Goguryeo

Goguryeo (sometimes spelled Koguryŏ), later renamed Goryeo (Koryŏ) was an ancient Korean kingdom in East Asia. He was located on the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of modern-day Northeast China (Manchuria).

Along with Baekje and Silla, Goguryeo was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was an active participant in the power struggle for control of the Korean peninsula and was also associated with the foreign affairs of neighboring polities in China and Japan.

History

Goguryeo became independent from Buyeo. The Samguk Sagi, a text from the 12th century in Goryeo, claims that Goguryeo was founded in 37 BC, but today the date of the dynasty's foundation is in doubt, as archaeological evidence suggests that Goguryeo was founded before Silla, and four things support this:

1. Kim Pu-sik, the author of Samguk Sagi, was a descendant of the Silla royal family. It is likely that he distorted history to show the superiority of his ancestor, Silla.
2. Since Kim Pu-sik wrote the History of the Three Kingdoms at least 5 centuries after the events of the Three Kingdoms and was not an eyewitness to the events of that era, his book is considered a secondary source and cannot be considered a primary source alone.
3. The age of Goguryeo in the Samguk Sagi contradicts what is inscribed in Gwanggaeto the Great's stele (which is a primary source). Gwanggaeto the Great's stele states that Goguryeo is 900 years old, but the Samguk Sagi mentions Goguryeo as a dynasty that lasted 705 years.
4. Also, the Old Book of Tang (945), a primary source, written by Li Shimin (aka Emperor Taizong), mentions that Goguryeo is about 900 years old.

In the chaos following the fall of the Han Dynasty, the former commanderies of the dynasty had broken free of control and were now ruled by various independent warlords. Surrounded by these aggressive commanderies, Goguryeo moved to improve relations with the newly created dynasty of Cao Wei in China and sent tribute in 220. In 238, Goguryeo entered into a formal alliance with Wei to destroy the Liaodong commandery.

But when Liaodong was finally ansuchlessed by Wei, Goguryeo's relations with him fell apart. Goguryeo attacked Wei from the western edges of Liaodong which incited a counterattack from Wei in 244. Thus, Goguryeo initiated the Goguryeo-Wei War in 242, trying to cut off Chinese access to territories in Korea by attempting to take a Chinese fort. However, the Wei state responded by invading and defeated Goguryeo, and his capital Hwando plus the tributary system between Goguryeo and other Koreanballs was destroyed, and the king fled.

In 259, Wei invaded again but was defeated by Goguryeo, and 8,000 Wei soldiers were beheaded.

In the late 300s, Goguryeo has conquered much of Manchuria, some of Siberia, and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. He puppeted the Mohe, Khitan, and some Inner Mongolian tribes.

But in time, Goguryeo slowly lost his land and power. By 668, Goguryeo got killed by Silla and China.

Culture

“”Their people delight in singing and dancing. In villages throughout the state, men and women gather in groups at nightfall for communal singing and games. They have no great storehouses, each family keeping its own small store… They rejoice in cleanliness, and they are good at brewing alcohol. When they kneel in obeisance, they extend one leg; in this they differ from the Buyeo. In moving about on foot they all run… In their public gatherings they all wear colorfully brocaded clothing and adorn themselves with gold and silver.

— Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Zhi)

The culture of Goguryeo was shaped by his climate, religion, and the tense society that people dealt with due to the numerous wars Goguryeo waged. Singing and dancing played an important part in Goguryeo society, a legacy that continues to this day in modern Korean society.

Attributed with the earliest kimchi, the Goguryeo people were skilled at fermenting and widely consumed fermented food.

The Book of Sui (Volume 81) recorded: "The customs, laws and clothes of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla are generally identical."

The practice of matrilocality in Korea started in the Goguryeo period, continued through the Goryeo period and ended in the early Joseon period. The Korean saying that when a man gets married, he is "entering jangga" (the house of his father-in-law), stems from the Goguryeo period.

The Korean tradition of mothers eating seaweed after birth originated in Goguryeo. The Korean word for seaweed, miyeok, originated in Goguryeo.

Goguryeo held an annual national seokjeon (stone battle) attended by the king himself. Originally a product of the warlike Goguryeo period, seokjeon gradually evolved into a widely enjoyed pastime during the more peaceful Goryeo and Joseon periods.

Relationships

Friends

• Göktürk Khaganate - Best friend and military ally. We both can fight against the weakling and his successor.

Frenemies

• Cao Wei - We teamed up to kill Liaodong, but that's it. I try to invade him and he tries to invade me.

Enemies

• Silla - Yuo are kills me for my death. My descendants like me better than yuo!!
• Tang Dynasty - Helper of Silla.
• Sui Dynasty - So weak!
• Han Dynasty - I destroyed your four commanderies and take your land that you ravished after you killed Gojoseon.

How to draw

5th century military banner of Goguryeo

Goguryeo has a drawing rating of intermediate.

1. Draw a long rectangle.
2. Carve out a triangle on the left side of the rectangle.
3. Fill the shape with red.
4. Add a yellow stripe covering the right side of the shape.
5. Add Korean eyes and done!

Color Name		HEX
	Red	#DE1E00
	Yellow	#FFCF19