Goguryeo controversies
Encyclopedia
The Goguryeo controversies refers to the disputes between China
and Korea
on the history of Goguryeo
, an ancient kingdom located mostly in the present day Northeast China
and North Korea
. In 2004 this dispute threatened to lead to diplomatic disputes between China
and both Korea
s when China formalized this view into the government project Northeast Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
.
. Chinese characterization of Goguryeo as a regional power of China in modern times has spawned heated disputes with both North Korea and South Korea who regard Goguryeo as a Korean state during the 3 kingdoms period. At heart of the Goguryeo controversy is whether Goguryeo is a part of Chinese history exclusively, Korean history exclusively, separate from both, or shared by all.
Starting from the 1980s when the PRC constitution was amended to redefine the People's Republic of China as a "unitary multinational state built up jointly by the people of all its nationalities", some Chinese historians began to re-identify Goguryeo, especially the first half of Goguryeo's history before it moved its capital to the Korean peninsula, as part of the regional history of China rather than of Korea. This assertion was disputed in the 1990s when a head historian of a North Korean delegation accused Chinese historians of conceiving of ancient China in terms of the territorial bounds of the modern Chinese state, which, he claimed, is a view unsupported by historical evidence. More recently in 2002, this effort has been taken up by the PRC government in the form of the Northeast Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
.
Some Chinese scholars perceive the Korean nationalistic
sentiments of some Koreans in both North and South Koreas as threatening to its territorial integrity. In fact, there are proponents in both the Korean liberal and conservative camps advocating for the “restoration of the lost former territories.” Chinese scholars are afraid of border changes when the North Korean government collapses. Because there are more than 2 million ethnic Koreans living in Manchuria, China fears that they might secede from China and join a newly unified Korea.
Meanwhile, North Korea has glorified Goguryeo's independent qualities as part of their Juche
("self-reliance") ideology, identifying itself with Goguryeo, while equating South Korea with Silla
, and the United States
with Tang
. North Korea narrates their national history to conform it to Juche, by denying any indication of foreign occupation of the Korean peninsula, such as the existence of any Chinese commanderies
there. Nevertheless, North Korea tries to be relatively silent, due to its political and economic dependence on China.
During the 19th and 20th Centuries, the Japanese Empire
also differentiated Goguryeo from the other Three Kingdoms of Korea to claim Japanese (Wa) influence in the non-Goguryeo kingdoms of Baekje
and Silla
in order to justify its colonization of Korea. In order to demonstrate their theories, they moved a stone monument (棕蟬縣神祠碑), which was originally located at Liaodong, into Pyongyang.
state supported scholars claim that Goguryeo as a part of the regional history of China rather than of being solely or uniquely Korean. Chinese historian Sun Jinji in 1986 suggested that Goguryeo is separate from the history of the Three Kingdoms in the Korean Peninsula. This is the origin of controversy. He argued that “the people of Buyeo
and Goguryeo had the same lineage as the Chinese in the Northeast region, while the Korean people were a part of the Silla
lineage.” This view has since been supported by some Chinese historians. However, Chinese scholars are not all of one voice on this issue. There are also many Chinese historians who acknowledge Goguryeo history as being shared by both Korea and China within “a framework of the dual elements of a single history”(一史两用论, yishi liangyong lun). More recently, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
(CASS) generated new controversy through its Northeast Project study of China's three Northeast provinces
.
Among the arguments that some Chinese scholars use for its claims on Goguryeo:
granted both China and North Korea's applications for world heritage status, Chinese websites subsequently consistently referred to it as "China's Koguryo", which became a popular issue in South Korea, exhibited in editorials and op-eds. Furthermore, Gries quoted Kim Woo Jun, a history professor, as suggesting that the events might shift South Korea's strategy from being anti-U.S., pro-China to anti-China, pro-U.S.
Yonson Ahn, a Korean researcher noted for her work on Korean women's issues, writes that historians such as Quan Zhezhu, Sun Jinji, Kim Hui-kyo, and Mark Byington "perceive the launching of the Project as a defensive reaction to preserve China’s own territorial integrity and stability."
North Korea
's state run media has denounced Chinese claims as “a pathetic attempt to manipulate history for its own interests” or “intentionally distorting historical facts through biased perspectives” in North Korean media.
In 2004, in an effort to prevent the issue from weakening bilateral ties with South Korea, China promised to not assert claims over Goguryeo.
