Goguryeo

Japanese: 高句麗 - こうくり

The name of an ancient Korean country (c. 37 BC - 668). Written as Goryeo, Maek, or Koma, it is also called "Korai" or "Koma." The Goguryeo region has long been a gateway to the cultures of the north and west. From the 7th century BC onwards, it absorbed cultures such as Tagar, Scythian, and Ordos, and created a distinctive bronze age culture. With the establishment of Wiman Joseon in the 3rd century BC and the establishment of the Four Commanderies of Han (Four Commanderies of Korea) in 108 BC, Chinese iron age culture was directly introduced to this region. Around 37 BC, small countries united around the basin of the Dongjia River (Hun River), a tributary of the Yalu River, to found Goguryeo.

[Hideo Inoue]

The period of small country unification (around 37 BCE - 204 CE)

Around 37 B.C., Goguryeo had developed culturally and socially enough to become the capital of Xuantu County, and had reached the stage of national integration of small nations. In 12 B.C., Goguryeo King Su (some say King Dongmyeong) was killed by Wang Mang after refusing Wang Mang's request to send troops, which triggered rebellions by various ethnic groups and the downfall of Wang Mang's new state. In 49 B.C., Goguryeo marched to Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China, and after 118 B.C., united Wimaek, Mahan, and others to fight against Xuantu County, Liaodong County, and Buyeo, becoming the leader of the eastern tribes. In 132, they attacked Xi'anping County (Dandong City, Liaoning Province, China), killed Daifang Ling on his way to his post, and captured the wife and children of the Lelang prefect. Goguryeo was powerful in the 1st and 2nd centuries, and frequently advanced into the Liaodong and Xuantu counties of the Later Han Dynasty. Around 190, Gongsun Du, the prefect of Liaodong, took advantage of the chaos in the Later Han Dynasty to become independent and subjugate Goguryeo and Wuhuan.

[Hideo Inoue]

The Five Tribes Period (204-426)

In 204, the royal capital was moved to Neiguocheng (Ji'an City, Jilin Province, China). In this period, Goguryeo was ruled by aristocrats over the provinces, including former small states. The royal authority was weak, and an alliance of aristocrats held the government, but five powerful clans held real power, and this period is known as the Period of the Five Clans. During China's Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo followed the example of the Gongsun clan of Liaodong and belonged to both Wei and Wu, but Wei disliked this and restored the Lelang and Daifang commanderies in 238. In 244 and 245, Goguryeo was attacked by Wei, and its capital, Ganto Castle, was taken. Taking advantage of the Yongjia Rebellion (307-312) in the Jin (Western Jin) Dynasty, Goguryeo seized Xi'anping County in 311, destroyed Lelang Commandery in 313, and Daifang Commandery the following year, expanding its influence towards Pyongyang. Many Chinese intellectuals who were defeated in the wars of the Sixteen Kingdoms fled to Goguryeo and brought with them a new culture. In 339 and 342, Former Yan under Murong Huang invaded again, but in 355, Former Yan changed its policy and invested King Gogukwon with the title of General of the Eastern Expedition of the Yingzhou Military, Governor of Yingzhou, and Duke of Lelang, King of Goguryeo. This investment was the first time that a Chinese dynasty gave the title of Inner Minister to a foreign minister of a different ethnic group. In 371, Pyongyang Fortress was attacked by the Baekje army, and King Gogukwon was killed in battle. King Sosurim succeeded him and attempted to introduce new cultural artifacts, with Jundo introducing Buddhism from Former Qin in 372 and Adao in 374. In 372, a university was established and Confucian education began, and a law was issued the following year. With national power strengthened, Goguryeo entered a period of dramatic territorial expansion under the reigns of King Gwanggaeto (Gwanggaeto the Great) and King Jangsu. Thus, it developed from the Five Clans period, a confederation of aristocrats backed by the power of the former small states, to the Five Bu period, a confederation of aristocrats with a centralized power.

[Hideo Inoue]

The Wubu period (427-597)

The move of the capital to Pyongyang in 427 changed the aristocratic alliance system of Goguryeo, and local-based aristocrats became court aristocrats, and among them, the most powerful aristocrats became Daedaeroo (the title of the first-class official, who was the chairman of the aristocratic council and the person in charge of government affairs) and took control of the government. During this period, the capital was divided into five sections, and the aristocrats were separated into these five sections, so it is called the Five-section Period. Goguryeo in the 5th century expanded its territory relatively smoothly. In 475, it captured Baekje's capital Hanseong and took control of the Han River basin. In the mid-6th century, Silla expanded its territory rapidly, taking over Goguryeo's territories along the Han River and on the coast of Japan. At first, Goguryeo had diplomatic relations with both the Northern and Southern Dynasties of China, but after 480, the Northern Wei Dynasty banned diplomatic relations with the Southern Dynasty. Goguryeo's distinctive Koro-no-Higashi style mountain fortresses and the combination of a residential castle and a mountain fortress were later adopted into village structures throughout Korea. The layout of Goguryeo temple buildings and the style of Goguryeo Buddhist statues, said to be of Northern Wei origin, influenced Baekje and Japan. Japan adopted many of Goguryeo's new cultural artifacts from the first half of the 5th century, but formal diplomatic relations did not begin until 570. Relations with Japan during this period were centered on cultural exchange, and the activities of monks are particularly noteworthy.

