Difference between revisions of "Gija Joseon" - New World Encyclopedia

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'''Gija Joseon''' (? - 194 B.C.E.) describes the period after the alleged arrival of [[Jizi|Gija]] in northern (or in the northwest of) [[Korean peninsula]]. It was considered by most of the [[China|Chinese]] and the [[Korea|Korean]] scholars as a part of the [[Gojoseon]] period (2333 B.C.E. - 108 B.C.E.) of [[Korean history]]. Today, it is generally rejected as a later embellishment in Korea while it is still accepted in China.
 
  
== Understanding before 1900s ==
+
'''Gija Joseon''' (? - 194 B.C.E.) describes the period after the legendary arrival of [[Gija]] in northern (or in the northwest of) [[Korean Peninsula]]. Most of the [[China|Chinese]] and [[Korea|Korean]] scholars consider the era of Gija Joseon as a part of the [[Gojoseon]] period (2333 B.C.E.-108 B.C.E.) of [[History of Korea|Korean history]]. Korean scholars generally consider Gija Joseon an embellishment in Korea history while Chinese scholars accept the legendary city-state as historical.
 +
{{toc}}
 +
[[Korea]]ns point to [[Gija]] as a co-founder of Korean civilization along with [[Dangun]]. Dangun may have appeared on the scene in [[Manchuria]] as early as 3000 B.C.E., having ethnic roots in [[China]], whereas Gija is alleged to have appeared from China in 1222 B.C.E., more than 1000 years, and maybe 2000 years, later. Historical documents specify the existence of Gija but not necessarily Gija Joseon. The matter of Gija and Gija Joseon actually existing may never find resolution but the importance of Gija and Gija Joseon to Korean's understanding of their origin, is indisputable.
 +
 
 +
== Chinese and Korean scholars' view of Gija Joseon ==
 +
Chinese records before the third century B.C.E. describe [[Jizi|Gija]] as the paternal uncle (or brother, in other records) of the last emperor of the [[China|Chinese]] [[Shang Dynasty]], the tyrannical [[King Di Xin of Shang of China|King Zhou]], but contain no mention of his relationship with [[Gojoseon]]. Tyrant King Zhou imprisoned Gija until the downfall of Shang Kingdom, when legend states that[[King Wu of Zhou of China|King Wu of Zhou]] released him.
 
{{History of Korea}}
 
{{History of Korea}}
Chinese records before the 3rd century B.C.E. describe [[Jizi|Gija]] as the paternal uncle (or brother in other records) of the last emperor of the [[China|Chinese]] [[Shang Dynasty]], the tyrannical [[King Di Xin of Shang of China|King Zhou]], but contain no mention of his relationship with Gojoseon. Gija was imprisoned by the tyrant until the downfall of Shang Kingdom, when [[King Wu of Zhou of China|King Wu of Zhou]] released him.
+
Records written after the third century B.C.E., when China and Gojoseon warred, added that Gija led 5,000 people to the east of present-day [[Beijing]], as written in the Geography of [[Hanshu]] from Han Dynasty (though some, especially in China, believe him to have moved to present-day Korea), and to have become the king of Gija Joseon. Previously, scholars widely believed Gija Joseon was located in present-day Korea, replacing [[Gojoseon]] of [[Dangun]]. Some scholars today believe that Gija settled west of Gojoseon, based on records from [[Geography of Hanshu]], and Korean record of [[Samguk Yusa]] that suggests that Gojoseon continued to coexist with Gija Joseon after the migration of Gija. Those scholars maintain that Gija's influence was limited to the western part of Gojoseon, west of [[Liao River]], as attested by Geographical Record of Hanshu, which recorded Gija migrating to the west of Liao River. Furthermore, the record in Samguk Yusa:
 
 
Records written after the 3rd century BC, when China and Gojoseon were at war, add that Gija led 5,000 to east of present-day [[Beijing]], as written in the Geography of [[Hanshu]] from Han Dynasty (though some, especially in China, believe him to have moved to present-day Korea), and became the king of Gija Joseon.
 
