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Section 4: GoryeoThe Uniting of the Three KingdomsBefore Goryeo united Korea, there were several wars between the three kingdoms. They were known as Shila, Goryeo and Hubeckjie. Hubeckjie was constructed by GyunHyin in 900, a formal warrior of Shila. Goryeo’s founder is known as Goongye at 901, but because of his cruelty, Wanggon rebelled and took the title of King. Shila’s last king, Gyungsunwang, surrendered to Goryeo in 918. In 936, Wang-gun united the three kingdoms under the name of Goryeo.

A portrait of Wang Gun

Fun Fact:It is known that GyunHyin had a prejudice against Shila, so he rebelled. To revenge, he made a new kingdom in a name of Shila’s enemy, Beckjie.

Green= Important words (Keywords)

Wang-gun, The 1st KingAlso known as the “Founder” of Goryeo

Wang Gun was an aristocrat who served under Gung Ye and helped build Later Gogureo. Because of Gung Ye’s misconduct and wrongdoings, he took the kingdom for himself and renamed it Goryeo. Wang Gun conquered Later Baekje by force and annexed Silla when the last ruler, Gyeongsun chose to surrender. Taejo had six queens and more wives from marrying the daughters of every clan leader. Although he received support from these families, more clans claimed their rights to the throne.

Map of Goryeo. As you can see, Goryeo was sma&er

than the Korea now.

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A'er Wang-gun's DeathSince Wang-gun had so many children, it was likely there would be a fight for power. That was what happened. Royalties fought for power of the throne. In between the struggle, the first son of Wang-gun, HyeJong was king for only 2 years. The next king didn’t rule long, either. The king of Goryeo only gained power from the 4th king, GyuangZhong.

GyuangZhong’s accomplishmentsGyuangZhong is famous for changing Goryeo’s society a lot. His first well known accomplishment is the slavery law. He freed all of the illegal slaves the royalties had. He made them into free commoners. GyuangZhong’s reason for freeing the slaves was to decrease the power of the royalties because slaves were money. Without their fortune, they become powerless. The second improved achievement was the testing system of picking intelligent people from commoners. This gave a chance for people who are not royalty to work in the government. However, not everyone could take the test. People who have the right to attend is when their ancestors had a official post. That means there were limits. But there was one good thing. This was a way to get rid of power inequality.

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The Stabilization of PowerGyungZhong got influenced by his father and was determined to follow his way. He made a law called “JionSiGua” that gave authority to people working in the government. The authority was over grain of specifically marked land. The land is only temporary given to the worker, but taken away after he dies.

Because of these new rules, the power of the royalties declined dramatically. Now the power of a parent didn’t affect their children. The children had to earn there way toward power. The only way was to take the test that GuangZhong made. Another option was to give up gaining power and living in their hometown.

However, power did not settle right in. Royalties only gave in after GuangZhong’s death. Mainly, the reason was because his son, SongZhong forced the new laws to everyone.

This is an example of the testing system GuangZong made. As you see, they are

a& in chinese characters and long.

More about the testing system.Not everything was good

Taking the test was not the only way to get an official post. Some people didn’t have to take the test. There are two kinds of ways. First, you can give honor to the country. Another way has nothing to do with a person’s ability. It depends on the father’s or grandfather’s position. If they had a high position in the government, their sons got into the government with no problem at all. More frustrating, they got the higher positions. Not all of the inequality was solved. There was another advantage that the higher positions got. The country gave out land to them. This one is permanently given, which means it is now the property of the high, powerful people.

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The Ranking of GoryeoAlthough most of the inequality was solved through the first 5 kings, there were still ranks. Royalties, nobilities, gentlemen, commoners and lastly the slaves. Royalties got a post in the government without any problem, and so did the nobilities. However the gentlemen had to take the test to get a position. They would memorize books written in chinese and take the test. These gentlemen were people who had knowledge, respect and a good bloodline. All day they would momorize and compose poems and literature. Commoners had a hard time working for the government and working to earn money or food. When they were working for the government, they were usually forced. The commoners had a hard time when the 18th king, Iejong ruled. It is because he loved to play and used most of the tax for goods. The slaves had a worse time. Beatings was just one thing. They were forced to work all day instead of their owners on the field. They were treated as animals. The ranks didn’t disappear.

Farming

Commoners had to work a& day to get food. From morning to

nightfa&, there was no rest except for eating lunch!

