Three Confederate States of Gojoseon
The Three Gojoseon kingdoms first appear in Joseon Sangosa[1] and has been researched by South Korean, North Korean, and Chinese scholars. [2] [3] [4] [5] Some leading Korea scholars omit mention of the Three Gojoseon kingdoms altogether.[6] [7] The myth of Dangun with legend following presents Gojoseon (고조선, 2333 B.C.E. – 239 B.C.E.) as the first state of Korea established inLiaoning, south Manchuria and northern Korean Peninsula. According to a historical theory rejected by many respected Korean historians, Gojoseon became a united kingdom composed of the three confederacies Majoseon (마조선), Jinjoseon (진조선) and Beonjoseon(번조선), also known as Mahan, Jinhan and Beonhan.
In conventional Korean history, the posterior Samhan (the three confederacies Mahan, Byeonhan, and Jinhan) existed in central and southern Korean Peninsula, all established around the time of Gojoseon's fall. They continued until fully absorbed into the Three Kingdoms of Korea around the 4th century CE. The posterior Samhan has been differientiated from the prior Samhan or Samjoseon.
Government Structure
Based on Joseon Sangosa that is written by Sin Chaeho, Gojoseon had an organizational system of three states and 5 ministries. Three states were composed of Jinjoseon, Majoseon and Beonjoseon. Jinjoseon was ruled by a Supreme-Dangun. Beonjoseon and Majoseon were ruled by two Vice-Danguns. Five Ministries or Ohga were composed of Dotga (which means a pig), Gaeda (which means a dog), Soga (which means a cow), Malga (which means a horse) and Shinga according to their areas of east, west, south, north and center. This ministry system using the name of animals were also used by Buyeo, which was a succession of Gojoseon. In wartime, five military troops of a central army, an advanced army, a left army and a right army were organized according to military commands by the general of central army. It is said that the traditional Korean game or Yut follows the structure of these five military structures. Generally, the succession system of the Supreme Dangun and the Vice-Dangun were judged by heredity, and sometimes the ruler could be succeeded by one of the Ohga, which shows that the sovereign's power was not absolute.
Territory of Three Confederacies
The Three Confederacies covered territory in the Korean Peninsula, Manchuria, and Liaoning: Majoseon, on the Korean peninsula, Jinjoseon in Manchuria, and Beojoseon in the vicinity of Liaoning.
Gojoseon's location has been determined by the discovery of bronze wares from the Bronze Age and artifacts indicating the Iron Age. The territory of three Gojoseons has been identified by a unique style bronze sword. i.e., mandolin-shaped dagger (비파형동검, 琵琶形銅劍). The mandolin-shape dagger has been found in Liaoning, Manchuria, Korean Peninsula and even Hebei, indicating that the three Gojoseon territories covered at least the area shown on the inserted map. The shape of the mandolin-shape dagger of Gojoseon differs radically from those found in China and the composition of Gojoseon's bronze contains much more tin than those found in China. That lends evidence that the Bronze Age in Gojoseon differed from Chinese Bronze Age dramatically.
Jinjoseon (2333 B.C.E. - 239 B.C.E.)
Main Article: Jinjoseon
Scholars believe that people of the Three Confederate States of Gojoseon borrowed Chinese characters for Ma, Jin and Beon. "Jin," or sometimes "Shin," means "whole" or "general," indicating that Jinjosen stood as the central confederacy of Gojoseon. The vice Danguns governedAsadal (아사달), the legendary capital city of Jinjoseon governed by Dangun, and the other two Joseons. Joseon Sangosa says that Asadal corresponds to the current Harbin. Historical texts represent Jinjoseon as Jin. In 425 B.C.E., the name of Ancient Joseon changed to Great Buyeo, and the capital city moved to Jangdang. At that time, Jinjoseon lacked the power to conquer Beonjoseon and Majoseon, leading to Gojoseon's gradual disintegration. At 239 B.C.E., Hae Mosu Dangun conquered Jinjoseon, and the state name changed to Buyeo.