 
 
Previously, it was widely believed that Gija Joseon was located in present-day Korea, replacing [[Gojoseon]] of [[Dangun]]. Some scholars today believe that Gija settled west of Gojoseon, based on records from Geography of Hanshu, and Korean record of [[Samguk Yusa]] that suggests that Gojoseon continued to coexist with Gija Joseon after the migration of Gija. These scholars believe that Gija's influence was limited to western part of Gojoseon, west of [[Liao River]], as attested by Geographical record of [[Hanshu]] that recorded that Gija migrated to the west of [[Liao River]]. Furthermore, the record in [[Samguk Yusa]],
 
  
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
Later Dangun moved his capital to Asadal on T'aebaek-san and ruled 1500 years, until king Wu of Chou (ancient Chinese dynasty) placed Kija on the throne (traditional date 1122 BC). When Kija arrived, Tangun moved to Changtang-kyong and then returned to Asadal, where he became a mountain god at the age of 1908. (''Ilyon,'' Samguk Yusa, ''translated by T. Ha & G. Mintz (1997), Yonsei University Press, p.33'')
+
Later Dangun moved his capital to Asadal on T'aebaek-san and ruled 1500 years, until king Wu of Chou (ancient Chinese dynasty) placed Kija on the throne (traditional date 1122 B.C.E.). When Kija arrived, Tangun moved to Changtang-kyong and then returned to Asadal, where he became a mountain god at the age of 1908. <ref>Tae Hung Ha Iryŏn and Grafton K. Mintz, ''Samguk yusa; Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea'' (Seoul: Yonsei University Press, 1972).</ref></blockquote>
</blockquote>
 
  
(御國一千五百年. 周虎{武}王卽位己卯, 封箕子於朝鮮, 壇君乃移於藏唐京, 後還隱於阿斯達爲山神, 壽一千九百八歲),
+
The above suggests that Gija had a limited role in ancient Korean history. The ''Genealogy of the Seonwu Clan of Taewon'' (태원선우씨세보, 太原鮮于氏世譜) lists the names of forty one rulers of Gija Joseon and their periods of reign, although it is not widely accepted by mainstream historians. Some scholars believe that [[Wiman Joseon]] began with the usurpation of the throne from the line of kings descended from Gija.
  
and the record in [[Sima Qian]]'s [[Records of the Grand Historian|Shi Ji]] that
+
== Gija and Jizi ==
 +
[[Image:Baitou Mountain Tianchi.jpg|thumb|left|150px|a crater lake at Tian Chi (天池) at Paektu (korean Paektu-san) at the border of China and North Korea]]
 +
Those records made no references to Jizi being associated with Joseon by King Wu or his seizing power in Joseon. Archaeological evidence suggests Chinese bronze culture differed dramatically from Korean bronze culture and Korea never used the [[Chinese writing]] system during that period. Until evidence put the Gija/Jizi theory into doubt, scholars widely believed that Gija Joseon located in current Korea, replacing [[Gojoseon]] of [[Dangun]]. Some scholars, who try to reconcile the ''Book of Han'' account with archaeological evidence, believe that Jizi settled west of [[Beonjoseon]], based on the ''Book of Han'''s assertions and Korean record of [[Samguk Yusa]], arguing that the records suggest that Gojoseon continued to coexist with Gija Joseon after the migration of Jizi. These scholars believe that Jizi's influence was limited to western Gojoseon, west of [[Liao River]].
  
