Hwandan Gogi
Encyclopedia
Hwandan Gogi also called Handan Gogi, is a compilation of texts on ancient Korea
n history. It is a bound volume of four historical records: Samseonggi, Dangun Segi, Bukbuyeogi and Taebaek Ilsa.
According to its introduction, it was compiled in 1911 by Uncho Gye Yeon-su (운초 계연수, 雲樵 桂延壽; ? ~ 1920) and supervised by Yi Gi (이기,李沂; 1848 ~ 1909). However, the only currently known copy is Yi Yu-rip's transcription, restored and published in 1979.
, North Korea
and Japan
generally consider the Hwandangogi to have been created in recent times, because of the following reasons:
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...
n history. It is a bound volume of four historical records: Samseonggi, Dangun Segi, Bukbuyeogi and Taebaek Ilsa.
According to its introduction, it was compiled in 1911 by Uncho Gye Yeon-su (운초 계연수, 雲樵 桂延壽; ? ~ 1920) and supervised by Yi Gi (이기,李沂; 1848 ~ 1909). However, the only currently known copy is Yi Yu-rip's transcription, restored and published in 1979.
Contents
The four books comprising the Hwandan Gogi are:- Samseonggi (two volumes), describing ancient kingdoms called Hwan-gukHwan-gukThe hypothetical state of Hwanguk is the first mythical state of Korea described in Hwandan Gogi. According to Hwandan Gogi, Hwanguk existed long before Gojoseon...
that lasted for 3301 years, and HwanungHwanungHwanung is an important figure in the mythological origins of Korea. He plays a central role in the story of Dangun Wanggeom , the legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first kingdom of Korea. Hwanung is the son of Hwanin , the "Lord of Heaven"...
's 1565-year rule of Baedalguk. - Dangun Segi, chronicling the history of GojoseonGojoseonGojoseon 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....
with 47 generations of DangunDangunDangun 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...
rulers. - Bukbuyeogi, describing the six kings of Bukbuyeo (North BuyeoBuyeo (state)Buyeo or Puyŏ , Fuyu in Chinese, was an ancient Korean kingdom located from today's Manchuria to northern North Korea, from around the 2nd century BC to 494. Its remnants were absorbed by the neighboring and brotherhood kingdom of Goguryeo in 494...
). - Taebaek Ilsa, describing the histories of Hwan-gukHwan-gukThe hypothetical state of Hwanguk is the first mythical state of Korea described in Hwandan Gogi. According to Hwandan Gogi, Hwanguk existed long before Gojoseon...
, Baedalguk, Samjoseon, GoguryeoGoguryeoGoguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
, BalhaeBalhaeBalhae was a Manchurian kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo. After Goguryeo's capital and southern territories fell to Unified Silla, Dae Jo-yeong, a Mohe general, whose father was Dae Jung-sang, established Jin , later called Balhae.Balhae occupied southern parts of Manchuria and...
, and GoryeoGoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
; also includes the text of Cheonbu-gyeong.
Criticism
Most historians in South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
generally consider the Hwandangogi to have been created in recent times, because of the following reasons:
- There are words from modern language. (for example, '男女平權; the equality of man and woman', '父權; paternal rights')
- The route through which Hwandangogi was first published is not clear.
- Yi Gi could not have supervised the Hwandangogi which first compiled in 1911, because he died then.
- The contents of Cheonbu Gyeong could not be included in Taebaek Ilsa before 1911 because the Cheonbu Gyeong was first discovered and known to the Daejonggyo in 1916 by Gae Yeonsu, the person who compiled Hwandan Gogi.
- The 1911 edition (or any edition before 1979) has not been found. There is no proof that the book was kept by Yi Yurip and lost in 1975, and then restored by Yi Yurip before 1979.
- The contents in Hwandan Gogi are not realistic.
- The population of Gojoseon 4,000 years ago is said to be 180 million.
- The nation is said to span several thousand kilometers in about 8000 BCE.
Support
Some historians view the Hwandan gogi as worthy of further scholarly scrutiny, believing that it is at least partly based on historically valuable, ancient (if not literally accurate) texts.- The record that five stars were arranged in straight line at 1733 BCE (오성취루, 五星聚婁). This astronomical record in Hwandan Gogi is proved by Professor Park Changbeom, and it is published in the journal. They show that the five stars was arranged in straight line at 1734 BCE with the assumption that GojoseonGojoseonGojoseon 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....
was established at 2333BCE. - Professor(Major field: Law) Junhwan Go asserts several reasons why the Hwandan Gogi is considerable.
- The territory of GojoseonGojoseonGojoseon 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....
explained by Hwandan Gogi accords with the distribution area of the mandolin-shaped dagger of Gojoseon. Moreover, this territory advocated by Yoon et al. and Yi ByeongdoYi ByeongdoLee Byeong-do was a Korean historian. He is often associated with the Japanese colonial view of Korean history.-Biography:* 1927: Started working in Korean History Compilation Committee* 1934: Founding Jindan Institute...
coincide with the territory explained by Hwandan Gogi.