Professional Documents
Culture Documents
v
t
Image of the mythical figure
from the Goguryeo-era Ohoe
e
Tomb 4.
The earliest mention of Jumong is in the 4th century Gwanggaeto Monarchs of Korea
Stele. Jumong is the modern Korean transcription of the hanja Goguryeo
Jumong, Chumo, or Jungmo.
1. Chumo 3719 BCE
The Stele states that Jumong was the first king and ancestor of 2. Yuri 19 BCE18 CE
Goguryeo and that he was the son of the prince of Buyeo and 3. Daemusin 1844
daughter of the Chinese deity of the Yellow River Habaek 4. Minjung 4448
(Hangul: ; Hanja: ).[22][23][24][25] The Samguk Sagi and 5. Mobon 4853
Samgungnyusa paint additional detail and names Jumong's mother 6. Taejodae 53146
as Yuhwa (Hangul: ; Hanja: ), daughter of the Chinese 7. Chadae 146165
deity of the Yellow River Habaek.[22][24][25] Jumong's biological 8. Sindae 165179
father was said to be a man named Haemosu (Hangul: ; 9. Gogukcheon 179197
Hanja: ) who is described as a "strong man" and "a 10. Sansang 197227
11. Dongcheon 227248
heavenly prince."[26] The river god chased Yuhwa away to the Ubal
12. Jungcheon 248270
River (Hangul: ; Hanja: ) due to her pregnancy,
13. Seocheon 270292
where she met and became the concubine of Geumwa.
14. Bongsang 292300
Jumong was well known for his exceptional archery skills. 15. Micheon 300331
Eventually, Geumwa's sons became jealous of him, and Jumong 16. Gogugwon 331371
17. Sosurim 371384
was forced to leave Eastern Buyeo.[27] The Stele and later Korean
18. Gogugyang 384391
sources disagree as to which Buyeo Jumong came from. The Stele
says he came from Buyeo and the Samgungnyusa and Samguk Sagi 19. Gwanggaeto the Great 391413
say he came from Eastern Buyeo. Jumong eventually made it to 20. Jangsu 413490
Jolbon, where he married Soseono, daughter of its ruler. He 21. Munja 491519
subsequently became king himself, founding Goguryeo with a 22. Anjang 519531
small group of his followers from his native country. 23. Anwon 531545
24. Yangwon 545559
A traditional account from the "Annals of Baekje" section in the 25. Pyeongwon 559590
Samguk Sagi says that Soseono was the daughter of Yeon Tabal, a 26. Yeongyang 590618
wealthy influential figure in Jolbon[28] and married to Jumong. 27. Yeongnyu 618642
However, the same source officially states that the king of Jolbon 28. Bojang 642668
gave his daughter to Jumong, who had escaped with his followers
from Eastern Buyeo, in marriage. She gave her husband, Jumong,
financial support[29] in founding the new statelet, Goguryeo. After v
Yuri, son of Jumong and his first wife, Lady Ye, came from t
Dongbuyeo and succeeded Jumong, she left Goguryeo, taking her e
two sons Biryu and Onjo south to found their own kingdoms, one
of which was Baekje.
Jumong's given surname was "Hae" (Hangul: ; Hanja: ), the name of the Buyeo rulers. According to the
Samgungnyusa, Jumong changed his surname to "Go" (Hangul: ; Hanja: ) in conscious reflection of his
divine parentage.[30] Jumong is recorded to have conquered the tribal states of Biryu (Hangul: ;
Hanja: ) in 36 BCE, Haeng-in (Hangul: ; Hanja: ) in 33 BCE, and Northern Okjeo in
28 BCE.[31][32]
Taejo conquered the Okjeo tribes of what is now northeastern Korea as well as the Dongye and other tribes
in Southeastern Manchuria and Northern Korea. From the increase of resources and manpower that these
subjugated tribes gave him, Taejodae led Goguryeo in attacking the Han Commanderies of Lelang and
Xuantu in the Korean and Liaodong Peninsulas, becoming fully independent from them.[34]
Generally, Taejodae allowed the conquered tribes to retain their chieftains, but required them to report to
governors who were related to Goguryeo's royal line; tribes under Goguryeo's jurisdiction were expected to
provide heavy tribute. Taejodae and his successors channeled these increased resources to continuing
Goguryeo's expansion to the north and west. New laws regulated peasants and the aristocracy, as tribal
leaders continued to be absorbed into the central aristocracy. Royal succession changed from fraternal to
patrilineal, stabilizing the royal court.[35]
The expanding Goguryeo kingdom soon entered into direct military contact with the Liaodong commandery
to its west. Pressure from Liadong forced Goguryeo to move their capital in the Hun River valley to the Yalu
River valley near Hwando.[36]
GoguryeoWei Wars
When Liaodong was finally conquered by Wei, cooperation between Wei and Goguryeo fell apart and
Goguryeo attacked the western edges of Liaodong, which incited a Wei counterattack in 244. Thus,
Goguryeo initiated the GoguryeoWei Wars in 242, trying to cut off Chinese access to its territories in Korea
by attempting to take a Chinese fort. However, the Wei state responded by invading and defeated Goguryeo.
