Examples of Distortions

Japan: “The Chinese culture peaked on the Korean Peninsula following the establishment of the four Guns including Nak-rang by the Han Dynasty’s Emperor Wu of China at about 108 B.C ...” (High School, History of Japan, Ziyushobo Publishers, 1994.)

Czech: “The beginning of Korea goes back to B.C. 2 to the first century A.D.” (The Encyclopedia of World Geography, Columbus, 1994.)

Comment

Japanese history textbooks fail to mention Gojoseon (Dan-gun Joseon), the first nation state in Korea which is believed to have been established about 2,333 B.C. Instead, these textbooks have Korean history begin with the four commanderies of the Chinese Han Dynasty. Consequently, the beginning of the Korean history is pushed forward to a much later date, and it is implied that Korea was under Chinese rule from the very beginning of its history. This is a gross distortion, which omits an entire portion of Korea’s national legacy. Furthermore, Japanese history textbooks omit any reference to Korea’s Bronze Age and, instead, stress the influence of Chinese culture over Korea.

However, it is a widely accepted view both in Korea and Japan that Korea’s Bronze Age culture, which started at about the 10^th century B.C., significantly influenced the culture of Yayoi Japan. Therefore, a correct description of Korea’s ancient history would start with the fact of the existence of human habitation on the Korean Peninsula from prehistoric times, acknowledge the existence of Gojoseon as, Korea’s first nation, and credit Korea’s Bronze Age Culture for its influence on the development of Japan’s own Bronze Age culture.

The idea that Korean history began with “Gija Joseon” comes from the idea that Gija of China’s Yin Dynasty came to the Korean Peninsula and established Gija Joseon. The truth about the Gija Joseon idea is that it was used and repeatedly emphasized by Japanese colonialists to deny the autonomy of Korean history. At present, Korean scholars do not acknowledge Gija Joseon because the historical records of China which are used to support Gija Joseon are flawed, and there are facts which prove that Korea’s Bronze Age culture is a branch of the northern Siberian culture which is completely different from China’s Bronze Age culture.

A prevailing view in Korean academic circles is that Korea’s Bronze Age began at about the 10^th century B.C. Moreover, Korea’s Bronze Age culture is thought to have been influenced by the Karasuk-Tagar Bronze Age culture of Siberia, when it spread onto the Korean Peninsula and Liaoning Seong through northern Manchuria. Therefore, the beginning of Korean history should start with the upper historical limits established by Korean archaeological findings.

The examples mentioned above indicate that Korean history began under Chinese rule and that Japanese history is longer than Korea’s. These distortions of history deserve to be pointed out and corrected.