''King Wu appointed Gija to Joseon, though he was not a vassal (of Zhou)''
+
Historian [[Kim Jung-bae]] argues that the association between Jizi and Joseon has generally been disproven.<ref>dbpia.co.kr, [http://www.dbpia.co.kr/view/ar_view.asp?pid=694&isid=30674&arid=657709&topMenu=&topMenu1= Old Chos on and the Culture of the Mandolin-shaped Bronze Dagger.] Retrieved October 9, 2007.</ref> He believed that the Han Dynasty fabricated the existence of Gija Joseon and that Jizi established it as a state. He, and other historians holding similar views, point out that the ''[[Bamboo Annals]]'' and [[Confucius]]'s ''[[Analects]],'' constituting the earliest extant texts that referred to Jizi, said nothing about his going to Gojoseon. Similarly, the ''[[Records of the Grand Historian]],'' written soon after the conquest of Wiman Joseon by Han, made no reference to Joseon in its discussions about Jizi<ref>''Records of the Grand Historian'' (Hong Kong: Renditions-Columbia University Press). ISBN 9780231081641</ref> and made no reference to Jizi in its discussions about Joseon.  Kim, and other scholars holding similar views, believe that the contradiction in the account arose from a confusion between Jizi and Gihun's ancestor, Gija.
  
(於是武王乃封箕子於朝鮮而不臣也).
+
==Revisionist view==
  
suggests that Gija's role in ancient Korean history was limited.
+
Scholar Shin Chaeho asserted that Gija Joseon (323 B.C.E.-194 B.C.E.) refers to the putative period of [[Beonjoseon]], one of the [[Three Confederate States of Gojoseon]], after [[Gihu]] (기후, 箕詡) became the king of Beonjoseon. Chinese traditional accounts see Gihu's ancestor, Gija, as the same person as Jizi (both written as 箕子 in [[Hanzi]]/[[Hanja]]), although such theories largely discredited due to lack of archaeological evidence supporting such accounts, and due to the lack of corroborating textual evidence from relatively contemporary Chinese accounts.
  
The ''Geneaology of the Seonwu Clan of Taewon'' (태원선우씨세보, 太原鮮于氏世譜) lists the names of 41 rulers of Gija Joseon and their periods of reign, although not widely accepted by mainstream historians.
+
According to [[Sin Chaeho]]'s [[Joseon Sangosa]], [[Beonjoseon]] began disintegrating after a rebel from the Chinese state of [[Yan (state)|Yan]] killed its king around 323 B.C.E. With the assassination of the king, the five ministers of Beonjoseon contended for the throne. Gihu joined in this struggle, emerging victorious as the new king of Beonjoseon by defeating the competitors for the throne. He established Gija Joseon, named after his ancestor Gija. During Gija Joseon, the king enjoyed strong sovereign powers. Eventually, in 94 B.C.E., Gija Joseon fell after [[Wei Man]] overthrew  [[Jun of Gojoseon|King Jun]], establishing [[Wiman Joseon]] in its place.
  
[[Wiman Joseon]] is said to begin with the usurpation of the throne from the line of kings descended from Gija.
+
==Notes==
 
+
<references/>
== Controversy on whether Gija and Jizi were the same person ==
 
Those records made no references to Jizi being enfeoffed with Joseon by King Wu or his seizing power in Joseon. Archeological evidence suggests that Chinese bronze cultures were very different from Korean bronze cultures through this period, and [[Chinese writing]] system was not used in Korea at this period.  Until such evidence put the Gija/Jizi theory into doubt, it was widely believed that Gija Joseon was located in current Korea, replacing [[Gojoseon]] of [[Dangun]].
 
 
 
Some scholars, who try to reconcile the ''Book of Han'' account with archaeological evidence, believe that Jizi settled west of Beonjoseon based on the ''Book of Han'''s assertions and Korean record of [[Samguk Yusa]], arguing that the records suggest that Gojoseon continued to coexist with Gija Joseon after the migration of Jizi. These scholars believe that Jizi's influence was limited to western Gojoseon, west of [[Liao River]].
 
