Hwan-guk
Encyclopedia
The hypothetical state of Hwanguk (환국, 桓國) is the first mythical state of Korea
described in Hwandan Gogi
. According to Hwandan Gogi, Hwanguk existed long before Gojoseon
. However, mainstream Korean historians reject the existence of Hwanguk altogether, for the lack of credible evidence.
, one of the oldest surviving Korean history books, the name Hwanin
(桓因), the mythical grandfather of Gojoseon's founder Dangun
, appears as if it is instead written Hwanguk (桓囯), which would mean "The Hwan nation." Some people argue that this is an evidence that the original manuscript of Samguk Yusa wrote Hwanguk instead of Hwanin.
There were seven emperors for 3301 years. Because of their long reigns (average would be 471.6 years/emperor), this nation is not officially considered to be historical. Because the nation was governed by Hwanin, it might be called Hwanguk or the Hwanin’s nation (guk is a Sino-Korean word that means "state" or "nation"). It was located at the area of the mountain Pana-ryu, thus it was also called the Pana-ryu’s nation. Hwanguk was located in the east of the sea of heaven. Hwanguk was an allied nation that consisted of twelve confederacies. It is believed that the size of the Hwanguk was 8,000 km from east to west, and 20,000 from north to south. The people of Hwanguk believed that they were the offspring of Heaven. Thus, they respected brightness, their god was the sun, their ancestor was Heaven, and they worshiped to heaven everyday because all of the people in Hwanguk do not doubt about it at all.
After its destruction, it was succeeded by Baedalguk.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
described in Hwandan Gogi
Hwandan Gogi
Hwandan Gogi , also called Handan Gogi, is a compilation of texts on ancient Korean history. It is a bound volume of four historical records: Samseonggi, Dangun Segi, Bukbuyeogi and Taebaek Ilsa....
. According to Hwandan Gogi, Hwanguk existed long before Gojoseon
Gojoseon
Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom. Go , meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later Joseon Dynasty; Joseon, as it is called in contemporaneous writings, is also romanized as Chosŏn....
. However, mainstream Korean historians reject the existence of Hwanguk altogether, for the lack of credible evidence.
Claim of Hwanguk's Appearance in Samguk Yusa
In some editions of Samguk YusaSamguk Yusa
Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea , as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period.The text was written in Classical Chinese, which was...
, one of the oldest surviving Korean history books, the name Hwanin
Hwanin
Hwanin, or "Divine Regent" is a figure in Korean mythology. In the traditional Dangun mythology he is portrayed as the Emperor of Heaven himself, with his son Hwanung 환웅 and his grandson Dangun being the mythical founder of Korea...
(桓因), the mythical grandfather of Gojoseon's founder Dangun
Dangun
Dangun Wanggeom was the legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, around present-day Liaoning, Manchuria, and the Korean Peninsula. He is said to be the "grandson of heaven", and to have founded the kingdom in 2333 BC...
, appears as if it is instead written Hwanguk (桓囯), which would mean "The Hwan nation." Some people argue that this is an evidence that the original manuscript of Samguk Yusa wrote Hwanguk instead of Hwanin.
Hwanguk in Hwandan-gogi
According to the Hwandan-gogi, it was composed of twelve states, Biri-guk(비리국, 卑離國), Yangun-guk(양운국, 養雲國), Gumakhan-guk(구막한국, 寇莫汗國), Gudacheon-guk(구다천국, 句茶川國), Irun-guk(일군국, 一群國), Uru-guk(우루국, 虞婁國) or Pilla-guk(필라국, 畢那國), Gaekhyeon-han-guk(객현한국, 客賢汗國), Gumoaek-guk(구모액국, 句牟額國), Maeguyeo-guk(매구여국, 賣句餘國) or Jikguda-guk(직구다국, 稷臼多國), Sanaba-guk(사납아국, 斯納阿國), Seonbi-guk(선비국, 鮮裨國) or Siwi-guk(시위국, 豕韋國) or Tonggosa-guk(통고사국, 通古斯國), and Sumiri-guk(수밀이국, 須密爾國).There were seven emperors for 3301 years. Because of their long reigns (average would be 471.6 years/emperor), this nation is not officially considered to be historical. Because the nation was governed by Hwanin, it might be called Hwanguk or the Hwanin’s nation (guk is a Sino-Korean word that means "state" or "nation"). It was located at the area of the mountain Pana-ryu, thus it was also called the Pana-ryu’s nation. Hwanguk was located in the east of the sea of heaven. Hwanguk was an allied nation that consisted of twelve confederacies. It is believed that the size of the Hwanguk was 8,000 km from east to west, and 20,000 from north to south. The people of Hwanguk believed that they were the offspring of Heaven. Thus, they respected brightness, their god was the sun, their ancestor was Heaven, and they worshiped to heaven everyday because all of the people in Hwanguk do not doubt about it at all.
After its destruction, it was succeeded by Baedalguk.
List of Hwanin
- An Pa-gyeon (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 안파견 HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 安巴堅) 7197 BCE. - ?) - Hyeok Seo (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 혁서 HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 赫胥) - Go Si-ri (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 고시리 HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 古是利) - Ju U-yang (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 주우양 HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 朱于襄) - Seok Je-im (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 석제임 HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 釋提壬) - Gu Eul-ri (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 구을리 HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 邱乙利) - Ji Wi-ri (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 지위리 HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 智爲利)