Old Choson

Old Choson, Korean proto-state that emerged around 500-400 bc in the Taedong River plain in north-western Korea. Its territory later expanded to cover northern Korea, southern Dongbei, and the Liaodong peninsula. The state is first mentioned in Chinese historical sources such as Weilüe, Shiji, and Hanshu. These texts referred to Choson, and the oldest extant history where the attribute Old is added is the 13th century Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), a Korean history written by the Buddhist monk Iryon to differentiate an earlier stage of this kingdom, also known as Wanggom Choson, from the later Wiman Choson. But Old Choson later came to be used as a designation for all stages of the ancient Choson kingdom to differentiate it from the Choson (or Yi) dynasty (1392-1910).

The ruler of Old Choson reportedly assumed the Chinese term “wang” (king) around the 4th century bc and at this time the growing power of the kingdom came into conflict with the North China state of Yan. Old Choson intended to attack Yan to show its veneration for the Zhou dynasty, but instead it was Yan that launched an attack at the end of the 4th century, seizing the Liaodong peninsula. To control the area they established a commandery that subsequently came under the control of the Qin empire, perpetuating the loss of this territory for Old Choson. In the turmoil surrounding the fall of the Qin and rise of the Han dynasty, a man of Yan known as Wiman reportedly fled eastwards taking with him over a thousand followers. King Chun of Old Choson first entrusted him with the defence of the kingdom’s north-western border, but Wiman later drove King Chun from the throne, assuming kingship himself sometime between 194 and 180 bc, thus initiating the Wiman Choson period. Strengthened militarily and economically Wiman Choson subjugated neighbouring states to the north, east, and south, and tried to block direct contacts between Han and neighbouring states to the south to control the lucrative trade in iron produced in the southern part of the Korean peninsula. Concerned not only about this, but also about the possibility of an alliance between Wiman Choson and the Xiongnu, Han in 109 bc launched an attack on the kingdom, now led by King Ugo, and in 108 bc Wiman Choson perished, marking the end of Old Choson.

As the first Korean state formation, Old Choson has played an important role in 20th century nationalist discourses on Korean origins. Due to the lack of extensive historical material, attention has been given to legendary material. According to the Samguk Yusa, Old Choson was founded in 2333 bc by Tan’gun, born of the union of the son of Heaven and a bear that had turned into a woman. The content of this myth is seen to represent the shamanistic religious outlook of Old Choson, and using archaeological findings to indicate territorial extension, the existence of Old Choson as a state is projected further back in time, claiming that Tan’gun was the title of the ruler of this state, a ruler that combined political and religious functions in a state characterized by shamanistic beliefs.

Another legend surrounding Old Choson is that of Kija. According to Shiji, Kija was a scion of the royal house of Shang who migrated east when the Shang was overthrown by the Zhou around 1122 bc. King Wu of Zhou reportedly later enfeoffed him (made him fief) with the kingdom of Choson. Kija was later revered in Korea, especially during the Yi dynasty, as the person who had introduced Chinese civilization, but modern historians have largely disregarded this legend.