Kaesong

Japanese: 開城 - かいじょう

A city in the southern part of North Korea. Population 201,500 (2003 estimate). The city is located at the southern foot of Mt. Songak (488m) and is surrounded by mountains on all sides, including Mt. Gosho (204m) to the west and Mt. Namsan (178m) to the south, so it is also known as Songdo or Songgyeong. The city was originally a typical walled city with four gates on the east, west, north and south. Since 1953, under the People's Government, it has been transformed into an industrial city with a focus on light industry. The Kaesong Spinning Factory, clothing factories, ceramic factories, daily necessities factories, rubber, watch and musical instrument factories, etc. were built one after another. As it was the capital of the Goryeo dynasty, there are many ruins. To the east of the city, there are Sonjuk Bridge and Songyang Seowon, where Jeong Mongju, a loyal subject of the late Goryeo dynasty, died, and to the north, at the southern foot of Mt. Songak, there are the foundation stones of Manwoldae, the site of the palace of the kings of Goryeo. Most of these ruins were destroyed during the Korean War. In the city, there are the newly built Songdo University of Politics, the museum, and the Children's Palace. The famous folk song "Bak Yeon Bok Pok" is located at the foot of Mt. Cheonma, 24 kilometers north of the city. Before the Korean War, Kaesong was under the rule of South Korea (Republic of Korea), but after the war, it became part of North Korea and became a direct government territory, with Jangpung County, Panmun County, and Gaepung County at the center of Kaesong City as the "Kaesong District."

[Fish pond]

history

In ancient times, it belonged to Goguryeo and was called Fuso Cape, and later belonged to Silla and was called Songak-gun. It became the capital of Goryeo, founded by Wang Geon in 919, and was renamed Kaesong-bu in 995. Palaces, government offices, and temples were built within the city, and it was the political, economic, and cultural center of Goryeo for about 500 years. The river port of Byeongnando on the Yeseong River on the outskirts of the city was a bustling international port, with trading ships from China and Japan coming and going. During this period, it was invaded by the Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, and burned down many times in wars. The Yi dynasty, founded by Yi Seong-gye in 1392, also made Kaesong its capital, but in 1394 the capital was moved to Hanseong (Seoul). During the Yi dynasty, Kaesong prospered through commerce. Kaesong merchants had branch offices all over the country and traded throughout the country, and were famous for their unique double-entry bookkeeping. During the Korean War, armistice talks were held here at one point.

[Mitsuo Yoshida]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

北朝鮮南部にある都市。人口20万1500（2003推計）。市街は松岳山（488メートル）の南麓(なんろく)に位置し、西方に蜈松(ごしょう)山（204メートル）、南に南山（178メートル）など四方を松山に囲まれていたので、別名松都、松京の名がある。市街地はもと東西南北に四門を設け、城壁で囲んだ典型的な城郭都市であった。1953年以来、人民政権下で軽工業を主とした工業都市へ変貌(へんぼう)した。開城紡績工場をはじめ被服工場、陶磁器工場、日用品工場や、ゴム、時計、楽器などの工場が次々と建設された。高麗(こうらい)朝の首都であったので遺跡も多く、市の東方には高麗末期の忠臣鄭夢周(ていむしゅう)が最期を遂げた善竹橋と崧陽(すうよう)書院、北方の松岳山南麓には高麗歴代王の宮址(きゅうし)万月台の礎石が残っている。これらの遺跡は朝鮮戦争の戦禍を受け大部分破壊された。市街地には新しく建てられた松都政治大学、博物館、少年宮殿などがある。民謡で名高い「バクヨンポクポ」（朴淵瀑布）は市の北方24キロメートルの天摩山麓にある。開城は朝鮮戦争前は韓国（大韓民国）の統治下にあったが、戦争後は北朝鮮に属し、政府直轄地として開城市を中心に長豊郡、板門(はんもん)郡、開豊郡を「開城地区」とした。

［魚　塘］

歴史

古くは高句麗(こうくり)に属して扶蘇岬(ふそこう)と称し、のち新羅(しらぎ)に属して松岳郡と称した。919年王建の建国した高麗の首都となり、995年開城府と改称した。城内には宮殿、官庁、寺院が建ち並び、約500年間、高麗の政治、経済、文化の中心であった。郊外の礼成江の河港碧瀾渡(へきらんと)には、中国や日本の交易船が出入し、国際港としてにぎわった。この時代に遼(りょう)、金、元の侵略を受け、何度も戦火に焼かれた。1392年李成桂(りせいけい)の建てた李朝も開城を都としたが、1394年都は漢城（ソウル）に移った。李朝時代の開城は商業で栄えた。開城商人は各地に出張所を置いて全国を商圏とし、独特の複式簿記で名高い。朝鮮戦争では一時、当地で休戦会談が行われた。

［吉田光男］

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