Jo Beop-jong, a professor at Woosuk University in South Korea, said China may not revise its stance on Goguryeo because if Beijing concedes Goguryeo as Korean history, China must give up its Northeast Asia project.
affirmed Goguryeo as a part of Korean history. He has expressed disagreement with the CASS
institute, the PRC government institution running the Northeast Project, and indirectly criticized the project on behalf of the Peking University Department of History.
Chinese claims on Goguryeo history tend to be centered on territory: because Goguryeo and Parhae shared territories with modern day China, it is therefore Chinese. Korean arguments tend to stem from ancestry, a common bloodline.
Both philosophies contradict the exclusivity claim that many scholars try to make for either Korea or China because Goguryeo possessed territories that now are within the borders of North Korea as well as China, and descendents of Goguryeo people live in both Korea and China.
Controversy over Goguryeo history illustrates the rigidity of national history in East Asia. The strong distinction between "self" and "other" drives many scholars to accept only exclusive possession of history and its artifacts. Disputes over such claims are often ladened with terms like "stealing." Many scholars focus on pure Chineseness or Koreaness, a persepctive that ignores the permeability of ancient borders and the abundant cultural exchange that occurred.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
on the history of Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
, an ancient kingdom located mostly in the present day Northeast China
Northeast China
Northeast China, historically known in English as Manchuria, is a geographical region of China, consisting of the three provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang. The region is sometimes called the Three Northeast Provinces...
and North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. In 2004 this dispute threatened to lead to diplomatic disputes between China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and both Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
s when China formalized this view into the government project Northeast Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Northeast Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
The Northeast Project , which is short for the Northeast Borderland History and the Chain of Events Research Project , was a 20-million-yuan project launched by the Chinese government in 2002 and finished in 2006, conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Science...
.
Background
Goguryeo has been conventionally viewed as one of the Three Kingdoms of KoreaThree Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
. Chinese characterization of Goguryeo as a regional power of China in modern times has spawned heated disputes with both North Korea and South Korea who regard Goguryeo as a Korean state during the 3 kingdoms period. At heart of the Goguryeo controversy is whether Goguryeo is a part of Chinese history exclusively, Korean history exclusively, separate from both, or shared by all.
Starting from the 1980s when the PRC constitution was amended to redefine the People's Republic of China as a "unitary multinational state built up jointly by the people of all its nationalities", some Chinese historians began to re-identify Goguryeo, especially the first half of Goguryeo's history before it moved its capital to the Korean peninsula, as part of the regional history of China rather than of Korea. This assertion was disputed in the 1990s when a head historian of a North Korean delegation accused Chinese historians of conceiving of ancient China in terms of the territorial bounds of the modern Chinese state, which, he claimed, is a view unsupported by historical evidence. More recently in 2002, this effort has been taken up by the PRC government in the form of the Northeast Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Northeast Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
The Northeast Project , which is short for the Northeast Borderland History and the Chain of Events Research Project , was a 20-million-yuan project launched by the Chinese government in 2002 and finished in 2006, conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Science...
.
Some Chinese scholars perceive the Korean nationalistic
Korean nationalism
Korean nationalism refers to nationalism among the Korean people. In the Korean context, this encompasses various of movements throughout history to maintain the Korean cultural identity, history, and ethnicity.-History:...
sentiments of some Koreans in both North and South Koreas as threatening to its territorial integrity. In fact, there are proponents in both the Korean liberal and conservative camps advocating for the “restoration of the lost former territories.” Chinese scholars are afraid of border changes when the North Korean government collapses. Because there are more than 2 million ethnic Koreans living in Manchuria, China fears that they might secede from China and join a newly unified Korea.
Meanwhile, North Korea has glorified Goguryeo's independent qualities as part of their Juche
Juche
Juche or Chuch'e is a Korean word usually translated as "self-reliance." In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , "Juche" refers specifically to a political thesis of Kim Il-sung, the Juche Idea, that identifies the Korean masses as the masters of the country's development...
("self-reliance") ideology, identifying itself with Goguryeo, while equating South Korea with Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Tang
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. North Korea narrates their national history to conform it to Juche, by denying any indication of foreign occupation of the Korean peninsula, such as the existence of any Chinese commanderies
Four Commanderies of Han
The Four Commanderies of Han are Lelang, Lintun, Xuantu and Zhenfan commanderies in northern Korean Peninsula and part of the Liaodong Peninsula. set up by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in early 2nd century BC after his conquest of Wiman Joseon...
there. Nevertheless, North Korea tries to be relatively silent, due to its political and economic dependence on China.
