Magic Eggs and the Frontier of Stem Cell Science (Essays‪)‬

Two myths about eggs figure prominently in the story of Korea's national origin. First there is the tale of Pak Hyeokkeose, the first ruler of Shilla, the ancient Buddhist state that evolved into what is now North and South Korea. According to legend, the six leaders of the city-states that would eventually become Shilla decided that they needed a king to rule over them. They gathered in the wilderness and prayed for guidance. Suddenly there was a flash of lightning, and on the ground appeared an enormous egg. Out of this egg emerged a young boy. The leaders quickly took the child and led him to a secluded temple in the south where he was raised to be king. Then there is the story of Seok T'alhae, the son of the king and queen of the Wanha region. He, too, emerged from a giant egg. But the king's advisors warned that this supernatural event was a bad omen. So the king put his son on a boat and sent him away. The boat eventually reached Shilla. There the boy grew up and became Shilla's fourth ruler.