[Hideo Inoue]

The period of war with the Sui and Tang dynasties (598-668)

When the Sui Dynasty was founded in 581, King Pyeongwon immediately paid tribute, but at the same time prepared for an invasion by the Sui. When the Sui Dynasty dispatched forces in 612, the Goguryeo army repelled the Sui army in battles such as the siege of Liaodong Castle (Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province) and the Battle of Sassui (Cheongcheon River) in Eulji Mundeok. Goguryeo continued to repel the Sui army's invasions. After that, the conflict between the three Korean states intensified, so in 642, Quan Gaisomun (Yeon Gaisomun) killed King Yeongyu and established King Baozang (Zang) to prepare for war. After 645, Goguryeo repelled the Tang army's invasion of Liaodong three times. In 661, the combined forces of Silla and Tang attacked from the south and approached the royal capital, Pyongyang, but they were repelled. When Quan Gaesomun died in 665, his children came into conflict, and his eldest son, Namseong, surrendered to the Tang the following year. Taking advantage of this unrest, the combined forces of Silla and Tang captured the royal capital, Pyongyang, in September 668, captured King Bozang, and destroyed Goguryeo. Even after the fall of Goguryeo, revival movements by the surviving people of Goguryeo arose in various places, and in 698 Da Soe Yong founded the kingdom of Zhen (later known as the Balhae Kingdom). During this period, Goguryeo also adopted new Chinese cultural elements, such as Taoism. Meanwhile, indigenous beliefs also spread throughout Goguryeo as fighting intensified, helping to shape the national spirit.

[Hideo Inoue]

"Ancient Korean History, Volumes 1 and 2, by Lee Byung-jo and translated by Kim Sa-yeop (1979, Rokuko Publishing)" ▽ "Ancient Korea, by Inoue Hideo (NHK Books) " ▽ "East Asia and Japan in a Period of Change, by Inoue Hideo (1983, Nippon Shoseki)" ▽ "Samguk Sagi, Volume 2, by Kim Bu-sik and translated and annotated by Inoue Hideo (Heibonsha, Toyo Bunko)"

[Reference items] | Korean history | Balhae

Koguryo / Brief family tree
©Shogakukan ">

Koguryo / Brief family tree

Goguryeo territory (late 5th century)
©Shogakukan ">

Goguryeo territory (late 5th century)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

朝鮮古代の国名（前37ころ～668）。高麗、貊、狛などと書き、「こうらい」「こま」ともよぶ。高句麗地方は古くから北方・西方諸文化受容の窓口であった。紀元前7世紀以降、タガール、スキタイ、オルドスなどの諸文化を受容し、特色ある青銅器文化をつくった。前3世紀の衛氏朝鮮の成立、前108年の漢四郡（朝鮮四郡）の設置により、中国鉄器文化が直接この地域に導入された。前37年ごろから鴨緑江(おうりょくこう)の支流佟佳江(とうかこう)（渾江(こんこう)）の流域を中心に、小国が連合して高句麗を建国した。

［井上秀雄］

小国統合時代（前37ころ～204）

前37年ごろの高句麗は、玄莵(げんと)郡の主県になるほど文化的、社会的に発展しており、小国統合の国家段階に達していた。後12年に高句麗王騶(すう)（東明王にあてる説もある）は王莽(おうもう)の出兵要求を拒否したため、王莽に殺されたが、これを契機に諸民族が反乱を起こし、王莽の新国は滅亡した。高句麗は49年に長駆中国の山西省太原まで進出し、118年以降では濊貊(わいばく)、馬韓(ばかん)などを糾合して、玄莵郡、遼東(りょうとう)郡、夫余(ふよ)と戦い、東方諸族の盟主的存在になった。132年には西安平県（中国遼寧(りょうねい)省丹東市）を攻撃し、赴任途上の帯方令を殺し、楽浪(らくろう)太守の妻子を捕らえた。1～2世紀の高句麗は強大で、後漢(ごかん)の遼東、玄莵2郡にしばしば進出した。190年ごろ、遼東太守公孫度(こうそんたく)が後漢王朝の混乱に乗じて自立し、高句麗や烏丸(うがん)を服属させた。

