Goguryeo : Goguryeo and China

[Chinese History Flow]

Before we look into Goguryeo, let's look into the situation of China during this period. We studied Xia, Shang, Zhou Dynasties and Spring and Autumn Period, Warring States Period, Qin dynasty and Han Dynasty that destroyed Gojoseon. This is all the history of the Han Chinese. Goguryeo was founded in 37 BC, when China was Han Dynasty (207BC-220). After the founding of the Wei Dynasty in 220, Shu Han in 221 and Wu in 222, the Han Dynasty was divided into three countries. This is called the Three Kingdoms of China. The three nations are unified by the Jin dynasty, which succeeded the Wei dynasty. However, the Jin Dynasty suffered from War of the Eight Princes. The Jin Dynasty had a feudal system, and eight kings(Princes) fought each other for 15 years to become emperor of the Jin Dynasty. Afterwards, the Jin Dynasty's national power was greatly weakened, and it was destroyed by the Xiongnu(the ancestor of the Huns) in 316. The Han Chinese people lost the Yellow River basin, where the Chinese civilization was born and moved south. It is called the Sixteen Kingdoms period. It was a time when five kinds of barbarians established 16 countries in mainland China. The five barbarians were the Xiongnu, Xiānbēi, kiat, Dī zú, and qiāngzú. Han Chinese moved to the south and build a Jin dynasty again.It is called Eastern Jin.

[Outline]

In BC37, Jumong settled in Jolbon, upstream of the Amnokgang River, south of Buyeo, and established Goguryeo. In the early days of Goguryeo's foundation, She was located in rugged mountainous terrain near Jolbon and Gungnae Fortress, so She grew through plundering nearby tribes due to lack of productivity. Goguryeo was very aggressive from its early days, subjugating various tribes and nations around her, including Okjeo and Dongye(Eastern ye).

In the early 4th century, when the uprising of War of the Eight Princes broke out in China, Goguryeo used chaos to destroy the Nakrang and Daebang(Jinbeon) established by the Han Dynasty. And absorbed all the Gojoseon people who lived there. At this time, the forces of the mujung tribe of Xiānbēi people, who destroyed Buyeo, also grew significantly, so Goguryeo fought against mujung tribe. Goguryeo, which was still weak, shows her struggle against the Northern Wei, which was established by the Tabgach tribe of Xiānbēi people. Baekje also attacked Goguryeo, which suffered the humiliation of King Gogugwon's death.

In the early 5th century, Goguryeo defeated mujung tribe who destroyed Buyeo and attacked the capital of Baekje to take Seoul away. The capital of Baekje was Seoul. Goguryeo also expelled Japan from Silla and intervened in Silla's internal affairs. Baekje and Silla formed an alliance because they feared the power of Goguryeo.

Afterwards, Goguryeo defeated all the Bavarians in the North, including Khitan, Mohe, and Later Yan. And finally, In 589, China's Sixteen Kingdoms period was ended by Xiānbēi people's Sui dynasty and Goguryeo faced a showdown with Sui at the risk of country's fate.