Gojoseon-Han War
Encyclopedia
The Gojoseon–Han War was a campaign launched by the Han Dynasty
of China
against Wiman Joseon
, the last remaining part of Gojoseon
after many kingdoms in the Korean peninsula
became independent countries, between 109 BC
and 108 BC
. It resulted in the victory of Han
over Gojoseon
.
The Chinese viewpoint on this struggle is described in Records of the Grand Historian
(史記), according to which the kingdom of Gojoseon had blocked trade between the Han Dynasty
and the other kingdoms to the east and did not pay any homage to Han.
The Korean viewpoint on this struggle is that Wimanjoseon did not have any duty of homage to Han because Wimanjoseon was a sovereign nation and in a political alliance including Xiongnu
against the Han Dynasty.
Another assessment of the situation seems to be that Han was looking for a chance to exercise its might as a unified Chinese dynasty. Emperor Wu
(Wudi; 武帝) of Han appointed She He (涉何) as an ambassador to Gojoseon in 109 B.C. After a failed negotiations, She He killed a general Jang (長) at the border on his way back to Han. She He later became an administrator of a north eastern Han province.
Enraged by this act, King Ugeo attacked the territory of She He and killed him. Seeing a chance to declare war against Gojoseon, the Han Dynasty thus sent 50,000 strong army and 7,000 strong navy to conquer the Gojoseon.
sent the crown prince for negotiations. Due to misunderstandings the negotiations failed and war was resumed.
King Ugeo kept Wanggeom-seong
, the capital city of Wimanjoseon, for several months from Han forces. Xun Zhi, having overall command by the Emperor Wu, imprisoned Yang Pu and unified the whole Han forces and the attacks became stronger. Wimanjoseon officials such as No In (朝鮮相 路人), Han Eum (相 韓陰), Sam (尼谿相 參), Wang Gyeop (王唊) insisted to surrender to Han. But king Ugeo disagreed. Eventually, in April of 108 BC
, three of the ministers surrendered to Han and Sam later let King Ugeo be assassinated.
Though the king died the capital city didn't fall. Under the leadership of Minister Seong Gi (成己), Gojoseon people still struggled against Han. But, Seong Gi was also assassinated and the city finally fell to Han.
were founded to control the former Gojoseon
territories.
Han Dynasty
The 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...
of China
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...
against Wiman Joseon
Wiman Joseon
Wiman Joseon was part of the Gojoseon period of Korean history. It began with Wiman's seizure of the throne from Gojoseon's King Jun and ended with the death of King Ugeo who was a grandson of Wiman.-Founding:...
, the last remaining part of Gojoseon
Gojoseon
Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom. Go , meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later Joseon Dynasty; Joseon, as it is called in contemporaneous writings, is also romanized as Chosŏn....
after many kingdoms in the Korean peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The 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...
became independent countries, between 109 BC
109 BC
Year 109 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Numidicus and Silanus...
and 108 BC
108 BC
Year 108 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Galba and Hortensius/Scaurus...
. It resulted in the victory of Han
Han
-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
over Gojoseon
Gojoseon
Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom. Go , meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later Joseon Dynasty; Joseon, as it is called in contemporaneous writings, is also romanized as Chosŏn....
.
Background
Gojoseon was developed highly, expanded its territory widely and benefit from trades between Han and other countries. At this time, King Ugeo ruled Wimanjoseon, a name given to Gojoseon of this time by later scholars, at this time, and the title of Dangun was no longer in use.The Chinese viewpoint on this struggle is described in Records of the Grand Historian
Records of the Grand Historian
The Records of the Grand Historian, also known in English by the Chinese name Shiji , written from 109 BC to 91 BC, was the Magnum opus of Sima Qian, in which he recounted Chinese history from the time of the Yellow Emperor until his own time...
(史記), according to which the kingdom of Gojoseon had blocked trade between the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The 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...
and the other kingdoms to the east and did not pay any homage to Han.
The Korean viewpoint on this struggle is that Wimanjoseon did not have any duty of homage to Han because Wimanjoseon was a sovereign nation and in a political alliance including Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
against the Han Dynasty.
Another assessment of the situation seems to be that Han was looking for a chance to exercise its might as a unified Chinese dynasty. Emperor Wu
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
(Wudi; 武帝) of Han appointed She He (涉何) as an ambassador to Gojoseon in 109 B.C. After a failed negotiations, She He killed a general Jang (長) at the border on his way back to Han. She He later became an administrator of a north eastern Han province.
Enraged by this act, King Ugeo attacked the territory of She He and killed him. Seeing a chance to declare war against Gojoseon, the Han Dynasty thus sent 50,000 strong army and 7,000 strong navy to conquer the Gojoseon.
Siege of Wanggeom
A force of Yang Pu (杨仆) was defeated and another force of Xun Zhi (荀彘) was also obstructed by Wimanjoseon. So, Emperor Wu sent an envoy ordering surrender. King UgeoUgeo of Gojoseon
King Ugeo was the last king of Wiman Joseon, the last remnant of Gojoseon. He was a grandson of Wiman.The Chinese viewpoint on this struggle is described in Records of the Grand Historian , according to which the kingdom of Gojoseon had blocked trade between the Han Dynasty and the other kingdoms...
sent the crown prince for negotiations. Due to misunderstandings the negotiations failed and war was resumed.
King Ugeo kept Wanggeom-seong
Wanggeom-seong
Wanggeom-seong was the capital city of Gojoseon from 194 to 108 BC, North Korean sources claim it was located somewhere around Pyongyang, the capital of modern North Korea whilst other Korean histories report it being more in the location of the Liao River in modern China. It is also known as...
, the capital city of Wimanjoseon, for several months from Han forces. Xun Zhi, having overall command by the Emperor Wu, imprisoned Yang Pu and unified the whole Han forces and the attacks became stronger. Wimanjoseon officials such as No In (朝鮮相 路人), Han Eum (相 韓陰), Sam (尼谿相 參), Wang Gyeop (王唊) insisted to surrender to Han. But king Ugeo disagreed. Eventually, in April of 108 BC
108 BC
Year 108 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Galba and Hortensius/Scaurus...
, three of the ministers surrendered to Han and Sam later let King Ugeo be assassinated.
Though the king died the capital city didn't fall. Under the leadership of Minister Seong Gi (成己), Gojoseon people still struggled against Han. But, Seong Gi was also assassinated and the city finally fell to Han.
Aftermath
Four CommanderiesFour 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...
were founded to control the former Gojoseon
Gojoseon
Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom. Go , meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later Joseon Dynasty; Joseon, as it is called in contemporaneous writings, is also romanized as Chosŏn....
territories.
See also
- GojoseonGojoseonGojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom. Go , meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later Joseon Dynasty; Joseon, as it is called in contemporaneous writings, is also romanized as Chosŏn....
- List of China-related topics
- List of Korea-related topics
- History of ChinaHistory of ChinaChinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
- History of KoreaHistory of KoreaThe Korean Peninsula was inhabited from the Lower Paleolithic about 400,000-500,000 years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the presence of modern humans in northeast Asia dates to 39,000 years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began...