The capital at Hwando was destroyed by Wei forces in 244.[37] It is said that Dongcheon, with his army
destroyed, fled for a while to the Okjeo state in the east.[38] Wei invaded again in 259 but was defeated at
Yangmaenggok;[39] according to the Samguk Sagi, Jungcheon assembled 5,000 elite cavalry and defeated the
invading Wei troops, beheading 8,000 enemies.[40]
In only 70 years, Goguryeo rebuilt its capital Hwando and again began to raid the Liaodong, Lelang and
Xuantu commandaries. As Goguryeo extended its reach into the Liaodong peninsula, the last Chinese
commandery at Lelang was conquered and absorbed by Micheon in 313, bringing the remaining northern
part of the Korean peninsula into the fold.[41] This conquest resulted in the end of Chinese rule over territory
in the northern Korean peninsula, which had spanned 400 years.[42][43] From that point on, until the 7th
century, territorial control of the peninsula would be contested primarily by the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Goguryeo met major setbacks and defeats during the reign of Gogukwon in the 4th century. In the early 4th
century, the nomadic proto-Mongol Xianbei people occupied northern China;[42] during the winter of 342,
the Xianbei of Former Yan, ruled by the Murong clan, attacked and destroyed Goguryeo's capital, Hwando,
capturing 50,000 Goguryeo men and women to use as slave labor in addition to taking the Queen Dowager
and Queen prisoner,[44] and forced Gogukwon to flee for a while. The Xianbei also devastated Buyeo in 346,
accelerating Buyeo migration to the Korean peninsula.[42] In 371, Geunchogo of Baekje killed Gogukwon in
the Battle of Chiyang and sacked Pyongyang, one of Goguryeo's largest cities.[45]
Sosurim, who succeeded the slain Gogukwon, reshaped the nation's institutions to save it from a great crisis.
[46] Turning to domestic stability and the unification of various conquered tribes, Sosurim proclaimed new
laws, embraced Buddhism as the state religion in 372, and established a national educational institute called
the Taehak (Hangul: ; Hanja: ).[47] Due to the defeats that Goguryeo had suffered at the hands of
the Xianbei and Baekje, Sosurim instituted military reforms aimed at preventing such defeats in the future.
[46][48] Sosurim's internal arrangements laid the groundwork for Gwanggaeto's expansion.[47] His successor
and the father of Gwanggaeto the Great, Gogukyang, invaded Later Yan, the successor state of Former Yan,
in 385 and Baekje in 386.[49][50]
Goguryeo used its military to protect and exploit semi-nomadic peoples, who served as vassals, foot soldiers,
or slaves, such as the Okjeo people in the northeast end of the Korean peninsula, and the Mohe people in
Manchuria, who would later become the Jurchens.[51]
Detail of a rubbing of
the Gwanggaeto Stele
(414 AD), one of the
few surviving records
made by Goguryeo,
written in Classical
Chinese.
Goguryeo experienced a golden age under Gwanggaeto the Great and his son Jangsu.[52][53][54][55] During
this period, Goguryeo territories included three fourths of the Korean Peninsula, including what is now
Seoul, almost all of Manchuria,[56] parts of Inner Mongolia,[57] and parts of Russia.[58] There is
archaeological evidence that Goguryeo's maximum extent lay even further west in present-day Mongolia,
based on discoveries of Goguryeo fortress ruins in Mongolia.[59][60][61]
Gwanggaeto the Great (r. 391412) was a highly energetic emperor who is remembered for his rapid military
expansion of the realm.[48] He instituted the era name of Yeongnak or Eternal Rejoicing, affirming that
Goguryeo was on equal standing with the dynasties in the Chinese mainland.[56][47][62] Gwanggaeto
conquered 64 walled cities and 1,400 villages during his campaigns.[47][56][63] To the west, he destroyed
neighboring Khitan tribes and invaded Later Yan, conquering the entire Liaodong Peninsula;[47][56][62] to the
north and east, he annexed much of Buyeo and conquered the Sushen, who were Tungusic ancestors of the
Jurchens and Manchus;[64] and to the south, he defeated and subjugated Baekje, contributed to the
dissolution of Gaya, and vassalized Silla after defending it from a coalition of Baekje, Gaya, and Wa.[65]
Gwanggaeto brought about a loose unification of the Korean Peninsula,[56][66] and achieved undisputed
control of most of Manchuria and over two thirds of the Korean Peninsula.[56]
Gwanggaeto's exploits were recorded on a huge memorial stele erected by his son Jangsu, located in present-
day Ji'an on the border between China and North Korea.
