Wiman of Gojoseon
Encyclopedia
Wiman was a refugee from the State of Yan
who established a kingdom in north-western Korea
in the 2nd century BC. He was the first figure in the history of Korea to have been recorded in documents from the same time period.
in China, there was a time of political insurrection, with populations seeking refuge eastwards. Wiman was said to have been one of these refugees, reported to have led over a thousand followers (dressed in Joseon
style and he himself wearing his hair in a different topknot) to Gojoseon
. He was initially ordered to fortify Gojoseon's northwestern border by King Jun of Gojoseon, however by solidifying power over the Yan refugees, Wiman ursurped the throne and claimed kingship (194~180 BC). King Jun is said to have sought refugee in Jin state and called himself the "King of Han."
Wiman's maintain capital of Gojoseon was Wanggeom-seong
(왕검성, 王險城, generally identified as P'yŏngyang
). Since the Han Dynasty
was not completely stabilized yet, the Governor of Liaodong appointed Wiman as an outer subject, provided that he did not prevent natives going up to the empire. The appointment is dated at 191 or 192 BCE. Having superior military strength, Wiman Joseon
was able to subjugate the State of Jinbeon (진번, 眞番) and Imdun (임둔, 臨屯), vastly extending its borders. His kingdom was eventually conquered by Emperor Wu
in 108 B.C during the reign of his grandson King Ugeo
.
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
who established a kingdom in north-western 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...
in the 2nd century BC. He was the first figure in the history of Korea to have been recorded in documents from the same time period.
Biography
After the founding of the Han DynastyHan 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...
in China, there was a time of political insurrection, with populations seeking refuge eastwards. Wiman was said to have been one of these refugees, reported to have led over a thousand followers (dressed in Joseon
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...
style and he himself wearing his hair in a different topknot) to 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....
. He was initially ordered to fortify Gojoseon's northwestern border by King Jun of Gojoseon, however by solidifying power over the Yan refugees, Wiman ursurped the throne and claimed kingship (194~180 BC). King Jun is said to have sought refugee in Jin state and called himself the "King of Han."
Wiman's maintain capital of Gojoseon was 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...
(왕검성, 王險城, generally identified as P'yŏngyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang 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...
). Since 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...
was not completely stabilized yet, the Governor of Liaodong appointed Wiman as an outer subject, provided that he did not prevent natives going up to the empire. The appointment is dated at 191 or 192 BCE. Having superior military strength, 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:...
was able to subjugate the State of Jinbeon (진번, 眞番) and Imdun (임둔, 臨屯), vastly extending its borders. His kingdom was eventually conquered by Emperor Wu
Emperor Wu
Emperor Wu may refer to a number of Chinese emperors:*Emperor Wu of Han , emperor of the Han dynasty*Emperor Wu of Wei , a posthumous name of Cao Cao*Emperor Wu of Jin *Emperor Wu of Liu Song...
in 108 B.C during the reign of his grandson King Ugeo
Ugeo 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...
.
familly
- Wu Keo(右渠), Ugeo of GojoseonUgeo of GojoseonKing 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...
: grandson - Wi Jang(衛長), or, Wi Jang Hang(衛長降), or Jang Kang : great-grandchild