The story of Kwang-Gae
Expander of the Territory
Kwang-Gae (374–413) was the 19th king of the Koguryo Dynasty (37 BCE - 668 CE), the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the first millennium. Kwang-Gae was bold and ambitious as a young man, acceding to the throne at the age of 17 and ruling the kingdom for the next twenty-two years. As king, he undertook the great task of expanding the territory of Koguryo, conquering much of the Chinese-held lands of Manchuria.
Under the rule of Kwang-Gae, Koguryo once again became a major power of East Asia, having enjoyed a similar status in the 2nd century. At the time of Kwang-Gae’s death at age 39 in 413 CE, Koguryo controlled all of the territory between the Amur and Han Rivers (including two thirds of modern-day Korea, parts of Manchuria, as well as some of the Russian Maritime province and Inner Mongolia). A dominating imperial presence, Koguryo continued to expand its domain over the next 200 years, his successors pursuing Kwang-Gae’s legacy. A Korean nation had never before and has never since ruled such a vast territory.
In 399, Koguryo’s south-eastern neighbour, Silla, sought protection from Kwang-Gae against raids by its western neighbour, Paekche. In response, Kwang-Gae’s troops captured the Paekche capital in present-day Seoul and subjugated the Paekche state. Many consider this loose union under Koguryo to have been the only true unification of the Three Kingdoms.
Kwang-Gae's accomplishments are recorded on the Kwang-Gae-T’o Stele, located at the site of his tomb in Ji'an on the Amnok River border between China and North Korea. It was erected in 414 by King Jang-su as a memorial to his deceased father. It is one of the major primary sources of information on the history and mythology of Koguryo and supplies invaluable historical detail on Kwang-Gae’s reign. The largest engraved stele in the world, it is carved out of a single mass of granite, stands nearly seven metres tall and has a girth of almost four metres. The inscription is written exclusively in classical Chinese and contains 1802 characters.
The stele has also become a focal point of varying national rivalries in East Asia, manifested in the differing interpretations of the stele's inscription and the place of the kingdom of Koguryo in modern historical narratives.
The pattern diagram represents the expansion and recovery of lost territory. The 39 movements refer to the first two figures of 391, the year that Kwang-Gae came to the throne. They may also refer to his age when he died.
The ready stance (a parallel stance with a heaven hand) is said to signify Kwang-Gae the warrior-king standing amidst his army. Imagine him with his army on either side of him, facing an enemy. He surveys the weather conditions and the position of the sun to determine if they are favourable to his army. He then breaks his hands apart in a circular motion signalling his army to attack from those flanks.
Expander of the Territory
Kwang-Gae (374–413) was the 19th king of the Koguryo Dynasty (37 BCE - 668 CE), the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the first millennium. Kwang-Gae was bold and ambitious as a young man, acceding to the throne at the age of 17 and ruling the kingdom for the next twenty-two years. As king, he undertook the great task of expanding the territory of Koguryo, conquering much of the Chinese-held lands of Manchuria.
Under the rule of Kwang-Gae, Koguryo once again became a major power of East Asia, having enjoyed a similar status in the 2nd century. At the time of Kwang-Gae’s death at age 39 in 413 CE, Koguryo controlled all of the territory between the Amur and Han Rivers (including two thirds of modern-day Korea, parts of Manchuria, as well as some of the Russian Maritime province and Inner Mongolia). A dominating imperial presence, Koguryo continued to expand its domain over the next 200 years, his successors pursuing Kwang-Gae’s legacy. A Korean nation had never before and has never since ruled such a vast territory.
In 399, Koguryo’s south-eastern neighbour, Silla, sought protection from Kwang-Gae against raids by its western neighbour, Paekche. In response, Kwang-Gae’s troops captured the Paekche capital in present-day Seoul and subjugated the Paekche state. Many consider this loose union under Koguryo to have been the only true unification of the Three Kingdoms.
Kwang-Gae's accomplishments are recorded on the Kwang-Gae-T’o Stele, located at the site of his tomb in Ji'an on the Amnok River border between China and North Korea. It was erected in 414 by King Jang-su as a memorial to his deceased father. It is one of the major primary sources of information on the history and mythology of Koguryo and supplies invaluable historical detail on Kwang-Gae’s reign. The largest engraved stele in the world, it is carved out of a single mass of granite, stands nearly seven metres tall and has a girth of almost four metres. The inscription is written exclusively in classical Chinese and contains 1802 characters.
The stele has also become a focal point of varying national rivalries in East Asia, manifested in the differing interpretations of the stele's inscription and the place of the kingdom of Koguryo in modern historical narratives.
The pattern diagram represents the expansion and recovery of lost territory. The 39 movements refer to the first two figures of 391, the year that Kwang-Gae came to the throne. They may also refer to his age when he died.
The ready stance (a parallel stance with a heaven hand) is said to signify Kwang-Gae the warrior-king standing amidst his army. Imagine him with his army on either side of him, facing an enemy. He surveys the weather conditions and the position of the sun to determine if they are favourable to his army. He then breaks his hands apart in a circular motion signalling his army to attack from those flanks.