In recent years, South Korea's claim for Chinese Goguryeo artifacts has sparked widespread controversy. In particular, the request for the monument of the good king of Goguryeo caused ridicule from the Japanese. The Japanese sarcastically said, "Koreans can't even read the Chinese characters on the inscriptions, so what's the use of asking for such an important artifact?" Goguryeo is an ethnic minority regime in northeastern China, and what is the connection with South Korea, why are Koreans so obsessed with demanding these cultural relics, and what are the motives behind it? Let's find out.
1. The dispute over the origin of Goguryeo and Korea
When we talk about the relationship between Goguryeo and Korea, we must start with the historical status of Goguryeo. The Goguryeo Kingdom was an important minority regime in Northeast China, established in 37 BC with its capital in present-day Ji'an County, Jilin Province. The Goguryeo people are the main ethnic group in the northeast region, and their ancestors can be traced back to the ancient Buyeo people. The Buyeo people are an important ethnic minority in Northeast China, which has appeared in the Han Dynasty and lived and multiplied in Northeast China.
In the 3rd century BCE, the Buyeo tribe split into three tribes, one of which was led by Jumeng, and eventually established the Goguryeo Kingdom in the area of present-day Ji'an, Jilin. Although the Goguryeo people are an ethnic minority, they are deeply influenced by the culture of the Central Plains in terms of politics, economy, and culture. They continued to use Chinese characters as scripts, accepted Confucianism, and implemented the county system, which can be said to be important disseminators of Chinese civilization in Northeast China.
However, in recent years, some Korean scholars have put forward different views on the historical status of Goguryeo. They claim that Goguryeo is the predecessor of Korea and is part of Korean history. This view is clearly at odds with the mainstream perception in Chinese academic circles.
Chinese scholars generally believe that although Goguryeo is located in the northeast, it is two completely different regimes from the later Goryeo (Korea). Goryeo was a dynasty founded in the 10th century by Wang Jian after the unification of the three Koreas, with its capital in Kaegyong (present-day Seoul), and was a dynasty dominated by the Han ethnic group. Goguryeo, on the other hand, was a minority regime dominated by the Buyeo people, and although it also ruled some Koreans for a time, it was not closely related to the Goryeo Dynasty.
The root of this disagreement lies in the different ethnic identifications of Goguryeo. Chinese scholars consider the Goguryeo to belong to the Buyeo tribe and are an indigenous people in the northeastern region, while Korean scholars consider the Goguryeo people to be descendants of the ancient ethnic groups that inhabited the northern part of the Korean Peninsula and therefore consider Goguryeo to be part of Korean history.
To a certain extent, this divergence of views also reflects the differences in the two sides' perceptions of history. Chinese scholars have interpreted Goguryeo in the historical context of Northeast China based on objective historical facts, while Korean scholars have a certain nationalist overtone, trying to include Goguryeo in the historical map of Korea, so as to highlight the historical status of Korea as an ancient civilization.
This disagreement has been controversial in academic circles, with both sides presenting a wealth of historical evidence and archaeological findings to support their views. However, in any case, Goguryeo, as an important minority regime in Northeast China, should be fairly recognized and studied for its historical status and cultural heritage, and should not be arbitrarily attributed or asserted by any party
2. The cultural value of Goguryeo cultural relics
In the dispute between Goguryeo and Korea, Goguryeo cultural relics are undoubtedly the most important historical witness. The Goguryeo Good King Monument is one of the most eye-catching cultural treasures.
The stele was first discovered in 1892 when it was inadvertently excavated in a small farm yard in Ji'an, Jilin Province. The stele is about 5 meters high, about 1 meter wide, the front is engraved with 1775 large characters, the back is engraved with 182 small characters, the font is neat and beautiful, it can be seen that the production is excellent.
After research, the inscription of this stele records the exploits of the 19th king of Goguryeo, Ahunasan Lu Dalan Adan. The inscription records in detail the major deeds of King Adan's reign, such as the construction of royal tombs, palaces, canals, and Buddhist temples, etc., which provide valuable first-hand information for the study of Goguryeo's politics, economy, and culture.
It is worth mentioning that the inscription also records that King Adan made two expeditions to the Tang Dynasty and was eventually conquered by the Tang Dynasty. This record corroborates with the records in the official history of the Tang Dynasty, and provides important clues for the study of the relationship between Goguryeo and the Tang Dynasty.
In addition to the contents, the craftsmanship of the Goguryeo Haodawang Monument itself is also breathtaking. The stele body is carved from a whole piece of granite, the carving is exquisite, and the font is beautiful and generous. It can be seen from the production process of the stele body that the Goguryeo people have mastered quite superb stone carving techniques.
More importantly, the inscription on the Goguryeo Hao Dawang Monument is written in Chinese characters. This shows that the Goguryeo people not only used Chinese characters as written scripts, but also became proficient in using Chinese characters for more complex written records. This undoubtedly reflects the fact that Goguryeo culture was deeply influenced by the culture of the Central Plains.
In general, the discovery of the Goguryeo Haodaewang Monument provides important first-hand information for the study of Goguryeo's history, allowing us to get a glimpse of Goguryeo's political, economic, cultural, military and other aspects. It bears witness to the historical process of Goguryeo, as an important minority regime, spreading and developing the culture of the Central Plains in the northeast region.
It is precisely because of the important value of the Goguryeo Good King Monument that it has become the key object of Koreans' request. Koreans claim that the stele records the exploits of their ancestors and is a cultural heritage belonging to Korea. However, there is still controversy as to whether this claim has a historical basis.