During the 19th and 20th Centuries, the Japanese Empire
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
also differentiated Goguryeo from the other Three Kingdoms of Korea to claim Japanese (Wa) influence in the non-Goguryeo kingdoms of Baekje
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
and Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
in order to justify its colonization of Korea. In order to demonstrate their theories, they moved a stone monument (棕蟬縣神祠碑), which was originally located at Liaodong, into Pyongyang.
Arguments for Goguryeo being a part of Chinese History
Before 21 century, Goguryeo was treated as part of the Korean History in China. However, Since 2004, Chinese PRCPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
state supported scholars claim that Goguryeo as a part of the regional history of China rather than of being solely or uniquely Korean. Chinese historian Sun Jinji in 1986 suggested that Goguryeo is separate from the history of the Three Kingdoms in the Korean Peninsula. This is the origin of controversy. He argued that “the people of Buyeo
Buyeo
Buyeo can mean:*Buyeo kingdom, a kingdom located in today's North Korea and southern Manchuria from around the 2nd century BC to 494 AD*Buyeo County, a county in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea, and one-time capital of the ancient kingdom of Baekje...
and Goguryeo had the same lineage as the Chinese in the Northeast region, while the Korean people were a part of the Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
lineage.” This view has since been supported by some Chinese historians. However, Chinese scholars are not all of one voice on this issue. There are also many Chinese historians who acknowledge Goguryeo history as being shared by both Korea and China within “a framework of the dual elements of a single history”(一史两用论, yishi liangyong lun). More recently, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences , established in 1977, is the premier and highest academic research organization in the fields of philosophy and social sciences as well as a national center for comprehensive studies in the People's Republic of China. It was described by Foreign Policy...
(CASS) generated new controversy through its Northeast Project study of China's three Northeast provinces
Northeast China
Northeast China, historically known in English as Manchuria, is a geographical region of China, consisting of the three provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang. The region is sometimes called the Three Northeast Provinces...
.
Among the arguments that some Chinese scholars use for its claims on Goguryeo:
- Goguryeo was founded from Han ChineseHan DynastyThe Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
commandaries such as Xuantu (in Chinese territory). - Gogyryeo was a local administration of the imperial China throughout history.
- Goguryeo kings accepted a tributary relation with Chinese dynasties.
- Goguryeo was founded by the MoheMoheThe Mohe were a Tungusic people in ancient Manchuria. They are sometimes considered the ancestors of the Jurchens, modern-day Manchus and other Tungusic peoples. According to some records, they originally dwelt near the Liao River and later migrated southward. They were involved in the early...
(Malgal) peoples, an ancestor of modern day ManchuManchuThe Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
rians, who ruled China's last dynastyQing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
; - Goguryeo was established in Northeast China, and that two-thirds of its territory was in present day China
- Goguryeo actively sought a tributary relationship with successive Chinese empires. This relationship is supported by international scholars;
- That after the end of Goguryeo, some of its people were assimilated into HanHan ChineseHan Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
and other ethnicities of China; - That some remains of the tombs purported to be of Goguryeo in Ji’an are not Goguryeo’s but are those of the HanHan ChineseHan Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
or XianbeiXianbeiThe Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
(Sonbi) ethnicities of China.
Arguments for Goguryeo as a Part of Korean History
Goguryeo was not treated as part of the Korean History in ancient Korea.http://www.historyfoundation.or.kr/DATA/BBS1/자료총서01(상).pdf Korean historians dispute the legitimacy of the Northeast Project, generally making these arguments:- The places that the Four Commanderies of HanFour Commanderies of HanThe Four Commanderies of Han are Lelang, Lintun, Xuantu and Zhenfan commanderies in northern Korean Peninsula and part of the Liaodong Peninsula. set up by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in early 2nd century BC after his conquest of Wiman Joseon...
occupied were originally places of native Korean people. The Chinese commanderies were later driven out by GoguryeoGoguryeoGoguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
, one of the Three Kingdoms of KoreaThree Kingdoms of KoreaThe Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
. - A state established in what is now China does not necessarily mean it is Chinese. For example, during Yuan DynastyYuan DynastyThe Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
, the whole ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
became part of the Mongol EmpireMongol EmpireThe Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
. With no doubt, this is part of History of MongoliaHistory of MongoliaThe area of what is now Mongolia has been ruled by various nomadic empires, including the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, the Nirun, the Gökturks, and others. The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. After the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty in 1368, the Mongols returned to their earlier patterns...
