Northeast Asian History Network

Koguryo Roots

Chinese scholars consider ethnic origin to be the most important factor for a country's history. Thus, Koguryo history is claimed to be a part of Chinese history, because the ancient people of China founded Koguryo. Chinese scholars trace the ethnic origin of Koguryo to Yemaek, Buyeo, Gaoyi, Shang in , and Yandi [tribe]. In recent years, a theory has been gaining strength in which the aforementioned kingdoms and tribes combined with the dominant Han Chinese to form Koguryo. In other words, all members of Koguryo, including Yemaek, were of Chinese ancestry and Koguryo was part of China's administrative regime.
However, multiple historical archives recorded Koguryo was founded by the people of Yemaek, an indigenous tribe from Liaodong Peninsula and the Korean Peninsula, and not the Central Plains. The Yemaek tribe existed as a separate entity from the Maek tribe of Northern China, and they belonged to the Dongyi tribe (also known as Eastern Barbarians) similar to the Samhan Han Korean.
Koguryo's historical experiences and line of succession are of higher significance than mere ethnic origin. History is not inherited if the successors don't recognize their ancestors with a sense of affirmation, even if they are of the same ethnic group. The people of Koguryo considered themselves separate from the Chinese, and Silla, Baekje, and Eastern Buyeo all affiliated with Koguryo.
The Three Kingdoms of Korea, Koguryo, Baekje, and Silla, shared historical experiences through warfare and eventually combined to form a single kingdom. The establishments of Unified Silla, Balhae, Later Three Kingdoms of Korea, and Goryeo are clear evidence that Koguryo history is a part of Korean history.