Figures
Legendary founder of Gojoseon (Old Chosŏn), the first Korean state which ruled northern Korea.
Who is Tan'gun?
Chinese Dynasty that served as the model for Silla.
What is the Tang Dynasty?
Silla, Paekche, and Koguryŏ.
What are the Three Kingdoms?
A traditional Korean musical instrument that originated in Kaya, and it is considered the national musical instrument of Korea.
What is the Kayagŭm?
King of the Yellow Sea.
Who is Chang Pogo?
Elite warrior group of male youth in Silla.
Who are the Hwarang?
National Foundation Day. This holiday celebrates the legendary formation of the first Korean state of Gojoseon in 2333 BC.
What is October 3rd?
While Korean is generally considered a language isolate, it shares linguistic characteristics and similarities with this language group.
What is the Altaic language group?
General from China who became king in Chosŏn.
Who is Wiman?
A Buddhist sect named after the Flower Garland Sutra that tried to incorporate various doctrines by classifying them into various degrees of truth.
What is Hwaŏm?
Second state on the Korean peninsula besides Silla.
What is Parhae / Balhae?
A writing system developed during the Three Kingdoms period of Korea to write the Korean language by using Chinese characters (hanja)
What is idu?
A Koguryŏ general who became a symbol of national resistance, and a Silla general who was the epitome of the "Hwarang".
Who are Ŭlchi Mundŏk and Kim Yu-sin?
A council of high aristocrats.
What is the Hwabaek?
First, Silla and Tang defeated Paekche. Later, Silla and Tang defeated Koguryŏ. Finally, Silla won against Tang and unified the Korean peninsula.
What happened in 660, 668, and 676 CE?
They are the two most important literary sources for early Korea.
What are the Samguk sagi (1145) and Samguk yusa (1279)?
Most successful exchange student from Silla. He was a renowned Korean Confucian scholar, philosopher, poet, and government official of the late Unified Silla period.
Who is Ch'oe Ch'iwŏn?
A hereditary system of hierarchical ranks in Silla.
What is the bone-rank system?
First, Silla in the 7th-10th century. Then, Koryŏ from the 10th to the 14th century. Finally, Chosŏn from 1392-1910.
What are the main dynasties between 600 and 2000 CE?
The earliest dated Korean inscription provides a crucial, firsthand account of Koguryŏ's history, its foundation myth, and territorial expansion.
What is the Kwanggaet'o inscription?