. Besides, Goguryeo's territories included land in both ManchuriaManchuriaManchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
and the Korean peninsulaKorean PeninsulaThe Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
. Goguryeo's second capital was located at PyongyangPyongyangPyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, North Korea. Before the capital city was moved, Goguryeo territory comprised what is today North Korea and parts of Manchuria. - Goguryeo is a country founded by BuyeoBuyeoBuyeo can mean:*Buyeo kingdom, a kingdom located in today's North Korea and southern Manchuria from around the 2nd century BC to 494 AD*Buyeo County, a county in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea, and one-time capital of the ancient kingdom of Baekje...
people, one of the major ancestors of Korean people. Both GoguryeoGoguryeoGoguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
and BaekjeBaekjeBaekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
are successor nations of BuyeoBuyeoBuyeo can mean:*Buyeo kingdom, a kingdom located in today's North Korea and southern Manchuria from around the 2nd century BC to 494 AD*Buyeo County, a county in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea, and one-time capital of the ancient kingdom of Baekje...
. The fact that large numbers of Goguryeo people were assimilated into China does not necessarily make it Chinese as many were also assimilated into other dynasties at the time. - Approximately 30,000 Goguryeo households were assimilated to China. This is insignificant when looking at the fact that Goguryeo listed more than 700,000 households.China had not absorbed a significant amount of Goguryeo's total population. Balhae received the most Goguryeo immigrants. Its founder was a Goguryeo noble. When the Khitans invaded Balhae, the majority population fled to GoryeoGoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
. - Goguryeo lasted about 700 years while no Chinese dynasty concurrent with Goguryeo's rule lasted for more than 500 years. It was Imperial ChinaLate Imperial ChinaLate Imperial China refers to the period between the end of Mongol rule in 1368 and the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912 and includes the Ming and Qing Dynasties...
's tributary only during some of its existence. More important, being a tributary of Imperial China doesn't make it Chinese. Many East Asia dynasties and kingdoms, like SilaSilaŚīla or sīla in Buddhism and its non-sectarian offshoots, is a code of conduct that embraces self-restraint with a value on non-harming. It has been variously described as virtue, good conduct, morality, moral discipline and precept. It is an action that is an intentional effort...
, GoryeoGoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Ryukyu etc., had tributary relationships with Chinese Dynasties during some time of their existence. - Many of the customs (SsireumSsireumHistorically, there have been other terms for "wrestling" in Korean used alongside ssireum, such as gakjeo , gakhui , gakryeok , gakgii , chiuhui , sangbak , jaenggyo ....
, TaekwondoTaekwondoTaekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
, ondolOndolAn ondol, also called gudeul, in Korean traditional architecture, is underfloor heating which uses direct heat transfer from wood smoke to the underside of a thick masonry floor...
, dancing etc.) depicted in the murals are present in some form in Korean culture today. - The name "Korea" has its roots from the name "GoryeoGoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
", which in turn took its name from "GoguryeoGoguryeoGoguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
". Goryeo is the more correct term for the Goguryeo dynasty as Goguryeo is mainly referred to GoryeoGoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
in most Chinese and Japanese historic texts after the reign of King Jangsu of GoguryeoJangsu of GoguryeoEmperor Jangsu of Goguryeo was the 20th monarch of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was born in 394, the eldest son of King Gwanggaeto the Great...
. Goguryeo is also stated as Goryeo on the Gwanggaeto SteleGwanggaeto SteleThe stele of King Gwanggaeto of Goguryeo was erected in 414 by King Jangsu as a memorial to his deceased father. It is one of the major primary sources extant for the history of Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and supplies invaluable historical detail on his reign as well as insights...
The dynasty GoryeoGoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
was founded on the basis that it was the descendant dynasty of Goguryeo, therefore adopting the name of Goguryeo. - Only Southern Koreans from the JeollaJeollaJeolla was a province in southwestern Korea, one of the historical Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. It consisted of the modern South Korean provinces of North Jeolla, South Jeolla and the Special City of Gwangju as well as Jeju Island...
and GyeongsangGyeongsangGyeongsang was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Gyeongsang was located in the southeast of Korea....
regions were descendants of Samhan, which is south of the Geum RiverGeum RiverThe Geum-gang River is located in South Korea. It is a major river that originates in Jangsu-eub, North Jeolla Province. It flows northward through North Jeolla and North Chungcheong Provinces and then changes direction in the vicinity of Greater Daejeon and flows southwest through South...