 
 
Historian [[Kim Jung-bae]] argues that the association between Jizi and Joseon has generally been disproven.<ref>http://www.dbpia.co.kr/view/ar_view.asp?pid=694&isid=30674&arid=657709&topMenu=&topMenu1=</ref> He believed that the existence of Gija Joseon as a state established by Jizi was fabricated during Han Dynasty.  He and historians holding similar views point out that the ''[[Bamboo Annals]]'', and [[Confucius]]'s ''[[Analects]]'', which was the earliest extant text that referred to Jizi, did not say anything about his going to Gojoseon.<ref>''[[Analects]]'', [[:zh:s:論語|vol. 18]].</ref>  Similarly, the ''[[Records of the Grand Historian]]'', written soon after the conquest of Wiman Joseon by Han, made no reference to Joseon in its discussions about Jizi<ref>''[[Records of the Grand Historian]]'', vols. [[:zh:s:史記/卷3|3]], [[:zh:s:史記/卷4|4]].</ref> and no reference to Jizi in its discussions about Joseon.<ref>''Records of the Grand Historian'', vol. [[:zh:s:史記/卷115|115]].</ref>  Kim, and other scholars holding similar views, believe that the confusion and/or intentional fabrication of the account arose out of the confusion between Jizi and Gihun's ancestor Gija.
 
 
 
==Shin Chaeho's assertion==
 
Shin Chaeho asserted that Gija Joseon ([[323 B.C.E.]]-[[194 B.C.E.]]) refers to the putative period of [[Beonjoseon]], one of the [[Three Confederate States of Gojoseon]], after Gihu (기후, 箕詡) became the king of Beonjoseon.  Chinese traditional accounts indicate that Gihu's ancestor, Gija, was the same person as Jizi (both written as 箕子 in [[Hanzi]]/[[Hanja]]), although such theories are largely considered discredited due to lack of archaeological evidence supporting such accounts, and due to the lack of corroborating textual evidence from relatively contemporary Chinese accounts.
 
 
 
According to [[Sin Chaeho]]'s [[Joseon Sangosa]], [[Beonjoseon]] began disintegrating after its king had been killed by a rebel from the Chinese state of [[Yan (state)|Yan]] at around [[323 B.C.E.]]. With this, the five ministers of Beonjoseon began contending for the throne. Gihu joined in this struggle, and emerged victorious as the new king of Beonjoseon, defeating the competitors for the throne. He established Gija Joseon, named after his ancestor Gija.  During Gija Joseon, the king enjoyed strong soverign powers.  Eventually, in [[94 B.C.E.]], Gija Joseon fell after [[Jun of Gojoseon|King Jun]] was overthrown by [[Wei Man]], who established [[Wiman Joseon]] in its place.
 
 
 
==See also==
 
* [[History of Korea]]
 
* [[List of Korea-related topics]]
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
<references/>
+
* Imanishi Ryū 今西龍. ''Kishi Chōsen densetsu kō'' 箕子朝鮮伝説考, Chōsen koshi no kenkyū 朝鮮古史の研究 (Tōkyō: Kokusho Kankōkai), (1970):131-173.
 +
* Kuwano Eiji 桑野栄治: ''Richō shoki no siten wo tōshite mita Dankun saishi'' 李朝初期の祀典を通してみた檀君祭祀, Chōsen Gakuhō 朝鮮学報 ''(Journal of the Academic Association of Koreanology in Japan)'', 14 (1959):57-101.
 +
* Sassa Mitsuaki 佐々充昭: ''Dankun nashonarizumu no keisei'' 檀君ナショナリズムの形成, Chōsen Gakuhō 朝鮮学報 ''(Journal of the Academic Association of Koreanology in Japan)'', 174 (2000): 61-107.
 +
* Jae-hoon Shim. A New Understanding of Kija Chosŏn as a Historical Anachronism, ''(Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies)'' 62(2) (2002):271-305.
  