［井上秀雄］

五族時代（204～426）

204年に王都が国内城（中国吉林(きつりん)省集安市）に移った。この時代の高句麗は、貴族が旧小国など地方を支配していた。王権が弱く、貴族連合が政権を握っていたが、そのうち有力な5氏族が実権をもっていたので、この時代を五族時代という。中国の三国時代になると、高句麗は遼東の公孫氏に倣って、魏(ぎ)と呉(ご)に両属していたが、魏がこれを嫌い、238年に楽浪、帯方(たいほう)両郡を復興した。244、245両年に高句麗は魏に攻撃され、王都丸都(がんと)城を落とされた。晋(しん)（西晋）の永嘉(えいか)の乱（307～312）に乗じ、311年高句麗は西安平県を奪い、313年に楽浪郡を、翌年帯方郡を滅ぼし、平壌方面に勢力を伸ばした。五胡(ごこ)十六国の戦乱に敗れた中国の知識人が多数高句麗に亡命し、新しい文化をもたらした。339年、342年再度にわたって慕容皝(ぼようこう)の前燕(ぜんえん)が侵略したが、355年、前燕は政策を改めて、故国原王を営州諸軍事征東大将軍営州刺史(しし)楽浪公高句麗王に冊封した。この冊封は、中国王朝が異民族の外臣に内臣の称号を与えた最初である。371年百済(くだら)軍に平壌城を攻められ、故国原王は戦死した。この後を受けた小獣林王は新文物の導入を図り、372年に順道が、374年に阿道(あどう)が前秦(ぜんしん)から仏教を伝え、372年に大学を建て儒教教育を始め、翌年には法令を公布した。国力を充実した高句麗は、広開土王（好太王）、長寿王(ちょうじゅおう)両代の飛躍的な領土拡大期を迎えた。かくして旧小国の勢力を背景にした貴族連合の五族時代から、中央集権化した貴族連合の五部時代へと発展した。

［井上秀雄］

五部時代（427～597）

427年の平壌遷都は高句麗の貴族連合体制を変質させ、地方を基盤とした貴族が宮廷貴族となり、そのなかで強力な貴族が大対盧(だいたいろ)（第一等官職名。貴族会議の議長にあたり、政務の総轄者）になって政権を握った。この時代には王都を5区画に分け、その5部に貴族を分住させたので五部時代という。5世紀の高句麗は、比較的順調に領土を拡大した。475年には百済の王都漢城を攻め落として漢江流域を制圧した。6世紀中葉になると、新羅(しらぎ)が急速に領土を拡大し、漢江流域や日本海岸の高句麗の支配地を奪った。高句麗は初め中国の南北両朝と国交を結んでいたが、480年以後、北魏が南朝との国交を禁じた。高句麗独特の栲栳(こうろう)峰形式の山城や、居城と山城との組合せは、その後朝鮮全土の村落構造にまで取り入れられた。高句麗寺院の伽藍(がらん)配置や、北魏系といわれる高句麗の仏像形式は、百済や日本に影響を与えた。日本では5世紀前半から高句麗の新文物をかなり受容しているが、正式な国交は570年より始まる。この時期の日本との関係は文化交流が中心で、僧侶(そうりょ)の活躍がとくに注目される。

［井上秀雄］

隋・唐との対戦時代（598～668）

581年に隋(ずい)が建国すると、平原王はただちに朝貢したが、一方では隋の侵略に備えた。612年隋が出兵すると、高句麗軍は遼東城（遼寧省遼陽市）の籠城(ろうじょう)戦や乙支文徳(いつしぶんとく)の薩水(さっすい)（清川江）の戦いなどで隋軍を撃退した。その後も高句麗は再三隋軍の侵略を退けた。その後、朝鮮三国の対立がいっそう激化したので、642年に泉蓋蘇文(せんがいそぶん)（淵蓋蘇文(えんがいそぶん)）が栄留王たちを殺し、宝臧（蔵）王を擁立して臨戦態勢を整えた。645年以後、高句麗は唐軍の遼東侵略を三度撃退した。661年には新羅・唐連合軍が南方から攻撃し、王都平壌城に迫ったが、これを撃退した。665年に泉蓋蘇文が死去すると、彼の子供たちが対立し、長子男生は翌年唐に降服した。その動揺に乗じて、新羅・唐連合軍は、668年9月王都平壌城を攻略して、宝蔵王を捕らえ、高句麗を滅ぼした。滅亡後も高句麗遺民の復興運動が各地に起こり、698年には大柞栄(だいそえい)が震国（後の渤海(ぼっかい)国）を建国した。高句麗はこの時期にも道教など中国の新文物を受容していた。一方、固有信仰も戦闘の激化に伴い高句麗全土に広まり、民族精神を形成することになった。

［井上秀雄］

『李丙燾著、金思燁訳『韓国古代史』上下（1979・六興出版）』▽『井上秀雄著『古代朝鮮』（NHKブックス）』▽『井上秀雄著『変動期の東アジアと日本』（1983・日本書籍）』▽『金富軾著、井上秀雄訳注『三国史記2』（平凡社・東洋文庫）』

[参照項目] | 朝鮮史 | 渤海

高句麗／略系図

高句麗の領土（5世紀後半）

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例

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