1
Although the [former] territory of Balhae is now inside the present day territory of China, it [can only be considered] appropriate
주체적
종족
and reasonable to say that the dominant (
) ethnic group (
) of Balhae was of Goguryeo lineage. Anyone with even a
modicum of basic common sense about history would be able to think like this, so why do only the Chinese think differently?..
If the history of Goguryeo and Balhae becomes that of China, we will receive an indescribable wound. That is to say, we will
become a people without history and so lose [our] ethnic dignity and experience the fate of the disappearance of the Korean
people’s existence. Therefore we must absolutely defend Goguryeo and Balhae history with our own strength." (Seo 2010)
8)
Reasons Balhae wasn't "Chinese" in the historical sense:
Scholars from Balhae sat the Tang examination
for foreigners, similar to Silla.
연호
Balhae used its own era names (
), which even Silla stopped doing - only the Chinese emperor was meant to have
年號
his own era names, and Korean 'kings' were expected to use them.
Unified Silla (668-935)
"Unified Silla" is a modern term; they just called themselves Silla still!
Post unification the Silla court became increasingly Sinicized; the court adopted Tang dress and they actively practiced the
Confucian ideal of "serving the great"
sadae
사대
(
) which involved acknowledging subservience to China. For this reason,
事大
modern Korean scholars do not get overly excited about this period.
It did, however, see the continuous thriving of Buddhist culture including, for example, the construction of Seokgur'am grotto
석굴암
(
lit. 'stone cave hermitage') during the reign of King Gyeongdeok (r.742-65).
石窟庵
Alongside Buddhism, arts and literature flourished.
국학
Confucianism, as an ethical system for 'good governance' also developed: the National Confucian Academy (
) was
國學
established in 682.
후삼국
Later Three Kingdoms (
)
後三國
Later Baekje (892-936)
Established by Yi Gyeonhwon
이견훤
(
867-936)
李甄萱
Thought to be a Head Rank Six military officer who had been given charge of coastal defense in the western region from where he
established a power base and rebelled in 892.
In 927 Gyeonhwon led a surprise attack on the Silla capital of Gyeongju. According to the
Samguk-sagi, he forced the Silla King Gyeong'ae
(
r.924-927) to commit suicide and raped his queen whilst the Later Baekje army plundered the city. He then enthroned Gyeongsun
景哀王
(
r.927-935), supposedly Gyeong'ae's "brother" and last king of Silla, before returning west.
敬順王
Chose his 4th son, Geumgang (
), as his successor causing resentment by his older sons. Consequently in 935 his first son, Sin'geom
金剛
(
), imprisoned him in a temple and killed Geumgang. After three months, Gyeonhwon escaped to Later Goguryeo together with his
神劍
youngest son and daughter and concubines.
The same year, Gyeonhwon joined Wang Geon's campaign against Later Baekje and himself led the van attack against his son, Sin'geom,
who surrendered and was subsequently spared by Wang Geon.
Later Goguryeo (901-918)
Established by Kim Gung'ye
김궁예
(
857?-918)
金弓裔
Said to have been a secondary son of Silla king but was raised as a monk and later became a bandit.
마진
In 901 he considered himself powerful enough to declare himself king; in 904 he renamed the kingdom Majin (
).
摩震
철원
905 moved his capital eastwards from Song'ak to Cheolwon (
) and in 911 he renamed the kingdom
鐵圓
Taebong
태봉
(
) but
泰封
became increasingly tyrannical.
In 918 he murdered his wife and two sons. Thereupon Wang Geon, one of Taebong's highest generals, rebelled against
Gung'ye's tyranny; Gung'ye fled and was killed.
8)
See:
http://koreanology.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/sources-history-of-the-balhae-empire-forward-contents-and-afterword/
7
고려
Goryeo (
918-1392)
高麗
왕건
Founded by Wang Geon (
877-943) who became the first king.
王建
Under-appreciated longevity: lasted 474 years.
Buddhism and arts continued to flourish.
Growth of Confucianism and emergence of Confucian trained
yangban
양반
(
) scholar-officials.
兩班
개경
Capital: Gaegyeong (
) - modern day Gaeseong city located just across the border inside North Korea
開京
(modern site of the former Kaesong Industrial Complex).
Wang Geon's Ten Injunctions
훈요십조
943 (
)
訓要十條
Originally said to be have been Wang Geon's final will, there is a strong argument by Breuker (2010)
9)
that they were created in
현종
fact by the later 6th king, Hyeonjong (
r.1009-31).
顯宗
1
Importance of Buddhism
Support and encouragement of Buddhism: both the doctrinal
gyo
교
(
) and meditation
敎
seon
선
(
) schools.
禪
2
Temples must be built according to
geomantic principles
.
Temples should not be wantonly set-up everywhere otherwise terrestrial force will be dissipated
3
Succession
The eldest son should succeed the king but if he is not considered worthy the second son should be chosen. If he
too is not worthy, any other son people consider best should be chosen.
4
Goryeo is not Tang China
It has a different geography and so does not have to copy China's institutions and dress. It certainly shouldn't copy
any Khitan institutions or dress
5
Importance of Pyeongyang
The Western capital Pyeongyang has excellent geomantic properties, especially that of water and so there should be
a royal visit four times a year (2 , 5 , 8
and 11 ) with the king residing there for a total of more than one
月
月
月
月
hundred days
6
Festivals
연등회
The Buddhist festival of Yeondeunghui (
) worshipping Buddha and geomanti
燃燈會
c/shamanic festival of
팔관회
Palgwanhui (
) worshipping the spirit of heaven, five sacred and other mountains and rivers, and the
八關會
dragon god) are both important and should be observed. There should be no changes.
7
Rule fairly
The king must: listen to sincere criticism and banish those who slander; not overly exploit or tax the people and
learn the difficulties of agriculture.
"Men of yore said that under a tempting bait a fish hangs; under a generous reward an able general wins victory; under a
drawn bow a bird dare not fly; and under a virtuous and benevolent rule a loyal people serves faithfully. If you administer
rewards and punishments moderately, the interplay of yin and yang will be harmonious." (Sources of Korean Tradition
1997:155)
8
Discriminate against Baekje!
Do not trust people from the former region of Baekje and do not allow royalty to marry them. Former Baekje
slaves should never be allowed into government service.
"The topographical features of the territory south of Gongju and beyond the Gongju river are all treacherous and disharmonious; its
inhabitants are treacherous and disharmonious as well."
9
Officials and military
Pay salaries fairly to officials and aristocracy according to merit and needs of the state: do not waste or lavish too
much.
"If the public treasury is wasted upon those without merit or upon one's relatives or friends, not only will the people come to resent
and criticize such abuses, but those who enjoy salaries undeservedly will also not be able to enjoy them for long."
Treat soldiers and the military well as Goryeo is under constant threat of invasion
10
Read books!
9)
Breuker, Remko E. 2010.
Establishing a Pluralist Society in Medieval Korea, 918-1170: History, Ideology and Identity in the Kory
Dynasty. Leiden・Boston: Brill.