Seokga is one of the most ancient deities in Korean mythology. He is a trickster god who was involved in the creation of the world and is indirectly responsible for all the suffering and sorrow in the world today.
According to the myths, Seokga was also the first person to rule over the Earth after Miruek, the Korean creator god, created it.
In some other accounts, Seokga is portrayed in a more positive light. He is said to be the creator of all other human races that exist in the world today. He also helped early humans to understand how food can be properly cooked and enjoyed.
Origin of Seokga
It is impossible to discuss Korean history and mythology without mentioning the deep influence of Chinese philosophies on these myths. Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism were very popular in ancient Korea. These ideas significantly shaped the mythical stories that emerged from the region.
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Seokga, for example, is named after Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. However, the stories associated with this god do not reflect Buddhist principles and might have been developed independently. Seokga is seen as an embodiment of chaos and change in Korean culture.
There is very little information about Seokga’s origin in the Korean pantheon. Unlike other gods, it is not mentioned if Seokga once lived as a human before he ascended to heaven and became a god. Also, Seokga’s parents, lineage, or physical characteristics are not mentioned.
Mireuk and Seokga in the creation of the world
One of the few mentions of Seokga is seen in the Korean creation story. According to this story, the universe initially existed as a single, undivided entity in chaos. From this chaos, Mireuk, the Korean creator god, was born to establish order.
After Mireuk emerged, he separated heaven and Earth with four copper pillars placed at the four corners of the Earth.
As Mireuk separated the Earth, two suns and two moons appeared in the sky, making the Earth too hot during the day and too cold during the night. To solve this problem, Mireuk destroyed one sun and one moon and turned them into stars.
After creating the Earth and everything within it, Mireuk cast a spell towards heaven, and a male and female caterpillar descended. These caterpillars became the first man and the first woman.
The three contests of Mireuk and Seokga
Everything on Earth was perfect and complete after the creation of the first man and woman. However, Seokga (Sakyamuni) was jealous and wanted the Earth for himself. He appeared to Mireuk and challenged him to a contest to determine who would rule over the world. Miruek accepted the demands, and the two gods engaged in three contests: a tug-of-war at sea, freezing a river, and making a flower bloom.
Although Mireuk won the first two challenges, he fell asleep during the final contest. While asleep, a flower blossomed on his body, but Seokga stole the flower and declared himself the winner.
Weary of Seokga’s Deceit, Mireuk cursed the world with sickness, war, corruption and every other evil plaguing the world today. He then withdrew into the heavens.
In some ancient Korean teachings, it is believed that Mireuk will return one day and make everything perfect as it was in the beginning.
Powers and Abilities of Seokga
Seokga is primarily known for his cleverness and manipulative abilities. He is also credited with the ability to create life.
According to ancient Korean stories, Mireuk created only the first man and woman. After the contest, Seokga became the first ruler of the world, and he created several thousands of people of all races. He also taught important life skills, such as cooking.