Korea is an ancient country with a history of more than five thousand years. It is therefore hard to pinpoint the origin of the Korean people. The early inhabitants on the Korean Peninsula, according to a theory, were a Tungusic branch of the Ural Altaic family who migrated from the northwestern regions of Asia to the southern Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula some five thousand years ago.
Legend has it that Tangun, the first great ruler of Chosun, organized various primitive tribes in the northern region of the country into a single kingdom about 24 centuries before the birth of Christ. The Tangun era lasted about 1,200 years, followed by the Kija dynasty which lasted about 99 years. The Kija dynasty, established by a Chinese scholar by that name, was essentially a city state. Meanwhile, in the southern region of the Korean Peninsula three tribe states of Mahan, Chinhan and Pyonhan were established at about the same time.
They unleashed what historians call the-Three Hans period there. The rule of the Kija dynasty came to an end in 194 B.C., when power was seized by Weiman who also came to Pyongyang from China. In 109 B.C. the Chinese Han dynasty extended its power over the northern Korea and remained there for the next four hundred years, establishing four colonies of Lolang (Nakrang), Chenfan (Chinbon), Hsuantu (Hyondo) and Lintun (Imdun). The Lolang tombs, dating from 108 B.C. to 200 A.D., have revealed some examples of exquisite lacquer work, bronze mirrors and jewelry.
3 kingdoms
It was in the first century B.C. that centralized monarchy began to develop on the Korean Peninsula. But the country was then divided into three parts.
There was Koguryo which ruled in the northern part of the country as well as greater part of present day Manchuria. Meanwhile, the southern region of the peninsula was divided into kingdoms of Silla and Paekje. Thus began what has been known as the Three Kingdoms Period in Korea.
The Kingdom of Koguryo was the strongest of the three and ruled from Pyongyang until 668 A.D. when it fell before the onslaught of Silla which was allied with the Tang Empire of China. It was Koguryo Kingdom that introduced Buddhism and Confucianism from China, which were later passed on to Japan.
Silla earlier had succeeded in subjugating the neighboring Paekje.
unified Silla
After Silla unified the Korean Peninsula, she succeeded in driving out the armies of the Tang Empire, achieving political union of the entire Korean Peninsula. Silla had extensive contact with distant countries through its maritime commerce with the outside world.
Traders of that ancient kingdom are known to have established hundreds of settlements along the eastern coast of mainland China-Buddhism flourished as the state religion, Buddhism becoming a dominant force both in spiritual and cultural life of the kingdom. This is evidenced by many highly refined Buddhist sculptures, paintings and architecture which are found in the temples built during the Silla dynasty.
These are among the most valued artistic treasures of Korea today. However, the kingdom of Silla fell victim to growing power struggles and corruption in its latter years, to be finally overthrown by Wang Gon in 918 A.D.