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Template:Koreanname noimage Gojoseon ("ancient" Joseon, to distinguish from the later Joseon Dynasty) was the first Korean kingdom. According to legend, it was founded in 2333 BC by Dangun in the basins of the Liao and Taedong Rivers, ruling over northern Korean peninsula and southern Manchuria until 108 BC.

Historians generally refer to this entire period as Gojoseon, but some classify Gija Joseon and Wiman Joseon as separate periods.

Founding legend

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Ancient period Gojoseon 2333 BC–108 BC * Dangun * Gija * Wiman Jin 4th–2nd century BC Yemaek
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Dangun is the legendary founder of Korea. The oldest existing record of the founding myth of Korea involving him appears in the Samguk Yusa, a 13th-century collection of legends and stories. A similar account is found in Jewang Ungi.

Dangun's ancestry begins with his grandfather Hwanin (환인; 桓因;), the "Lord of Heaven" (a name which also appears in Indian Buddhist texts). Hwanin had a son Hwanung who yearned to live on the earth among the valleys and the mountains. Hwanin chose Mount Taebaek for his son to settle down in and sent him with 3,000 helpers to rule the earth and provide humans with great happiness. Hwanung descended to Mount Taebaek and founded a city, which he named Sinsi (신시; 神市), or "City of God." Along with his ministers of clouds, rain, and wind, he instituted laws and moral codes and taught the humans various arts, medicine, and agriculture.

A tiger and a bear living in a cave together prayed to Hwanung that they may become human. Upon hearing their prayers, Hwanung called them to him and gave them 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort. He then ordered them to only eat this sacred food and remain out of the sunlight for 100 days. The tiger shortly gave up and left the cave. However, the bear remained and after 21 days was transformed into a woman.

The bear-woman (Ungnyeo; 웅녀; 熊女) was very grateful and made offerings to Hwanung. She lacked a husband, however, and soon became sad and prayed beneath a sandalwood tree to be blessed with a child. Hwanung, moved by her prayers, took her for his wife and soon she gave birth to a son, who was named Dangun Wanggeom (단군 왕검; 檀君王儉).

Dangun ascended to the throne in the 50th year of the reign of the Emperor Yao (the legendary Chinese sage Yao), the year of Gengyin, built the walled city of P'yŏngyang, and called the kingdom Joseon. He then moved his capital to Asadal on Mount Baegak (or Mount Gunghol). 1,500 years later, in the year Kimyo, King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty enfeoffed Jizi to Joseon, and Dangun moved his capital to Jangdangyeong. Finally, he returned to Asadal and became a mountain god at the age of 1,908.

History

It is often said that Dangun ascended to the throne in 2333 BC, based on the description of the Dongguk Tonggam (1485), but the date differs among historical sources; nevertheless, all of them put it during Yao's reign (traditional dates: 2357 BC-2256 BC). The Samguk Yusa say Dangun ascended to the throne in the 50th year of Yao's reign, while Sejong Sillok says the first year and Dongguk Tonggam says the 25th year.

The people of Gojoseon are called in Chinese records Dong-i, "eastern bowmen," belonging to the Tungusic family and linguistically affiliated with the Altaic. They propagated in Manchuria, far eastern China, north of the Yangtze River, and the Korean Peninsula. Gojoseon eventually consolidated in Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula, and was praised by Confucius and Mencius for the decorum of its people.

Gojoseon clashed with the Zhou during China's Warring States Period (475-221 BC). Gija, a subject of the Yin state, entered Dangun's domain and introduced the culture of Yin around the 11th century B.C. Gojoseon lost the territories west of the Liao River to the Yen people in the third century B.C. By this time, iron culture was developing and the warring states pushed the refugees eastward.

Among the refugees, Wiman entered the service of Gojoseon as military commander with a base on the Amnokgang river. He usurped control from King Jun, but in 109 BC, the Han emperor Wuti began a massive invasion of Gojoseon near the Liao River.

Gojoseon fell after two years of war, and four Chinese commanderies were set up in southern Manchuria and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. Three of the commanderies fell quickly to the Koreans of Samhan, and the last, Lolang (Korean: Nangnang) was destroyed by Goguryeo in 313.

Annals of Danguns

Annals of the Danguns are recorded in Gyuwon Sahwa. Gyuwon Sahwa is a credible historical record written in 1675 which is based on earlier records that are now lost. Unfortunately, the existing Gyuwon Sahwa is part of Hwandan Gogi, a 1911 transcription purporting to describe Korean history back to the 8th millennium BC. Most scholars consider Hwandan Gogi as a collection to be apocryphal, but parts of it are based on Gyuwon Sahwa and other known records.

1. Dangun Wanggeom BC 2333-BC 2240
2. Dangun Buru BC 2240-BC 2182
3. Dangun Garuk BC 2182-BC 2137
4. Dangun Osagu BC 2137-BC 2099
5. Dangun Gueul BC 2099-BC 2083
6. Dangun Dalmun BC 2083-BC 2047
7. Dangun Hanyul BC 2047-BC 1993
8. Dangun Useohan BC 1993-BC 1985
9. Dangun Asul BC 1985-BC 1950
10. Dangun Noeul BC 1950-BC 1891
11. Dangun Dohae BC 1891-BC 1834
12. Dangun Ahan BC 1834-BC 1782
13. Dangun Holdal (a.k.a. Daeumdal) BC 1782-BC 1721
14. Dangun Gobul BC 1721-BC 1661
15. Dangun Daeum (a.k.a. Huhuldal) BC 1661-BC 1610
16. Dangun Wina BC 1610-BC 1552
17. Dangun Yeoul BC 1552-BC 1484
18. Dangun Dongum BC 1484-BC 1435
19. Dangun Gumoso BC 1435-BC 1380
20. Dangun Sotae BC 1337-BC 1285
21. Dangun Saekbullu BC 1285-BC 1237
22. Dangun Aheul BC 1237-BC 1161
23. Dangun Solna BC 1150-BC 1062
24. Dangun Churo BC 1062-BC 997
25. Dangun Dumil BC 997-BC 971
26. Dangun Haemo BC 971-BC 943
27. Dangun Mahyu BC 943-BC 909
28. Dangun Naehyu BC 909-BC 874
29. Dangun Deungol BC 874-BC 849
30. Dangun Chumil BC 849-BC 819
31. Dangun Gammul BC 819-BC 795
32. Dangun Orumun BC 795-BC 772
33. Dangun Sabeol BC 772-BC 704
34. Dangun Maeruk BC 704-BC 646
35. Dangun Mamul BC 646-BC 590
36. Dangun Damul BC 590-BC 545
37. Dangun Duhol BC 545-BC 509
38. Dangun Daleum BC 509-BC 491
39. Dangun Umcha BC 491-BC 471
40. Dangun Uleuji BC 471-BC 461
41. Dangun Mulli BC 461-BC 425
42. Dangun Gumul BC 425-BC 396
43. Dangun Yeoru BC 396-BC 341
44. Dangun Boeul BC 341-BC 295
45. Dangun Goyeolga BC 295-BC 237

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• History of Korea

• Early Korean history