[[Category:Early Korean history]]
+
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:History of China]]
+
[[Category:Korea]]
  
 
{{credits|145149943}}
 
{{credits|145149943}}

Latest revision as of 06:55, 14 December 2022

Gija Joseon
Korean name
Hangul: 기자 조선
Hanja: 箕子朝鮮
McCune-Reischauer: Kija Josŏn
Revised Romanization: Gija Joseon
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese: 箕子朝鲜
Simplified Chinese: 箕子朝鲜
Hanyu Pinyin: Jīzǐ Cháoxiǎn
Wade-Giles: Chi-tzu Ch'ao-hsien

Gija Joseon (? - 194 B.C.E.) describes the period after the legendary arrival of Gija in northern (or in the northwest of) Korean Peninsula. Most of the Chinese and Korean scholars consider the era of Gija Joseon as a part of the Gojoseon period (2333 B.C.E.-108 B.C.E.) of Korean history. Korean scholars generally consider Gija Joseon an embellishment in Korea history while Chinese scholars accept the legendary city-state as historical.

Koreans point to Gija as a co-founder of Korean civilization along with Dangun. Dangun may have appeared on the scene in Manchuria as early as 3000 B.C.E., having ethnic roots in China, whereas Gija is alleged to have appeared from China in 1222 B.C.E., more than 1000 years, and maybe 2000 years, later. Historical documents specify the existence of Gija but not necessarily Gija Joseon. The matter of Gija and Gija Joseon actually existing may never find resolution but the importance of Gija and Gija Joseon to Korean's understanding of their origin, is indisputable.

Chinese and Korean scholars' view of Gija Joseon

Chinese records before the third century B.C.E. describe Gija as the paternal uncle (or brother, in other records) of the last emperor of the Chinese Shang Dynasty, the tyrannical King Zhou, but contain no mention of his relationship with Gojoseon. Tyrant King Zhou imprisoned Gija until the downfall of Shang Kingdom, when legend states thatKing Wu of Zhou released him.

Korea unified vertical.svgHistory of Korea

Jeulmun Period
Mumun Period
Gojoseon, Jin
Proto-Three Kingdoms:
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Three Kingdoms:
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North-South States:
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Joseon
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List of monarchs

Records written after the third century B.C.E., when China and Gojoseon warred, added that Gija led 5,000 people to the east of present-day Beijing, as written in the Geography of Hanshu from Han Dynasty (though some, especially in China, believe him to have moved to present-day Korea), and to have become the king of Gija Joseon. Previously, scholars widely believed Gija Joseon was located in present-day Korea, replacing Gojoseon of Dangun. Some scholars today believe that Gija settled west of Gojoseon, based on records from Geography of Hanshu, and Korean record of Samguk Yusa that suggests that Gojoseon continued to coexist with Gija Joseon after the migration of Gija. Those scholars maintain that Gija's influence was limited to the western part of Gojoseon, west of Liao River, as attested by Geographical Record of Hanshu, which recorded Gija migrating to the west of Liao River. Furthermore, the record in Samguk Yusa:

Later Dangun moved his capital to Asadal on T'aebaek-san and ruled 1500 years, until king Wu of Chou (ancient Chinese dynasty) placed Kija on the throne (traditional date 1122 B.C.E.). When Kija arrived, Tangun moved to Changtang-kyong and then returned to Asadal, where he became a mountain god at the age of 1908. [1]

The above suggests that Gija had a limited role in ancient Korean history. The Genealogy of the Seonwu Clan of Taewon (태원선우씨세보, 太原鮮于氏世譜) lists the names of forty one rulers of Gija Joseon and their periods of reign, although it is not widely accepted by mainstream historians. Some scholars believe that Wiman Joseon began with the usurpation of the throne from the line of kings descended from Gija.