Jangsu (r. 413491) ascended to the throne in 413 and moved the capital in 427 to Pyongyang, a more
suitable region to grow into a burgeoning metropolitan capital,[67] which led Goguryeo to achieve a high
level of cultural and economic prosperity.[68] Jangsu, like his father, continued Goguryeo's territorial
expansion into Manchuria and reached the Songhua River to the north.[56] He invaded the Khitans, and then
attacked the Didouyu, located in eastern Mongolia, with his Rouran allies.[69] Like his father, Jangsu also
achieved a loose unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.[56] He defeated Baekje and Silla and gained
large amounts of territory from both.[47][56] In addition, Jangsu's long reign saw the perfecting of Goguryeo's
political, economic and other institutional arrangements.[47] Jangsu ruled Goguryeo for 79 years until the age
of 98,[70] the longest reign in East Asian history.[71]
During the reign of Munja, Goguryeo completely annexed Buyeo, signifying Goguryeo's furthest-ever
expansion north, while continuing its strong influence over the kingdoms of Silla and Baekje, and the tribes
of Wuji and Khitan.
Taking advantage of Goguryeo's internal struggle, a nomadic group called the Tuchueh attacked Goguryeo's
northern castles in the 550s and conquered some of Goguryeo's northern lands. Weakening Goguryeo even
more, as civil war continued among feudal lords over royal succession, Baekje and Silla allied to attack
Goguryeo from the south in 551.
In the late 6th and early 7th centuries, Goguryeo was often in military conflict with the Sui and Tang
dynasties of China. Its relations with Baekje and Silla were complex and alternated between alliances and
enmity. A neighbor in the northwest were the Eastern Gktrk which was a nominal ally of Goguryeo.
In 551 AD, Baekje and Silla entered into an alliance to attack Goguryeo and conquer the Han River valley,
an important strategic area close to the center of the peninsula and a very rich agricultural region. After
Baekje exhausted themselves with a series of costly assaults on Goguryeo fortifications, Silla troops, arriving
on the pretense of offering assistance, attacked and took possession of the entire Han River valley in 553.
Incensed by this betrayal, Seong launched a retaliatory strike against Silla's western border in the following
year but was captured and killed.
The war, along the middle of the Korean peninsula, had very important consequences. It effectively made
Baekje the weakest player on the Korean peninsula and gave Silla an important resource and population rich
area as a base for expansion. Conversely, it denied Goguryeo the use of the area, which weakened the
kingdom. It also gave Silla direct access to the Yellow Sea, opening up direct trade and diplomatic access to
the Chinese dynasties and accelerating Silla's adoption of Chinese culture. Thus, Silla could rely less on
Goguryeo for elements of civilization and could get culture and technology directly from China. This
increasing tilt of Silla to China would result in an alliance that would prove disastrous for Goguryeo in the
late 7th century.
GoguryeoSui War
Goguryeo's expansion conflicted with Sui China and increased tensions. In 598, Goguryeo made a
preemptive attack on Liaoxi,[72] leading Emperor Wen to launch a counterattack by land and sea that ended
in disaster for Sui.[73][74]
Sui's most disastrous campaign against Goguryeo was in 612, in which Sui, according to the History of the
Sui Dynasty, mobilized 30 Division armies, about 1,133,800 combat troops. Pinned along Goguryeo's line of
fortifications on the Liao River, a detachment of nine division armies, about 305,000 troops, bypassed the
main defensive lines and headed towards the Goguryeo capital of Pyongyang to link up with Sui naval
forces, who had reinforcements and supplies.
However, Goguryeo was able to defeat the Sui navy, thus when the Sui's nine division armies finally reached
Pyongyang, they didn't have the supplies for a lengthy siege. Sui troops retreated, but General Eulji Mundeok
led the Goguryeo troops to victory by luring the Sui into an ambush outside of Pyongyang. At the Battle of
Salsu, Goguryeo soldiers released water from a dam, which split the Sui army and cut off their escape route.
Of the original 305,000 soldiers of Sui's nine division armies, it is said that only 2,700 escaped to Sui China.
The 613 and 614 campaigns were aborted after launchthe 613 campaign was terminated when the Sui
general Yang Xuangan rebelled against Emperor Yang, while the 614 campaign was terminated after
Goguryeo offered a truce and returned Husi Zheng (), a defecting Sui general who had fled to
Goguryeo, Emperor Yang later had Husi executed. Emperor Yang planned another attack on Goguryeo in
615, but due to Sui's deteroriating internal state he was never able to launch it. Sui was weakened due to
rebellions against Emperor Yang's rule and his failed attempts to conquer Goguryeo. They could not attack
further because the provinces in the Sui heartland would not send logistical support.
