Students learn that the tul represents "The holy legendary founder of Korea in the year 2333 BC". Unusually for a tul, all the punches in Dangun are high section (at eye level), symbolising Dangun scaling a mountain.
Dangun's ancestry begins with his grandfather Hwanin, the "Lord of Heaven" (a name which also appears in Indian Buddhist texts). Hwanin had a son Hwanung who yearned to live on the earth among the valleys and the mountains. Hwanin permitted Hwanung and 3000 followers to descend onto Baekdu Mountain, then called Taebaek Mountain , where Hwanung founded Sinsi ( "City of God"). Along with his ministers of clouds, rain, and wind, he instituted laws and moral codes and taught humans various arts, medicine, and agriculture.
A tiger and a bear prayed to Hwanung that they may become human. Upon hearing their prayers, Hwanung gave them 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort, ordering them to eat only this sacred food and remain out of the sunlight for 100 days. The tiger gave up after about twenty days and left the cave. However, the bear remained and was transformed into a woman.
The bear-woman (Ungnyeo;) was grateful and made offerings to Hwanung. However, she lacked a husband, and soon became sad and prayed beneath a Sindansu ("Divine Betula") tree to be blessed with a child. Hwanung, moved by her prayers, took her for his wife and soon she gave birth to a son, who was named Dangun Wanggeom.
Dangun ascended to the throne, built the walled city of Pyongyang (present capital of North Korea), and called the kingdom Joseon. He then moved his capital to Asadal on Mount Baegak (or Mount Gunghol). Fifteen hundred years later, in the year Kimyo, King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty enfeoffed Jizi to Joseon, and Dangun moved his capital to Jangdangyeong. Finally, he returned to Asadal and became a mountain god at the age of 1,908.
DAN-GUN
Movements - 21
Ready Posture - PARALLEL READY STANCE
1. Move 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 knife-hand.
2. Move the right foot to B forming a right walking stance toward B while executing a high punch to B with the right fist.
3. Move the right foot to A turning clockwise to form a left L-stance toward A, at the same time executing a middle guarding block to A with a knife-hand.
4. Move the left foot to A forming a left walking stance toward A while executing a high punch to A with the left fist.
5. Move the left foot to D forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a low block to D with the left forearm.
6. Move the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D while executing a high punch to D with the right fist.
7. Move the left foot to D forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a high punch to D with the left fist.
8. Move the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D while executing a high punch to D with the right fist.
9. Move the left foot to E, turning counter clockwise to form a right L-stance toward E while executing a twin forearm block to E.
10. Move the right foot to E forming a right walking stance toward E while executing a high punch to E with the right fist.
11. Move the right foot to F turning clockwise to form a left L-stance toward F while executing a twin forearm block to F.
12. Move the left foot to F forming a left walking stance toward F while executing a high punch to F with the left fist.
13. Move the left foot to C forming a left walking stance toward C while executing a low block to C with the left forearm.
14. Execute a rising block with the left forearm, maintaining the left walking stance toward C. Perform 13 and 14 in a continuous motion.
15. Move the right foot to C forming a right walking stance toward C, at the same time executing a rising block with the right forearm.
16. Move the left foot to C forming a left walking stance toward C, at the same time executing a rising block with the left forearm.
17. Move the right foot to C forming a right walking stance toward C, at the same time executing a rising block with the right forearm.
18. Move the left foot to B turning counter clockwise to form a right L-stance toward B while executing a middle outward strike to B with the left knife-hand.
19. Move the right foot to B forming a right walking stance toward B while executing a high punch to B with the right fist.
20. Move the right foot to A turning clockwise to form a left L-stance toward A while executing a middle outward strike to A with the right knife-hand.
21. Move the left foot to A forming a left walking stance toward A while executing a high punch to A with the left fist.
END: Bring the left foot back to a ready posture.