Haenim- Korean GodDeity"Sun God"
Also known as: 해님 and Hae-nim
Description
The bold brother who became the sun after escaping a man-eating tiger on a golden rope from heaven. When his shy sister Dalnim begged to switch from day to night, Haenim took the sun willingly — his light shines strong and direct because he has never been afraid of being seen.
Mythology & Lore
The Tiger and the Golden Rope
Haenim and his sister Dalnim are the children of a poor rice-cake seller who is devoured by a tiger on the mountain road home. The tiger takes their mother's clothing and approaches the house in disguise, imitating her voice. The siblings see a tiger's paw through a crack in the door and flee, climbing a tall tree while the beast circles below. When they reveal that sesame oil helped them grip the bark, the tiger oils its paws and climbs after them.
In terror, the children pray to heaven. A golden rope descends and lifts them skyward. The tiger prays as well, and a rope comes down, but rotten. It snaps under the tiger's weight, and the beast falls to its death on a millet field, staining the stalks red.
The Sun by Choice
Safe in heaven, the siblings are offered celestial positions: one will govern the day, the other the night. Dalnim, shy at the thought of people staring at her during the bright hours, begged her brother to let her take the night instead. Haenim agreed without hesitation and became the sun. His sister became the moon, her light soft enough that people could look at her without turning away.
Relationships
- Associated with