Emperor Yang's disastrous defeats in Korea greatly contributed to the collapse of the Sui dynasty.[74][75][76]
Main articles: GoguryeoTang War, First campaign in the GoguryeoTang War, and Siege of Ansi
First campaign in the GoguryeoTang War.
In the winter of 642, King Yeongnyu was apprehensive about Yeon Gaesomun, one of the great nobles of
Goguryeo,[77] and plotted with other officials to kill him. However, Yeon Gaesomun caught news of the plot
and killed Yeongnyu and 100 officials, initiating a coup d'tat. He proceeded to enthrone Yeongnyu's
nephew, Go Jang, as King Bojang while wielding de facto control of Goguryeo himself as the generalissimo
((in Korean)). Yeon Gaesomun took an increasingly provocative stance against Silla and Tang China. In 643,
under pressure from the GoguryeoBaekje alliance, Silla requested military aid from Tang. In 644, Tang
began preparations for a major campaign against Goguryeo.[77]
In 645, Emperor Taizong, who had a personal ambition to defeat Goguryeo and was determined to succeed
where Emperor Yang had failed,[78] personally led an attack on Goguryeo. The Tang army captured a
number of Goguryeo fortresses, including the important Yodong/Liaodong Fortress (, in modern
Liaoyang, Liaoning), and defeated large Goguryeo armies in its path. Ansi City (hanja: , in modern
Haicheng, Anshan, Liaoning) was the last fortress that would clear the Liaodong Peninsula of significant
defensive works and was promptly put under siege. However, the capable defense put up by Ansi's
commanding general (whose name is controversial but traditionally is believed to be Yang Manchun)
stymied Tang forces and, in late fall, with winter fast approaching and his supplies running low, Emperor
Taizong withdrew. The campaign was unsuccessful for the Tang Chinese,[45][79] failing to capture Ansi
Fortress after a protracted siege that lasted more than 60 days.[80] Emperor Taizong invaded Goguryeo again
in 647 and 648, but was defeated both times.[81][82][83][84][85][86]
Emperor Taizong prepared another invasion in 649, but died in the summer, possibly due to an illness he
contracted during his Korean campaigns,[84] and thus was unable to accomplish his ambition of conquering
Goguryeo in his lifetime.[81] Defeating Goguryeo had been an obsession with Emperor Taizong,[79] and after
his death in 649, his son Emperor Gaozong continued his ambition. Upon the suggestion of Kim Chunchu,
the SillaTang alliance first conquered Baekje in 660 to break up the GoguryeoBaekje alliance, and then
turned its full attention to Goguryeo.[87] However, Emperor Gaozong, too, was unable to defeat Goguryeo
led by Yeon Gaesomun;[87][88] one of Yeon Gaesomun's most notable victories came in 662 at the Battle of
Sasu (), where he annihilated the Tang forces and killed the invading general Pang Xiaotai () and
all 13 of his sons.[89][90] Therefore, while Yeon Gaesomun was alive, Tang could not defeat Goguryeo.[91]
Fall
In the summer of 666, Yeon Gaesomun died of a natural cause and Goguryeo was thrown into chaos and
weakened by a succession struggle among his sons and younger brother.[92] He was initially succeeded as
Dae Mangniji, the highest position newly made under the ruling period of Yeon Gaesomun, by his oldest son
Yeon Namsaeng. As Yeon Namsaeng subsequently carried out a tour of Goguryeo territory, however, rumors
began to spread both that Yeon Namsaeng was going to kill his younger brothers Yeon Namgeon and Yeon
Namsan, whom he had left in charge at Pyongyang, and that Yeon Namgeon and Yeon Namsan were
planning to rebel against Yeon Namsaeng. When Yeon Namsaeng subsequently sent officials close to him
back to Pyongyang to try to spy on the situation, Yeon Namgeon arrested them and declared himself Dae
Mangniji, attacking his brother. Yeon Namsaeng sent his son Cheon Heonseong (), as Yeon
Namsaeng changed his family name from Yeon () to Cheon () observe naming taboo for Emperor
Gaozu, to Tang to seek aid. Emperor Gaozong saw this as an opportunity and sent an army to attack and
destroy Goguryeo. In the middle of Goguryeo's power struggles between Yeon Gaesomun's successors, his
younger brother, Yeon Jeongto, defected to the Silla side.[92]
In 667, the Chinese army crossed the Liao River and captured Shin/Xin Fortress (, in modern Fushun,
Liaoning). The Tang forces thereafter fought off counterattacks by Yeon Namgeon, and joined forces with
and received every possible assistance from the defector Yeon Namsaeng,[92] although they were initially
unable to cross the Yalu River due to resistance. In spring of 668, Li Ji turned his attention to Goguryeo's
northern cities, capturing the important city of Buyeo (, in modern Nong'an, Jilin). In fall of 668, he
crossed the Yalu River and put Pyongyang under siege in concert with the Silla army.