Kitan WarsKitan- In 993, the Khitan invaded Goryeo's northwest border with 800,000 troops. The Khitan withdrew and ceded territory to the east of the Yalu River when Goryeo agreed to end its alliance with Song China. Goryeo continued to communicate with Song, having strengthened its position by building fortress in the newly gained northern territories. Meanwhile, in 1009, General Gang Jo of Goryeo led a coup against King Mokjong killing the king and establishing military rule. In 1010, The Khitan attacked again during an internal Goryeo power struggle. Gang Jo blocked the Liao invasions until his own death. The Khitan forced Goryeo king Hyeonjong to flee the capital temporarily, but unable to establish a foothold and fearing a counterattack, the Khitan forces withdrew. In 1018, Khitan invaded for a third time. General Gang Gamchan ordered the stream blocked until the Khitans began to cross it, and the Khitans mid-way across, he ordered the dam destroyed, drowning much of the Khitan army. Khitan's army devastated, General Gang led a massive attack that annihilated all the Khitan army. Barely a few thousand of the Liao troops survived after the bitter defeat at Kwiju. After Gang Gamchan, General Yoon Gwan destroyed the Jurchens armies and expanded the Goryeo territory for a temporary time.

Important fact to know- 1019 General Kang blocked a

small stream until the Khitan army(of 100,000 people) started crossing it and ordered it destroyed(when they were halfway) so that the water would drown the soldiers. (Most famous part of the war)

GangGamChan

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Influence of the marketFrom Goryeo, the trade market increased dramatically. Goryeo traded with Yeo, Yo, Song of China and Japan.

Below is a chart of what they traded.

country Yeo Yo Song Japan

traded for

traded

Silver, fur and horses

Silver, fur and horses

Not specified

Pearls, Silver

farm equipment, Wood and Farmings

Farmings, writing tools & books

Not specified

Wood, Silver and Insam( A good natural medicine

Geasong (Capital of Goryeo) was well known as a trading city. Even till Chuseon (the next empire)

Did you know?1)Korea’s first coins where made during Goryeo

dynasty.

2)Korea comes from Goryeo. Because the name was hard to pronounce, the spelling changed into Korea.

3)Korea came known to other countries of eastern Asia at this period.

4) Goryeo was famous for it’s writing tools, paper and their medicine.

Example of traded items.

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Buddhism plays an important partGoryeo is the period when buddhism flourished through out the land. All over the country, villages competed each other to see who made a bigger stone statue of Buddha. Since the builders weren’t as skilled as the royal builders, the statues came out roughly. Also not everyone could become a priest. There were a limit of people available. There should be no more than one child of three children that is a priest. Also, people had to take a test just to become a priest! The reason was that they gained lot of respect and also power. They were one of the highest positions. In the temples, trading flourished. They gave out grain and took them back with a charge added to the original. This becomes a problem later, because the temples charged to much.

Interesting facts1) Girls and boys were treated equally in Goryeo.

2) Girls and boys got the same amount of properties.

3) When a girl comes first, the family tree says “00 Girls and 00 boys”.

4) People tended to use two last names, from both sides of the family.

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Fight between knowledge and powerOn 1170, the 18th king, Yijong took his servants on a tour. However, when Yijong was watching training of his warriors, a young politician suddenly hit an elderly high-positioned warrior. The king and politicians started to laugh when the warrior fell. The warriors were angry.

One warrior of the age 65, known as JeongZungBu thought of the insult he got when we was young. A politician had burnt his beard for fun.

This was when the warriors killed the politicians and sent the king and the crown prince into exile. The warriors had enough of it. In the end, the king was put into a pot and thrown into a river.

How did the warrior succeed?The warriors were successful in the over throwing of power.

The reasons are as followed.

- They got support from angry citizens who were treated as slaves by the politicians.

- The citizens wanted a leader who would know what to do and understand them.

However, this came not as they thought. The warriors used their power to gain more power. So the citizens had a worse time than before.

This period was not a welcoming period in Goryeo because the amount of thieves and rebellions increased. There were also slave rebels.

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Mongol WarsThere were a total of seven wars. Mongol attacked Goryeo.

Mongol First WarMongol 1st- Thailand following the coming generations of Genghis Khan (Tai) and 1231 (Gojong 18) General revive Thailand (Kanji: 撒 礼 塔) byeolgun

to (别 军) to embark on a given attack, lunar August

over the Yalu River, davits, etc. Uiju and was taken to continue southward. For nine weeks, marking it right (Guizhou), often (慈 州) · seogyeong mujjilreoteuna

generally larger at a disadvantage was chartered. Finally, the Mongolian army surrounded Gaegyeong Gaozong be sent without the tie alive gwonhangsa (劝降 使) hoeangong information to meet the royal

family (淮安 公 侹) were planted in the camp, sent to

the strengthening.

As a result, the fight was stopped one year after the Mongolian lunar January 1232 Mongol troops were withdrawing cover to feed the nation, the value of this time (Kanji: 达鲁 花 赤) 72 people who proclaim it

was put on "considerations" that there is no such record .