. There are more Koreans descended from inhabitants outside SamhanSamhanThe Samhan period of Korean history comprises confederacies of Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan in central and southern Korean peninsula, during the final century BCE and the early centuries CE....
and SillaSillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
, i.e., north of Geum RiverGeum RiverThe Geum-gang River is located in South Korea. It is a major river that originates in Jangsu-eub, North Jeolla Province. It flows northward through North Jeolla and North Chungcheong Provinces and then changes direction in the vicinity of Greater Daejeon and flows southwest through South...
. Many Koreans are descendants of people outside Samhan (especially people that have families originated from Norther Korea), ie Goguryeo , but we cannot state that the North Koreans are Chinese while they share the same language and culture with South Korea. - Nationalistic Korean scholars believe that the people of the 3 kingdoms of Korea shared a common ancestor; the Yamaek tribe, distinct from the Tungus, Mongol and Turkic tribes. Because of this common ancestry, Goguryeo is distinctly Korean.
- The view that Goguryeo is Chinese contradicts with Chinese history records of the past Chinese dynasties and the world academia of history.
- Northeast China Project is politics under the cover of academics, fearing that the possible unification of North and South Korea may cause border disputes between Korea and China.
From Korea
Peter Gries noted that after UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
granted both China and North Korea's applications for world heritage status, Chinese websites subsequently consistently referred to it as "China's Koguryo", which became a popular issue in South Korea, exhibited in editorials and op-eds. Furthermore, Gries quoted Kim Woo Jun, a history professor, as suggesting that the events might shift South Korea's strategy from being anti-U.S., pro-China to anti-China, pro-U.S.
Yonson Ahn, a Korean researcher noted for her work on Korean women's issues, writes that historians such as Quan Zhezhu, Sun Jinji, Kim Hui-kyo, and Mark Byington "perceive the launching of the Project as a defensive reaction to preserve China’s own territorial integrity and stability."
North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
's state run media has denounced Chinese claims as “a pathetic attempt to manipulate history for its own interests” or “intentionally distorting historical facts through biased perspectives” in North Korean media.
In 2004, in an effort to prevent the issue from weakening bilateral ties with South Korea, China promised to not assert claims over Goguryeo.
Jo Beop-jong, a professor at Woosuk University in South Korea, said China may not revise its stance on Goguryeo because if Beijing concedes Goguryeo as Korean history, China must give up its Northeast Asia project.
From China
Before 21 century, Goguryeo was treated as part of the Korean History in China. The Northeast Project is not universally accepted in the PRC. In 2006, in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo, a senior scholar from Peking UniversityPeking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
affirmed Goguryeo as a part of Korean history. He has expressed disagreement with the CASS
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences , established in 1977, is the premier and highest academic research organization in the fields of philosophy and social sciences as well as a national center for comprehensive studies in the People's Republic of China. It was described by Foreign Policy...
institute, the PRC government institution running the Northeast Project, and indirectly criticized the project on behalf of the Peking University Department of History.
Validity of Claims on Ancient History
Nationalistic scholars in China and Korea analyze empiric evidence through the lense of nationalism and ethnocentrism. Yonson Ahn and Lim Jie-Hyun believe that projecting modern concepts of national territory and identity onto ancient nation states is self serving.Chinese claims on Goguryeo history tend to be centered on territory: because Goguryeo and Parhae shared territories with modern day China, it is therefore Chinese. Korean arguments tend to stem from ancestry, a common bloodline.
Both philosophies contradict the exclusivity claim that many scholars try to make for either Korea or China because Goguryeo possessed territories that now are within the borders of North Korea as well as China, and descendents of Goguryeo people live in both Korea and China.
Controversy over Goguryeo history illustrates the rigidity of national history in East Asia. The strong distinction between "self" and "other" drives many scholars to accept only exclusive possession of history and its artifacts. Disputes over such claims are often ladened with terms like "stealing." Many scholars focus on pure Chineseness or Koreaness, a persepctive that ignores the permeability of ancient borders and the abundant cultural exchange that occurred.
See also
- People's Republic of China – South Korea relations
- Northeast Project of the Chinese Academy of Social SciencesNortheast Project of the Chinese Academy of Social SciencesThe Northeast Project , which is short for the Northeast Borderland History and the Chain of Events Research Project , was a 20-million-yuan project launched by the Chinese government in 2002 and finished in 2006, conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Science...