Yeon Namsan and Bojang surrendered, and while Yeon Namgeon continued to resist in the inner city, his
general, the Buddhist monk Shin Seong () turned against him and surrendered the inner city to Tang
forces. Yeon Namgeon tried to commit suicide, but was seized and treated. This was the end of Goguryeo,
and Tang annexed Goguryeo into its territory, with Xue Rengui being put initially in charge of former
Goguryeo territory as protector general. The violent dissension resulting from Yeon Gaesomun's death
proved to be the primary reason for the TangSilla triumph, thanks to the division, defections, and
widespread demoralization it caused.[13] The alliance with Silla had also proved to be invaluable, thanks to
the ability to attack Goguryeo from opposite directions, and both military and logistical aid from Silla.[13]
However, there was much resistance to Tang rule (fanned by Silla, which was displeased that Tang did not
give it Goguryeo or Baekje's territory), and in 669, following Emperor Gaozong's order, a part of the
Goguryeo people were forced to move to the region between the Yangtze River and the Huai River, as well
as the regions south of the Qinling Mountains and west of Chang'an, only leaving old and weak inhabitants
in the original land. Some people entered the service of the Tang government, such as Go Sagye and his son
Gao Xianzhi(Go Seonji in Korean), the famed general who commanded the Tang forces at the Battle of
Talas.[93][94][95][96][97]
Silla thus unified most of the Korean peninsula in 668, but the kingdom's reliance on China's Tang Dynasty
had its price. Tang set up the Protectorate General to Pacify the East, governed by Xue Rengui, but faced
increasing problems ruling the former inhabitants of Goguryeo, as well as Silla's resistance to Tang's
remaining presence on the Korean Peninsula. Silla had to forcibly resist the imposition of Chinese rule over
the entire peninsula, which lead to the SillaTang Wars, but their own strength did not extend beyond the
Taedong River.
Revival movements
After the fall of Goguryeo in 668, many Goguryeo people rebelled against the Tang and Silla by starting
Goguryeo revival movements. Among these were Geom Mojam, Dae Jung-sang, and several famous
generals. The Tang Dynasty tried but failed to establish several commanderies to rule over the area.
In 677, Tang crowned Bojang as the "King of Joseon" and put him in charge of the Liaodong commandery of
the Protectorate General to Pacify the East. However, Bojang continued to foment rebellions against Tang in
an attempt to revive Goguryeo, organizing Goguryeo refugees and allying with the Mohe tribes. He was
eventually exiled to Sichuan in 681, and died the following year.
The Protectorate General to Pacify the East was installed by the Tang government to rule and keep control
over the former territories of the fallen Goguryeo. It was first put under the control of Tang General Xue
Rengui, but was later replaced by Bojang due the negative responses of the Goguryeo people. Bojang was
sent into exile for assisting Goguryeo revival movements, but was succeeded by his descendants. Bojang's
descendants declared independence from Tang during the same period as the An Lushan Rebellion and Li
Zhengji(Yi Jeong-gi in Korean)'s rebellion in Shandong.[98][99] The Protectorate General to Pacify the East
was renamed "Little Goguryeo" until its eventual absorption into Balhae under the reign of Seon.
Geom Mojam and Anseung rose briefly at the Han Fortress (, , in modern Chaeryong, South
Hwanghae), but failed, when Anseung surrendered to Silla. Go Anseung ordered the assassination of Geom
Mojam, and defected to Silla, where he was given a small amount of land to rule over. There, Anseung
established the State of Bodeok (, ), incited a rebellion, which was promptly crushed by Sinmun.
Anseung was then forced to reside in the Silla capital, given a Silla bride and had to adopt the Silla Royal
surname of "Kim."
Dae Jung-sang and his son Dae Jo-yeong, both former Goguryeo generals, regained most of Goguryeo's
northern land after its downfall in 668, established the Kingdom of Jin (, ), which was renamed to
Balhae after 713. To the south of Balhae, Silla controlled the Korean peninsula south of the Taedong River,
and Manchuria (present-day northeastern China) was conquered by Balhae. Balhae considered itself
(particularly in diplomatic correspondence with Japan) a successor state of Goguryeo.
