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{{Short description|Prehistoric site on Jeju Island, South Korea}}
{{Expand Korean|topic=cult|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox historic site
|name=Samseonghyeol
|image=삼성혈.jpg
|caption=The three depressions in the ground (2016)
|coordinates={{coord|33.5047|126.5293|display=inline,title}}
|designation1=Historic Sites of South Korea
|designation1_offname=Samseonghyeol Shrine, Jeju
|designation1_date=1964-06-10
|designation1_number=134
|mapframe=yes
|mapframe-zoom=13
|embedded={{Infobox Korean name
|hangul=삼성혈
|hanja=三姓穴
|rr=Samseonghyeol
|mr=Samsŏnghyŏl
|child=yes
}}
}}
The '''Samseonghyeol''' ({{Korean|hangul=삼성혈|hanja=三姓穴|lit=three clans' holes}}) is an archeological, historical, and cultural landmark in [[Jeju City]], [[Jeju Province]], South Korea.

It is associated with a Jeju founding legend. It is believed that three demigods emerged from the holes in the ground on this site, and became the first people of the island.

== Information ==
{{main article|Samseong mythology}}

The site is located in the city center of [[Jeju City]] and consists mainly of a shrine and a depression from which,<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last=현 |first=용준 |title=삼성혈 (三姓穴) |work=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]] |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0026674 |access-date=2024-06-18 |publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]] |language=ko}}</ref> according to legend, three demigods emerged from the ground to become the founding fathers of the ancient kingdom of [[Tamna]] and its people.<ref name=":1">{{Citation |last=현 |first=용준 |title=삼성 신화 (三姓 神話) |work=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]] |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0026659 |access-date=2024-06-18 |publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]] |language=ko}}</ref> Three families (or clans) bear the name and claim descendance from those deities.<ref name=":0" />
* Go Eulna ({{Korean|hangul=고을나|hanja=高乙那|mr=Ko Ŭlna|labels=no}})<ref name=":0" />
* Ryang Eulna ({{Korean|hangul=양을나|hanja=良乙那|mr=Ryang Ŭlna|labels=no}})<ref name=":0" />
* Bu Eulna ({{Korean|hangul=부을나|hanja=夫乙那|mr=Pu Ŭlna|labels=no}})<ref name=":0" />
==The Legend of the Eulna==

The myth states that in the beginning, there were no people in Tamna. According to old records (Goryeosa, Yeongjuji), there first was a strangely outstanding mountain called [[Hallasan]]. The clouds and the sea were clearly visible far above and below, and Hallasan, the main mountain, cast out three gods at a place called 'Moheung' at the northern foot of the island.<ref name=":1" /> This was about 4,300 years ago, and the place is now called Samseonghyeol (三姓穴) because of the Samshinin (三神人) that came out (湧出).{{Cn|date=June 2024}} These deities were called Eulna. They were the founders of the three surnames, and they founded the kingdom of Tamna.<ref name=":1" />[[File:Three sacred holes in Jeju.JPG|thumb|The shrine]]The deities' shapes were very tall and large, giving them the appearance of immortals not found in human society.{{Cn|date=June 2024}} These three gods wore leather clothes and lived a primitive hunting life. One day, they climbed Hallasan and looked at the far eastern sea, where they saw a wooden box sealed with purple soil coming up along with the waves. Following the wooden chest, they arrived at the seashore of Onpyeong-ri, Seongsan-eup, and opened the wooden chest. There was a round jade box the shape of an egg inside, and a messenger wearing a purple robe.<ref name=":1" />

When the deities opened the jade box, three virgins, elegantly dressed in blue clothes with beautiful purple hues came out. They sat down together and brought cattle and five-grain seeds out on the coastal hill of Yeonhonpo.<ref name=":1" />

Accordingly, the three gods carefully prepared offerings, performed rites, and announced to the heavens that they would marry each of the three princesses. They set up a bridal chamber in a cave next to the pond, and lived from then on as human beings.<ref name=":1" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070127005411/http://www.teachenglishinasia.net/samseong-hyeol Samseonghyeol (English)]
* [https://terms.naver.com/entry.naver?docId=1022283&cid=50222&categoryId=50228 Naver Encyclopedia Samseonghyeol [三姓穴] (Korean Folk Beliefs Dictionary: Village Faith Edition, 2009. 11. 12.)]
[[Category:Geography of Jeju Province]]
[[Category:Jeju mythology]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Jeju Province]]
[[Category:Historic Sites of South Korea]]
[[Category:Tamna]]
[[Category:Places in Korean mythology]]
{{Asia-myth-stub}}