Beonjoseon (2333 B.C.E. - 108 B.C.E.)
Main Article: Beonjoseon
"Beon," also known as "Byun," means "a plain or a field." Because Bejoseon neighbored Chinese states, Chinese history usually referred to Beonjoseon as Gojoseon or simply Joseon. Gija Joseon and Wiman Joseon constitute usurptions of Beonjoseon. The Danguns allowed Gija and Wiman to rule over Beonjoseon because they came from the dong-i (동이) race. Chinese usually referred to the ancestral Korean race, "Dong-i," meaning an eastern barbarian. Dangun had assigned Chidoonam (치두남, 蚩頭男) as a vice Dangun of Beonjoseon with its capital city Xianjixian (험독현, 險瀆縣), also called Wanggeomsung (왕검성, 王儉城). Chidoonam descended from Emperor Chi-Woo the Great of Baedalguk (치우, 蚩尤), of Baedal royalty. Xianjixian is currently located at Changli (昌黎) County of Hebei Province, China [8]. According to Joseon Sangosa, the "Gi" family became the kings of Beonjoseon in 323 B.C.E., the authority of the Vice-Dangun becoming powerful. Wiman usurped the Gi family, leading to the collapse of Beonjoseon, and the establishment of Wiman Joseonin 193 B.C.E. The last Vice-Dangun, Gijun, fled with his nobles and a large number of people into the Korean peninsula. He conquered Majoseon, and established Mahan.
Majoseon (2333 B.C.E. - ?)
Main Article: Majoseon
Majoseon ("ma" meaning south) existed to the south of Jinjoseon. Dangun assigned Woongbaekda (웅백다, 熊伯多) as Vice Dangun of Majoseon with its capital city Pyongyang (평양). Gijun conquered Majoseon at an unknown date when Woongbaekda fled from Wiman, the name Majoseon changing to Mahan, one of the confederacies of posteria Samhan. Mahan appears to have fallen to Baekje.
Disintegration of Three Gojoseon Confederations
According to Joseon Sangosa, the disintegration of three Gojoseon started at 400 B.C.E., when Yan had attacked Gojoseon, and Gihu became the king of Beonjoseon. When Gihu became the king of Beonjoseon, Gihu ruled free of the jurisdiction of Jinjoseon and Beonjoseon, ruled by the Gi family, remained indedenpent of Jinjoseon. The power of Jinjoseon over Beonjoseon and Majoseon greatly weakened, leading to the disintegration of Gojoseon.
Notes
- ↑ Joseon Sangosa. Sin Chaeho. (1931) ISBN : 8947210331
- ↑ 김정배, 고조선 연구의 사적 고찰 (Historical Survey on Research of Kochosun), 단군학연구, 7, 185 - 206 (2002)
- ↑ 이정복, 논점 한국사 사료집성 (The Collection of Korean History Controversy), 국학자료원, ISBN : 8982064729
- ↑ 신채호, 조선민족의 전성시대 (The Prosperity Age of Joseon People), 삼천리, 7(1), 59-67 (1935)
- ↑ 강경구, 고대의 삼조선과 낙랑 (Three Gojoseon and Nangnang Nation), 기린원 (1991)
- ↑ Lee Ki-baek's A New History of Korea
- ↑ Korean National Commission's Korean History: Discovery of its characteristics and developments (Seoul:Hollym, 2004).
- ↑ Shihchi jijie(史記集解), Chapter 115 Records of Joseon[1]
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
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External Links
- (Korean) Outline of Joseon-sango-sa. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- The Korean and Manchus are Brothers. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- Office of the Prime Minister: Korean Beliefs and Religion. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
See also
- Gojoseon
- Jinjoseon
- Bukbuyeo
- Ae of Gojoseon
- Haemosu
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