In 901, Gung Ye, a rebel general, established Later Goguryeo, later renamed to Taebong, which considered
itself to be a successor of Goguryeo and rebelled against Later Silla. In 918, Wang Geon overthrew Gung Ye
and established Goryeo, which unified the Later Three Kingdoms and ruled the Korean peninsula until 1392
as the successor of Goguryeo.[100][101][102][103] Wang Geon was a descendant of Goguryeo,[104] and traced
his ancestry to a noble Goguryeo clan.[105]
In the 10th century, Balhae collapsed and much of its ruling class and the last crown prince, Dae Gwang-
hyeon, fled to Goryeo, where he was warmly welcomed and included in the ruling family by Wang Geon,
thus unifying the two successor nations of Goguryeo.[106]
Military
Main article: Military history of Goguryeo
Goguryeo was a highly militaristic state.[107][108] Initially, there were 4 partially autonomous districts based
on the cardinal directions, and a central district led by the monarch; however, in the first century the cardinal
districts became centralized and administrated by the central district, and by the end of the 3rd century, they
lost all political and military authority to the monarch.[109] In the 4th century, after suffering defeats against
the Xianbei and Baekje during the reign of Gogukwon, Sosurim instituted military reforms that paved the
way for Gwanggaeto's conquests.[46][47] During its height, Goguryeo was able to mobilize 300,000 troops.
[110][111] Goguryeo often enlisted semi-nomadic vassals, such as the Mohe people, as foot soldiers.[51] Every
man in Goguryeo was required to serve in the military, or could avoid conscription by paying extra grain tax.
A Tang treatise of 668 records a total of 675,000 displaced personnel and 176 military garrisons after the
surrender of Bojang.
Equipment
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The main projectile weapon used in Goguryeo was the bow. The bows were modified to be more composite
and increase throwing ability on par with crossbows. To a lesser extent, stone-throwing machines and
crossbows were also used. Polearms, used against the cavalry and in open order, were mostly spears. Two
types of swords were used by Goguryeo warriors. The first was a shorter double-edged variant mostly used
for throwing. The other was longer single-edged sword with minimal hilt and ring pommel, of obvious
eastern han influence. The helmets were similar to helmets used by Central Asian peoples, decorated with
wings, leathers and horsetails. The shield was the main protection, which covered most of the soldier's body.
These cavalry were called Gaemamusa (, ), which is similar type with that of Cataphract.
Fortifications
Organization
Two hunts per year, led by the king himself, maneuvers exercises, hunt-maneuvers and parades were
conducted to give the Goguryeo soldier a high level of individual training.
There were five armies in the capital, mostly cavalry that were personally led by the king, numbering
approximately 12,500. Military units varied in number from 21,000 to 36,000 soldiers, were located in the
provinces, and were led by the governors. Military colonies near the boundaries consisted mostly of soldiers
and peasants. There were also private armies held by aristocrats. This system allowed Goguryeo to maintain
and utilize an army of 50,000 without added expense, and 300,000 through large mobilization in special
cases.
Goguryeo units were divided according to major weapons: spearmen, axemen, archers composed of those on
foot and horseback, and heavy cavalry that included armored and heavy spear divisions. Other groups like
the catapult units, wall-climbers, and storm units were part of the special units and were added to the
common. The advantage of this functional division is highly specialized combat units, while the
disadvantage is that it was impossible for one unit to make complex, tactical actions.
Strategy
The military formation had the general and his staff with guards in the middle of the army. The archers were
defended by axemen. In front of the general were the main infantry forces, and on the flanks were rows of
heavy cavalry ready to counterattack in case of a flank attack by the enemy. In the very front and rear was the
light cavalry, used for intelligence, pursuit, and for weakening the enemy's strike. Around the main troops
were small groups of heavy cavalrymen and infantry. Each unit was prepared to defend the other by
providing mutual support.
Goguryeo implemented a strategy of active defense based on cities. Besides the walled cities and fortified
camps, this active defense system used small units of light cavalry to continuously harass the enemy, de-
blockade units and strong reserves, consisting of the best soldiers, to strike hard at the end.
Goguryeo also employed military intelligence and special tactics as an important part of the strategy.
Goguryeo was good at disinformation, such as sending only stone spearheads as tribute to the Chinese court
when they were in the Iron Age. Goguryeo had developed its system of espionage. One of the most famous
spies, Baekseok, mentioned in the Samguk yusa, was able to infiltrate the Hwarangs of Silla.
Foreign relations
The militaristic nature of Goguryeo has frequently drawn them into conflicts with dynasties in
China.[citation needed] In the times when they are not in war with China, Goguryeo occasionally sent tributes
to some of the Chinese dynasties as a form of trade and nonaggression pact. These activities of exchange
promoted cultural and religious flow from China into the Korean peninsula. Goguryeo has also received
tribute from other Korean kingdoms and neighboring tribal states, and frequently mobilized Malgal people in
their military. Baekje and Goguryeo maintained their regional rivalry throughout their history, although they
eventually formed an alliance in their wars against Silla and Tang.[citation needed]
Culture
Goguryeo roof-tile
The culture of Goguryeo was shaped by its climate, religion, and the tense society that people dealt with due
to the numerous wars Goguryeo waged. Not much is known about Goguryeo culture, as many records have
been lost.
