Digital Producer: 글 주을량

I have prepared a Fun Facts series to help fathers share more about Korean history with our children growing up in the United States. With ongoing discoveries and research, the content of Korean history education is changing significantly, providing fathers with an opportunity to learn new facts that they may not have known before. This can be a great chance for fathers to read and discuss these stories with their children. Let's begin with some interesting historical tales!

06
Is Korea Goguryeo?

When did the name Korea (Corea) first become known to the world? The first mention of our country in Europe dates back to the 13th century, in the records of an Italian monk who traveled to Mongolia. The term Corea (코리아/꼬레아) began to be used more widely around the 16th century, derived from the name Goryeo (고려) with the Latin suffix -a (meaning land or country) added to it.

From the early 10th century to the late 14th century, our country was in the Goryeo Dynasty, which is why that name is commonly recognized. However, the Goryeo established by Wang Geon in 918 AD, after overthrowing Gungye, inherited its name from Goguryeo, which existed long before. Goguryeo officially changed its name to Goryeo in the 5th century when it was at its peak, and prior to that, both names were used interchangeably. The pronunciation at that time might have been closer to "Gaouri" or "Gori," but it was written as Goryeo in Hanja. After the fall of Goguryeo, many nations adopted the name Goryeo, but to distinguish them from Wang Geon's Goryeo, they were referred to by other names such as Taebong and Balhae. People of that time likely referred to all these nations as Goryeo.

TMI 1: In a similar vein, the Joseon Dynasty established by Yi Seong-gye in 1392 after the fall of the Goryeo also inherited the name of the first Korean nation, Gojoseon, founded by Dangun. To differentiate, Gojoseon is referred to as such in later historical contexts, but at the time, it was simply called Joseon.
TMI 2: Just as the founder of Goguryeo came from Buyeo, it is said that the founder of Buyeo came from Gori-guk (also known as Takri-guk or Saekri-guk). Buyeo was already a powerful state around 200 BC, so the name "Kori(a)" can be seen as one of the terms used to refer to our people for a very long time.

07
Is the Surname of the Baekje King Buyeo?

Do you know the founding myth of Baekje? The founder, King Chumong (also known as Jumong or Dongmyeongseongwang), fled from Buyeo and, with no power, married Sosano, the daughter of the local leader in the Yeontabal region, which enabled him to establish Goguryeo. However, Chumong had a son left behind in Buyeo. This son, who would later become the second king of Goguryeo, Yuri, came to find his father around 19 BC, carrying a token that Chumong had left in Buyeo. The story of young Prince Yuri crossing mountains and rivers to find the broken sword hilt, a token left by his father, is well-known. Yuri was later appointed as the crown prince, and Sosano moved south with her two sons, Biryu and Onjo, with Onjo founding Baekje in a place believed to be present-day Wirye, located in the Seoul-Hanam area. Later, Baekje moved its capital to Ungjin and then to Sabi, during which time it was referred to as "Hanseong Baekje," named after the old name of Seoul.

The surname of Chumong, the founder of Goguryeo, is Go (고). Originally, it was Hae (해). Although this name appears only in legends, Chumong's father was the Buyeo king Haeburu, so the surname was originally Hae, but it was changed to Go after he became king. It is uncertain whether Biryu or Onjo's father was Chumong, but it is said that the surname was Hae. After becoming king, Onjo also changed his surname to Buyeo to signify their roots in Buyeo. The well-known figure of King Uija, often misrepresented in the story of the "Three Thousand Beauties," was actually named Buyeo Uija.

TMI 1: Baekje, under King Seong in 538, changed its name from Baekje to Nambuyeo when it moved its capital from Ungjin to Sabi, reflecting a strong sense of inheritance from Buyeo. The site of Sabi is now in the area of Buyeo County, Chungcheongnam-do, and has been referred to as Buyeo since the Goryeo Dynasty. However, it is likely that the majority of Baekje's population were not originally from Buyeo but rather from the indigenous people of the Korean Peninsula. Over nearly 700 years, people from Silla, Goguryeo, Gaya, as well as from Japan and China, likely migrated to the region, raising questions about how widespread the consciousness of being descendants of Buyeo truly was.
TMI 2: Buyeo was a nation established by Dongmyeongwang of Gori-guk during the late Gojoseon period and was a powerful state in East Asia for at least 700 years, frequently mentioned in Chinese historical records. However, there has been a lack of archaeological evidence or artifacts to support this, but many presumed Buyeo sites are currently being excavated, so we should keep an eye on that.

08
Is the Silla Gold Crown a Death Mask?

For many people, the first image that comes to mind when thinking of Silla is undoubtedly the beautiful Silla gold crown. The gold crown, adorned with deer antler-like jade ornaments that spread outward, seems like it would have been worn on the head like a typical crown, right?

However, every time a gold crown is excavated, it is often found positioned to cover the face partially and tends to curve inward rather than outward. Until now, it was assumed that the position or shape was slightly misaligned due to being buried for a long time, and the prevailing opinion was that the gold crown was something worn on special occasions. However, recent excavations at the Hwangnam-dong tomb No. 120-2, where all burial goods, including earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and belts, were found in nearly perfect condition, suggest that the crown was worn in a way that covered the face. This leads to the speculation that rather than being worn during life, it may have been used as a type of death mask during burial.

TMI 1: So far, 14 pure gold crowns have been discovered worldwide, with 10 of them found in Korea. Most are Silla gold crowns, but crowns have also been found in Gaya and Goguryeo regions, as well as several gilt-bronze crowns in Baekje and Goguryeo. Additionally, the Tillya Tepe gold crown found in present-day Afghanistan shares many similarities in symbolism and manufacturing techniques with those from Korea, suggesting it may have been spread along the "Silk Road" that connected ancient Europe and Asia.
TMI 2: According to the inscription of King Munmu of Silla, they claim to be descendants of Kim Ilje, who was of Xiongnu royal lineage. Kim Ilje was taken as a hostage to the Han Dynasty after losing a major war against the Xiongnu during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. He became a servant caring for the king's horses but was granted the surname Kim for saving the king's life in a moment of crisis and was made a local lord. There are records suggesting that Kim Ilje's descendants fled eastward after a conflict with a cousin in the royal family, and if the claims of the inscription are true, it is possible that they continued moving eastward and eventually became the Kim royal family in Korea. However, the relationship between the Silla royal family and the Xiongnu has not yet been definitively established. It is a fact that Emperor Wu granted the surname Kim to Kim Ilje, saying, "You Xiongnu originally love gold, so I bestow upon you the surname Kim." The founder of the Silla Kim royal family was named Kim Alji, and the prefix "Al-" or "Alch-" means gold in the Altai region where the Xiongnu were located, suggesting there may be a connection. We hope that ongoing excavations and research will clarify these historical facts further.