Goguryeo or Koguryo 高句麗

Hunting scene from Koguryo tomb, late 5th century AD

Goguryeo was an ancient kingdom located in southern Manchuria (present-day Northeast China), southern Russian Maritime province, and the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, along with Baekje and Silla, and it is also considered an important regional kingdom in Manchuria by the People's Republic of China. It was an active participant in the power struggle for control of the Korean peninsula as well as the foreign affairs of associated polities in China and Japan. The Samguk Sagi, a 12th century CE Goryeo text, indicate that Goguryeo was founded in 37 BCE by Jumong, a prince from Buyeo, although there is archaeological evidence that suggests Goguryeo culture was in existence since the 2nd century BCE around the fall of Gojoseon, an earlier kingdom that also occupied southern Manchuria and northern Korea. It was a major regional power of East Asia until it was defeated by a Silla-Tang alliance in 668 CE. After its defeat, it was later divided between the Tang Dynasty, Unified Silla and Balhae; some of the territory might have also been taken by the Khitan, still in tribal form at this point.

Koguryo (Kao-chii-li) had a history of 300 years before it overthrew Lo-lang Province and laid the ground for its power expansion on the peninsula. According to the legend of Koguryo, the tribe originated from the Fu-yii tribe in northern Manchuria and had occupied an area at the foot

of the Long White Mountains by the time it made its first appearance in history around 100 B.C. Its members probably moved south along the Sungari River from their original community. After the Hsian-t'u Province moved in about 75 B.C. from the present Hamgyong-do to the north of the Yalu River, the Koguryo tribes led their life independently outside its boundaries. In the early days of the Latter Han Dynasty, their chief was given the title of the King of Koguryo, and they were usually obedient to China, receiving Han ranks and official uniforms. Yet at times they made inroads to the

Province, the Koguryo tribesmen Were put under the control of the Province but attacking also Liao-tung Province, mov ing across the Liao River and staging battles with the Chinese forces.

At the end of Latter Han period of China, the Kung-sun family who established the Tai-fang Province sent forces to fight Koguryo and finalJy defeated the tribe at its stronghold along the T'ung-chia River. Driven out of their city, the Koguryo moved south to build a new city calJed Wan-tu on the so-called T'ung-kou plain lying between the Yalu River and one of its tributaries, the T'ung-kou River, around 210 A.D. The City of Wan-tu, also known as the Castle of Kungnae, is believed to have been located near either the present T'ung-kou County across the river from Manp'o-jin in the P'yongan-pukto, or the Shan-cheng-tzu Fortress situated north of T'ung-kou. A score of ancient mounds are to be found in the area today, and a number of mounds con­taining a beautiful wall painting have been discovered.

The Koguryos, who suffered a blow at the hand of the Kung-sun family, recovered from the damage in their new stronghold and renewed their attack on Hsiian-t'u Province. When Wei Kingdom in North China ~ttacked Wu Kingdom in the south, Koguryo made an alliance with Wei forcing the Kung-suns to fight on two fronts; at the same time, Koguryo established ties with Wu sending emissaries via the sea to the court Sun Ch'iian, on a policy of befriending distant states and antagonizing neighbors. But after the Kung-suns were destroyed by Wei in 238 A.D., Koguryo faced invasion from Wei and Wu. In 244A.D., General Wu­Ch'iu Chien of Wei captured Wan-tu and, in the following year, sent the governor of Hsian-t'u Province to drive the king of Koguryo far out into the land of Wo-chi or the present Hamgyong-do and had the governors of the Lo-Iang and Tai-fang Provinces clear the eastern coast of the peninsula which had been under the control of Koguryo.

Koguryo appeared completely subdued for some time as a result of these extensive maneuvers; but the tribe again came to life and staged an offensive in the Liao-tung area during the Western Chin Period (265-316 A.D.). At this time, the provinces of Lo-Iang and Tai-fang were under the control of Chang T'ung who came from Liao-tung. Chang T'ung opposed the newly risen Koguryo for some time but finally retreated to Liao-hsi in 313 A.D. with his subjects, to leave Lo-Iang and Tai-fang entirely in the hands of Koguryo. Usually, this year is regarded as the last of the Lo-Iang Province-just 420 years after Wu-ti of Han set up the four provinces on the peninsula. Koguryo's ultimate victory is attributed to a number of factors and causes, but the most important reasons was apparently the close unity of the tribal members and its tightly­knit organization. The tribe had five classes of peers: Chiian­nu-pu, Chiieh-nu-pu, Shun-nu-pu, Kuan-nu-pu and Kuei-lou­pu. The organization changed and grew as the tribe developed and times changed. The movement of its center to Wan-tu, which was mentioned earlier, is believed to have been one of the instances which provided an important momentum toward reshaping the organization of the tribe to meet a new situation. The building of the City of Wan-tu was an unavoidable outcome of Koguryo's defeat by the Kung-suns, but it gave the tribe an unexpected opportunity to recognize itself and opened the way for a new class to come to power and lay the foundation for future development and prosperity. It was about 100 years after they moved to Wan-tu that the Koguryo completed overthrowing the Chi­nese rule of Lo-Lang.

For several decades after the capture of Lo-Lang Province, Koguryo was unable to strengthen its hold on the Korean Peninsula as it was absorbed in waging war in the Liao-tung district. North China had entered into the turbulent days of the so-called Sixteen Kingdoms and Koguryo was absorbed with continual conflicts. For a period of three years beginning in 339 A.D., the invasion of the Mu-jung family from the north dealt a damaging blow comparable to that dealt to General Wu-ch'iu Chien of Wei about a century before. The city fell to the invaders, and the tomb of the father of the King was opened and sacked. At the same time, it must be noted that there were many exiles from China into Koguryo in this tumultuous age and these exiled Chinese made great contribution to the development of Koguryo's politics and culture