Lifestyle
The inhabitants of Goguryeo wore a predecessor of the modern hanbok, just as the other cultures of the three
kingdoms. There are murals and artifacts that depict dancers wearing elaborate white dresses.
Common pastimes among Goguryeo people were drinking, singing, or dancing. Games such as wrestling
attracted curious spectators.
Every October, the Dongmaeng Festival was held. The Dongmaeng Festival was practiced to worship the
gods. The ceremonies were followed by huge celebratory feasts, games, and other activities. Often, the king
performed rites to his ancestors.
Hunting was a male activity and also served as an appropriate means to train young men for the military.
Hunting parties rode on horses and hunted deer and other game with bows-and-arrows. Archery contests also
occurred.
Religion
Goguryeo people worshipped ancestors and considered them to be supernatural.[112] Jumong, the founder of
Goguryeo, was worshipped and respected among the people. There was even a temple in Pyongyang
dedicated to Jumong. At the annual Dongmaeng Festival, a religious rite was performed for Jumong,
ancestors, and gods.
Mythical beasts and animals were also considered to be sacred in Goguryeo. The phoenix and dragon were
both worshipped, while the Samjogo, the three-legged crow that represented the sun, was considered the
most powerful of the three. Paintings of mythical beasts exist in Goguryeo king tombs today.
They also believed in the 'Sasin', who were 4 mythical animals. Chungryong or Chunryonga (blue dragon)
guarded the east, baek-ho (white tiger) guarded the west, jujak (red phoenix (bird)) guarded the south, and
hyunmu (black turtle (sometimes with snakes for a tail)) guarded the north. These mythical animals are
similar to the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise of the Four Symbols.
Buddhism was first introduced to Goguryeo in 372.[113] The government recognized and encouraged the
teachings of Buddhism and many monasteries and shrines were created during Goguryeo's rule, making
Goguryeo the first kingdom in the region to adopt Buddhism. However, Buddhism was much more popular
in Silla and Baekje, which Goguryeo passed Buddhism to.[113]
Cultural linkage
Goguryeo art, preserved largely in tomb paintings, is noted for the vigour of its imagery. Finely detailed art
can be seen in Goguryeo tombs and other murals. Many of the art pieces has an original style of painting.
Cultural legacies of Goguryeo may be found in modern Korean culture, for example: Korean fortress,
ssireum,[114] taekkyeon,[115][116] Korean dance, ondol, Goguryeo's floor heating system, and the hanbok.[117]
Legacy
Remains of walled towns, fortresses, palaces, tombs, and artifacts have been found in North Korea and
Manchuria, including ancient paintings in a Goguryeo tomb complex in Pyongyang. Some ruins are also still
visible in present-day China, for example at Wun Mountain, suspected to be the site of Jolbon fortress, near
Huanren in Liaoning province on the present border with North Korea. Ji'an is also home to a large collection
of Goguryeo era tombs, including what Chinese scholars consider to be the tombs of Gwanggaeto and his
son Jangsu, as well as perhaps the best-known Goguryeo artifact, the Gwanggaeto Stele, which is one of the
primary sources for pre-5th-century Goguryeo history.
UNESCO added Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom in present-day China and
Complex of Goguryeo Tombs in present-day North Korea to the World Heritage Sites in 2004.
Name
The modern English name "Korea" derives from Goryeo (also spelled as Kory) (918-1392), which regarded
itself as the genuine successor of Goguryeo.[100][101][102][103] The name Goryeo was first used during the
reign of Jangsu in the 5th century. Goguryeo is also referred to as Goryeo after 520 AD in Chinese and
Japanese historical and diplomatic sources.[118][119]
Language
Main article: Goguryeo language
See also: Old Korean and Buyeo Languages
There have been some academic attempts to reconstruct the Goguryeo words based on the fragments of
toponyms, recorded in the Samguk Sagi, of the areas once possessed by Goguryeo. However, the reliability
of the toponyms as linguistic evidence is still in dispute.[2] Some linguists propose the so-called "Buyeo
languages" family that includes the languages of Buyeo, Goguryeo, Baekje. Chinese records also suggest
that the languages of Goguryeo, Buyeo, East Okjeo, and Gojoseon were similar, while Goguryeo language
differed from that of Malgal (Mohe).[120][121][122]
Controversies
This section may need to be rewritten entirely to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. You
can help. The discussion page may contain suggestions. (October 2014)
Main article: Goguryeo controversies
See also: Northeast Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Goguryeo was traditionally viewed in China as a Korean kingdom, but in modern times, the Chinese
government began to recharacterize Goguryeo as a part of the Chinese empire rather than an independent
Korean kingdom. This received heated criticisms from Korean scholars, Goguryeo experts from various
countries and also some Chinese scholars.[123][124][125] Mark Byington, a prominent expert on Goguryeo,
believes some Chinese historians, particularly "revisionists", are conceiving of ancient China in terms of the
territorial bounds of the modern Chinese state, which, he claims, is a view unsupported by historical
evidence.[126]
Both South Korea and North Korea officially condemned China's attempt to rewrite history. Online
discussion regarding this topic has increased. The Internet has provided a platform for a broadening
participation in the discussion of Goguryeo in both South Korea and China. Thomas Chase points out that
despite the growing online discussion on this subject, this has not led to a more objective treatment of this
history, nor a more critical evaluation of its relationship to national identity.[127]
See also
Cheolli Jangseong
History of Korea
Taebong
Military history of Korea
References
Citations
Sources
Beckwith, Christopher I. (2007). Koguryo: The Language of Japans Continental Relatives: An
Introduction to the Historical-Comparative Study of the Japanese-Koguryoic Languages, with a
Preliminary Description of Archaic Northeastern Middle Chinese (Second Edition. ed.). BRILL.