Gija and Jizi

a crater lake at Tian Chi (天池) at Paektu (korean Paektu-san) at the border of China and North Korea

Those records made no references to Jizi being associated with Joseon by King Wu or his seizing power in Joseon. Archaeological evidence suggests Chinese bronze culture differed dramatically from Korean bronze culture and Korea never used the Chinese writing system during that period. Until evidence put the Gija/Jizi theory into doubt, scholars widely believed that Gija Joseon located in current Korea, replacing Gojoseon of Dangun. Some scholars, who try to reconcile the Book of Han account with archaeological evidence, believe that Jizi settled west of Beonjoseon, based on the Book of Han's assertions and Korean record of Samguk Yusa, arguing that the records suggest that Gojoseon continued to coexist with Gija Joseon after the migration of Jizi. These scholars believe that Jizi's influence was limited to western Gojoseon, west of Liao River.

Historian Kim Jung-bae argues that the association between Jizi and Joseon has generally been disproven.[2] He believed that the Han Dynasty fabricated the existence of Gija Joseon and that Jizi established it as a state. He, and other historians holding similar views, point out that the Bamboo Annals and Confucius's Analects, constituting the earliest extant texts that referred to Jizi, said nothing about his going to Gojoseon. Similarly, the Records of the Grand Historian, written soon after the conquest of Wiman Joseon by Han, made no reference to Joseon in its discussions about Jizi[3] and made no reference to Jizi in its discussions about Joseon. Kim, and other scholars holding similar views, believe that the contradiction in the account arose from a confusion between Jizi and Gihun's ancestor, Gija.

Revisionist view

Scholar Shin Chaeho asserted that Gija Joseon (323 B.C.E.-194 B.C.E.) refers to the putative period of Beonjoseon, one of the Three Confederate States of Gojoseon, after Gihu (기후, 箕詡) became the king of Beonjoseon. Chinese traditional accounts see Gihu's ancestor, Gija, as the same person as Jizi (both written as 箕子 in Hanzi/Hanja), although such theories largely discredited due to lack of archaeological evidence supporting such accounts, and due to the lack of corroborating textual evidence from relatively contemporary Chinese accounts.

According to Sin Chaeho's Joseon Sangosa, Beonjoseon began disintegrating after a rebel from the Chinese state of Yan killed its king around 323 B.C.E. With the assassination of the king, the five ministers of Beonjoseon contended for the throne. Gihu joined in this struggle, emerging victorious as the new king of Beonjoseon by defeating the competitors for the throne. He established Gija Joseon, named after his ancestor Gija. During Gija Joseon, the king enjoyed strong sovereign powers. Eventually, in 94 B.C.E., Gija Joseon fell after Wei Man overthrew King Jun, establishing Wiman Joseon in its place.

Notes

  1. Tae Hung Ha Iryŏn and Grafton K. Mintz, Samguk yusa; Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea (Seoul: Yonsei University Press, 1972).
  2. dbpia.co.kr, Old Chos on and the Culture of the Mandolin-shaped Bronze Dagger. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  3. Records of the Grand Historian (Hong Kong: Renditions-Columbia University Press). ISBN 9780231081641

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Imanishi Ryū 今西龍. Kishi Chōsen densetsu kō 箕子朝鮮伝説考, Chōsen koshi no kenkyū 朝鮮古史の研究 (Tōkyō: Kokusho Kankōkai), (1970):131-173.
  • Kuwano Eiji 桑野栄治: Richō shoki no siten wo tōshite mita Dankun saishi 李朝初期の祀典を通してみた檀君祭祀, Chōsen Gakuhō 朝鮮学報 (Journal of the Academic Association of Koreanology in Japan), 14 (1959):57-101.
  • Sassa Mitsuaki 佐々充昭: Dankun nashonarizumu no keisei 檀君ナショナリズムの形成, Chōsen Gakuhō 朝鮮学報 (Journal of the Academic Association of Koreanology in Japan), 174 (2000): 61-107.
  • Jae-hoon Shim. A New Understanding of Kija Chosŏn as a Historical Anachronism, (Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies) 62(2) (2002):271-305.

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