yoon, K.J. (2019). "고려시대 東神聖母 숭배의 연원과 의미" (PDF). Seoul National University. No.93: 173–201.
  6. 三國史記 1-1 脫解(Talhae) 尼師今 : 九年 春三月 王夜聞 金城西始林樹間 有鷄鳴聲 遲明遣瓠公視之 有金色小櫝 掛樹枝 白雞鳴於其下 瓠公還告 王使人取櫝開之 有小男兒在其中 姿容奇偉 上喜謂左右曰 此豈非天遺我以令胤乎 乃收養之 及長聰明多智略 乃名閼智 以其出於金櫝 姓金氏 改始林名雞林 因以爲國號 In the spring of nine years, in March, the king heard a chicken crow in the forest of Sirim(始林) west of capital at night. sent Hogong to take a look, and a small golden chestnut was hanging on a branch, and a white chicken was crying underneath it. brought a box and opened it, and there was a small boy in it, and his figure and appearance were strange and big. The king was delighted and said "Heaven has given me a precious son" and raised. As he grew up, he was intelligent and resourceful. The family name was Kim(金) because it came from cashbox(金櫃), and the name was changed to Gyerim(鷄林) and it was named after changing the name of Sirim(始林).
  7. Some sources say either a man named Baekma (백마; lit. White Horse), a man with the last name Park, or a general of the ancient Gojoseon dynasty are said to be Lady Saso’s husband
  8. Was also known by his alternative name Minhae (민해, 愍海)
  9. Eventually became the 15th generation ancestor of King Munmu and the 24th generation ancestor of King Heungdeok
  10. Judika Illes: Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses, 2009
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