For the last 4 wars, the official army did not march, but only the citizens were there to protect the land.

They tried to protect their land with their lives.

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Mongol Second WarMongol 2nd- Although Mongolia is considered and the strengthening of the bones, but that it was not considering the future of Mongolia and the attitude of the ruling are the highest for any idea at the time the jaechuhoeui (宰 枢 会议) decision to open the strengthening of

capital, 1232 (19 Gojong Years), capital intensity lunar June (江都: Ganghwa) was transferred to

the firm determination of long-term fight was. It would seem so hostile against Mongolia Thailand live in the seven months to break again to lead an army, won seogyeong Hongfu Launching of the Nanjing fell to Gaegyeong (南京: Hanyang) attacked across the river to the

south were attacking.

But the battle does not hit on the strength of the weak and Mongolia sent a delegation to surrender, so again, southward to comply with recommendations but cheoinseong (处 仁 城:

part), then raised to attack Kim Yoon of Korea and Thailand to the arrow was shot champion. Mongolia lost captain lost his withdrawal was a scam, this time buinsa (符 仁 寺) Director of

the "Tripitaka" chojopan (初 雕板) a fire is gone. Meanwhile, the momentum for withdrawal

from Mongolia's highest and bukgyebyeongmasa Minhee (闵 曦) to the Trooper (家 兵) 3 cloth

before giving suppress rebellious Hongfu sources, and captured the northern family, Ju Hyeon (州县) recovered most of Was.

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Mongol Third WarMongol 3rd- 1235 (Gojong 22 years) on the way to attack the Mongols off the Southern Song dangeultae (唐 兀 台) re-consideration given to the army was smitten. Mongolia provinces (介

州: ditch), water (温水: Onyang), jukju (竹 州: tOkYO), Daxing (大兴: budget) while being a

big hit in places over four years swept across the country. The famous "hwangryongsa nine-storied pagoda," also was destroyed at this time.

Thus in the Mongolian land iphyeoteuna angry intensity only adjust chimgongchi Violet resided in the strength of the defense ministries of the power to borrow on the other hand, accused of striving to avoid the "Tripitaka" of the re (再 雕) was started. But the strength of

the damage to the people concerned on the 1238 (Gojong 25 years) winter gimbojeong (金宝鼎)

and sent to the camp was offered to strengthen and Mongolia in the spring of next year, subject to the king's Watch was to begin pulling out. After the withdrawal is considered to fulfill the promise of the Mongol royal collectors say that the impossibility of your mouth sinangong ago (新安 公 佺) and wangje (王 弟: king's brother) sent to Mongolia in 1241 instead

of La chinghayeo (Gojong 28 years), the bell of the ball model (从 兄: cousin) gave

youngnyeonggong (永宁 公 綧) by a Mongol prince, for the most spent as a hostage.

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SamByulChoMilitary officials who refused to surrender to the Mongols formed Sambyeolcho Rebellion. They set up their own government in one of the islands located near southern shore of Korean Peninsula but was defeated in the end.

King GongminThis king was well known for his rebel against mongol. Although he failed, it became an important piece of history. He rebelled by changing his name, having there be no meaning of bow down to mongol. He declined the offer of Mongol to take their princess as queen. He tried to break down all the customs of Mongol that sipped into Goryeo. However he failed, killed by his own servants. This event made Goryeo come a step closer to falling.

The Fa& of Goryeo1388 Lee Seong Gae- Did not want the 1388 expedition, pushed by the Yalu River, Seong nicely also came to the tiny island has a big decision in Malmo. Fluctuations are fighting a losing battle conquered the impossible no longer deems the advance of the number of Yi Seong Cho Min accompanied by persuading the army in nicely too quickly Gaegyeong push back, sir. Choi, Seong for the exile and the government took control of dethroned to Mm. And the Scarecrow King has set changwang. Was considered evidence of the power of his dynasty, Seong Choi, unlike the situation with independent forces overthrew the Goryeo Dynasty, is the very thing can throw. This series of process control as a result of the political helm of Lee Seong-gye established a new dynasty was created as a hero for opening a new phase in our history has been the starting point. Goryeo soon ended in 1392 C.E.

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Achievements of Goryeo DynastyThere were several achievements. Several history books, many Goryeo pottery and temples. The writing utensils were popular and so were there medicine. Gun powder was also invented at this dynasty.

CottonMoon Ik Jeon is best known for smuggling cotton into Korea. Cotton was easier and cheaper fabric to use than silk and made lives better for the poor. He smuggled cotton from the Mongols by hiding the seed in his wooden cane. He was caught on his first try, though. He succeeded on his second attempt.