ISBN 978-90-474-2028-6.
Pozzi, Alessandra; Janhunen, Juha Antero; Weiers, Michael, eds. (2006). Tumen Jalafun Jecen Aku:
Manchu Studies in Honour of Giovanni Stary. Volume 20 of Tunguso Sibirica. Giovanni Stary
(Contributor). Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 344705378X. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
Further reading
Byeon, Tae-seop (1999). (Outline of Korean history), 4th ed. Unknown Publisher.
ISBN 89-445-9101-6.
US Library of Congress, Unknown Author (n.d.), South Korea:The Three Kingdom Periods, Unknown
Publisher
Metropolitan Museum, Unknown Author (n.d.), Korea, 1-500AD, Unknown Publisher
Yonson, Ahn (2006), Korea China Textbook War. What's It All About?, History News Network
Ramzy, Austin (2004-08-16), Rewriting History, Time Magazine, retrieved 2010-05-03 Check date
values in: |year=, |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
Klingner, Bruce (2004), China Shock for South Korea, Asia Time
Shin, Hyoung-Sik (2003), History of Koguryo, Ewha Womans University Press, South Korea
Lee, Wha (n.d.), Forgotten Glory of Koguryo, Kimsoft.com
Brown, John (2006), China, Japan, Korea. Culture and Custom, BookSurge Publishing, ISBN 978-1-
4196-4893-9
Beckwith, Christopher I. (August 2003), Ancient Koguryo, Old Koguryo, and the Relationship of
Japanese to Korean (PDF) , Michigan State University, retrieved 2006-03-12
Unknown Author (n.d.), Koguryo, Britannica Encyclopedia
"Koguryo", Encarta, MSN, 2007, archived from the original on 2009-11-02, retrieved 2007-03-12
Unknown Author (2005), "Korea", Columbia Encyclopedia, Bartleby.com, retrieved 2007-03-12
CIA World Factbook (2007), Korea, South, CIA, retrieved 2007-04-27
Sun, Jinji (2004a), Dongbei minzu yuanliu (The Ethnic Origin of the Northeast), Heilongjiang
People's Publishing House
Sun, Jinji (1986), Zhongguo Gaogoulishi yanjiu kaifang fanrong de liunian (Six Years of Opening and
Prosperity of Koguryo History Research), Heilongjiang People's Publishing House
Sun, Jinji (2004b), Renmin jiaoyu chubanshe lishixi (History Department of People's Education
Press), Zhongguo lishi (Chinese History) II, Heilongjiang People's Publishing House
MyGoguryeo, Unknown (n.d.), The Pride History of Korea, MyGoguryeo.net (WWW)
Byington, Mark (2004a), Koguryo Part of China?, Koreanstudies mailing list (WWW)
Byington, Mark (2004b), The War of Words Between South Korea and China Over An Ancient
Kingdom: Why Both Sides Are Misguided, History News Network (WWW)
Chase, Thomas (2011), "Nationalism on the Net: Online discussion of Goguryeo history in China and
South Korea", China Information, 25 (1): 6182
ScienceView, Unknown Author (n.d.), Cultural Development of the Three Kingdoms, ScienceView
(WWW), archived from the original on 2006-08-22
Rhee, Song nai (1992) Secondary State Formation: The Case of Koguryo State. In Aikens, C. Melvin
(1992). Pacific northeast Asia in prehistory: hunter-fisher-gatherers, farmers, and sociopolitical elites.
WSU Press. ISBN 978-0-87422-092-6.
Asmolov, V. Konstantin. (1992). The System of Military Activity of Koguryo, Korea Journal, v. 32.2,
103116, 1992.
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