In any case, as a precious cultural relic, the protection and research of the Goguryeo Haodawang Monument should be taken seriously. It is not only a witness to Goguryeo culture, but also an important part of the long history of the Chinese nation. We should adopt an objective and fair attitude, respect historical facts, properly protect and study this stone monument, and let it make its due contribution to human civilization.
3. South Korea's new motivation for asking for Goguryeo cultural relics
In recent years, the South Korean government has spared no effort in its efforts to claim Goguryeo cultural relics. Not only did they repeatedly ask China for the monument of the Great King of Goguryeo, but they also tried to obtain other cultural relics related to Goguryeo through various channels.
This new motivation is closely related to the South Korean government's new measures in recent years on the issue of historical identity. Since the 2000s, the South Korean government has vigorously pursued the so-called "Northeast Project" in an attempt to incorporate the ancient minority regimes of Northeast China, such as Goguryeo and Balhae, into the historical map of South Korea.
In order to achieve this goal, the Korean government spared no effort to collect and study historical artifacts and archaeological materials related to Goguryeo and the Balhae. They hope that through these cultural relics, they can prove that the Goguryeo, Balhae and other regimes have a close historical relationship with Korea, so as to add weight to the historical status of Korea.
The move has sparked widespread controversy in South Korea. Proponents argue that this will help re-examine and understand South Korea's history and highlight Korea's status as an ancient civilization, while opponents argue that it is a distortion and falsification of historical facts and violates the objective principle of academic research.
In any case, this move by the South Korean government has undoubtedly exacerbated its contradictions with China over the ownership of Goguryeo cultural relics. Chinese scholars have always insisted that Goguryeo was an ethnic minority regime in northeast China and had no direct historical connection with the later Goryeo Dynasty. Therefore, Goguryeo cultural relics should belong to China and be part of the cultural heritage of the Chinese nation.
South Korea, on the other hand, tried to prove that Goguryeo had a close historical connection with Korea by asking for these cultural relics, so as to add historical evidence to its "Northeast Project".
This practice has not only aroused strong resentment in China, but also attracted ridicule and questioning from Japan. The Japanese believe that Koreans cannot even read the Chinese characters on the monument of King Hao Daewang of Goguryeo, so what is the point of asking for these cultural relics? This is nothing less than a blasphemy against history.
In fact, the Chinese characters used on the Goguryeo Hao Dawang Tablet are indeed a kind of "heavenly book" for modern Koreans. Due to the long history of Korean use of Chinese characters, and it was not until the 20th century that Hanyu Pinyin script began to be introduced, modern Koreans are generally unable to read and understand Chinese characters.
This makes the Koreans' practice of asking for Goguryeo artifacts seem somewhat ridiculous. They are asking for artifacts that they cannot read and understand, which will undoubtedly arouse doubts and ridicule from the outside world.
However, the South Korean government does not seem to care about these doubts. They insisted on incorporating Goguryeo artifacts into Korea's historical map as a way to highlight Korea's status as an ancient civilization. Such an approach will undoubtedly exacerbate the conflict with China over the ownership of Goguryeo cultural relics, and may also lead to more controversy and questioning.
Fourth, rationally look at the issue of the ownership of historical relics
The controversy over the ownership of Goguryeo's cultural relics reflects the different perspectives and positions that exist in people's view of historical issues. As researchers, we should respect historical facts and look at this issue rationally in an objective and fair manner.
First of all, we must clarify the historical status and cultural origins of Goguryeo. Goguryeo is an important minority regime in Northeast China, and its founder, Jumeng, was born from the Buyeo ethnic group and is an indigenous ethnic group in Northeast China. Although Goguryeo once ruled some of the Han people, it had no direct historical connection with the later Goryeo Dynasty.
Goguryeo's culture was deeply influenced by the culture of the Central Plains, and it was an important propagator of Chinese civilization in the Northeast region, such as the use of Chinese characters as written scripts, the acceptance of Confucianism, and the implementation of the county system. Therefore, Goguryeo cultural relics should be regarded as part of the cultural heritage of the Chinese nation, rather than belonging to a single nation or country.
Second, we should respect the objectivity and rigor of historical research. Any understanding and interpretation of history should be based on sufficient historical evidence and archaeological discoveries, and should not be based on assumptions or subjective arbitrariness.
As for the ownership of Goguryeo cultural relics, we need to carefully study and discuss various views and arguments with an open and inclusive mind. Neither side should try to achieve its own goals by demanding artifacts or distorting historical facts.
On the contrary, we should encourage scholars from all over the world to carry out in-depth academic exchanges and cooperation, jointly explore the truth of Goguryeo's history, and enhance understanding and recognition of each other's cultures. Only in this way can we avoid unnecessary contradictions and disputes caused by narrow nationalism.
Third, we must attach importance to the protection and research of historical relics. Regardless of which side of Goguryeo's cultural relics ultimately belong to, they should be properly protected and studied, so that they can make their due contribution to human civilization.
For example, the Goguryeo Good King Monument is not only a witness to Goguryeo culture, but also an important part of the long history of the Chinese nation. We should properly protect this stele in a responsible attitude towards history, and encourage scholars from all over the world to conduct in-depth research to reveal the historical information and cultural connotations it contains.
Finally, we must be wary of the danger that history will be distorted and exploited. No party should try to assert its historical status by asking for cultural relics or distorting historical facts, which is undoubtedly blasphemy and disrespect for history.
True historical research should be based on an objective and neutral standpoint, pursuing the truth of facts, rather than arbitrarily interpreting and using history for some subjective purpose. Only in this way can we truly respect and cherish history and make it the common wealth and wisdom of mankind.
The controversy over the ownership of Goguryeo's cultural relics reflects the different perspectives and positions that exist in people's view of historical issues. As researchers, we should respect historical facts and look at this issue rationally in an objective and fair manner.