Research Article
Historical meaning of Koguryo relics in the Jungwon cultural area
고려대학교
Published: January 2022 · Vol. 30 · pp. 1-65
Full Text
Abstract
As the 'Jungwon Historical and Cultural Area' was included in the recently implemented 'Special Act on Maintenance, etc. of Historic and Cultural Areas', discussions on the spatio-temporal scope and identity of the Central Plains Historical and Cultural Area are becoming more active. In this article, the discussion on the spatial scope of the Jungwon region was reviewed, and the historical meaning was examined by analyzing the contents of Koguryo relics in the Jungwon region.
There have already been several discussions about the spatial scope and identity of the Jungwon region or the Jungwon cultural area, and it is generally understood that the area of Chungcheongbuk-do is the spatial scope of the current administrative district, but includes surrounding areas such as Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do as an extension. However, there is also a view that it should be strictly limited to a narrow area centered on Chungju from the historical context and diachronic point of view, and this is related to the identity of Jungwon culture. Historically, the Jungwon region has never functioned as the capital of a ancient state, and is characterized as a border and intersection of Koguryo, Baekje and Silla during the Three Kingdoms period. Therefore, there are various perspectives on the identity of Jungwon culture in terms of border area, inclusion and convergence.
Koguryo military sites in Jungwon region are situated on the major traffic routes and located in the low-lying hill at c. 100m asl. Revealed from the Namseonggolsanseong and Wolpyeongdong sites, the typical Koguryo fortress in South Korea was constructed with two-three rows of wooden barricades infilled with trampled earth and stone walls outside. Koguryo pottery usually has the black coloured surface with a simple rim and inscribed patterns or dots on the body of the pottery. They shared similar characteristics with Koguryo potteries excavated from Mongchon earthen wall. Thus they are dated to late 5th century AD.
It appears that Koguryo site was constructed by Koguryo army chasing Backje which moved its capital to Ungjin after Hanseong conquest in 475 AD by King Jangsoo and had been occupied until 500 AD. Considering the distribution pattern of Koguryo sites excavated in the southern Hangang region, Koguryo army moved southward through the route of Seongnam - Yongin - Anseong - Jincheon - Cheongju - Cheongwon - Yeongi - Daejeon, putting pressure on Baekje while residing in Mongchon earthen wall. However, the discovery of tombs and village together with military sites indicate that the aim of southern expansion was not only to put military pressure but also to acquire the southern territory. However, short-term occupation period of each site indicates that Koguryo failed to territorialize the newly acquired southern region and the army had retreated to the north of Han river around 500 AD. The relics of Koguryo investigated in the Jungwon region are meaningful in that they are physical evidence of history that preserves the aspect of the rivalry between Koguryo and Baekje in the later part of the 5th century.
There have already been several discussions about the spatial scope and identity of the Jungwon region or the Jungwon cultural area, and it is generally understood that the area of Chungcheongbuk-do is the spatial scope of the current administrative district, but includes surrounding areas such as Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do as an extension. However, there is also a view that it should be strictly limited to a narrow area centered on Chungju from the historical context and diachronic point of view, and this is related to the identity of Jungwon culture. Historically, the Jungwon region has never functioned as the capital of a ancient state, and is characterized as a border and intersection of Koguryo, Baekje and Silla during the Three Kingdoms period. Therefore, there are various perspectives on the identity of Jungwon culture in terms of border area, inclusion and convergence.
Koguryo military sites in Jungwon region are situated on the major traffic routes and located in the low-lying hill at c. 100m asl. Revealed from the Namseonggolsanseong and Wolpyeongdong sites, the typical Koguryo fortress in South Korea was constructed with two-three rows of wooden barricades infilled with trampled earth and stone walls outside. Koguryo pottery usually has the black coloured surface with a simple rim and inscribed patterns or dots on the body of the pottery. They shared similar characteristics with Koguryo potteries excavated from Mongchon earthen wall. Thus they are dated to late 5th century AD.
It appears that Koguryo site was constructed by Koguryo army chasing Backje which moved its capital to Ungjin after Hanseong conquest in 475 AD by King Jangsoo and had been occupied until 500 AD. Considering the distribution pattern of Koguryo sites excavated in the southern Hangang region, Koguryo army moved southward through the route of Seongnam - Yongin - Anseong - Jincheon - Cheongju - Cheongwon - Yeongi - Daejeon, putting pressure on Baekje while residing in Mongchon earthen wall. However, the discovery of tombs and village together with military sites indicate that the aim of southern expansion was not only to put military pressure but also to acquire the southern territory. However, short-term occupation period of each site indicates that Koguryo failed to territorialize the newly acquired southern region and the army had retreated to the north of Han river around 500 AD. The relics of Koguryo investigated in the Jungwon region are meaningful in that they are physical evidence of history that preserves the aspect of the rivalry between Koguryo and Baekje in the later part of the 5th century.