Wiman Joseon
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Romanization Wiman Joseon
Reischauer Wiman ChosÅn
Wiman Joseon (194 - 108 BC) was the part of the Gojoseon period (2333 BC - 108 BC) of Korean history. It began with Wiman's seizure of the throne from Gojoseon's King Jun and ended with the death of King Ugeo who was a grandson of Wiman.
Contents
[edit] Founding
Prehistory
Jeulmun period
Mumun period
Gojoseon 2333-108 BC
Jin state
Proto-Three Kingdoms: 108-57 BC
Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye
Samhan: Ma, Byeon, Jin
Three Kingdoms: 57 BC - 668 AD
Goguryeo 37 BC - 668 AD
Sui wars
Baekje 18 BC - 660 AD
Silla 57 BC - 935 AD
Gaya 699-820
North-South States: 698-935
Unified Silla 668-935
Balhae 698-926
Later Three Kingdoms 668-935
Later Goguryeo, Later Baekje, Silla
Goryeo 918-1392
Khitan wars
Mongol invasions
Joseon 1392-1897
Japanese invasions 1592-1598
Manchu invasions
Korean Empire 1897–1910
Japanese rule 1910-1945
Provisional Gov't 1919-1948
Division of Korea 1945–1948
North, South Korea 1948–present
Korean War 1950–1953
Wiman is said to have been a general from the state of Yan, who submitted to Gojoseon's King Jun. Jun accepted and appointed Wiman as the commander of the western border region of Gojoseon, where corresponds to the west of Liaoning. Despite the generosity that King Jun had demonstrated, Wiman revolted and destroyed Gojoseon. In 194 BCE, he established Wiman Joseon and decide his capital in Wanggeom-seong (왕검성, 王險城). Shihchi jijie says that Wanggeom-seong is Pyongyang city[1].
In this period, Wiman Joseon expanded to control a vast territory and became strong economically by controlling trade between China's Han Dynasty and many nations at Manchuria. Emperor Wu of Han was thought that Wiman Joseon increasingly threatened Han China, and Wiman Joseon would ally with the Xiongnu.
[edit] Fall
Wiman's grandson, King Ugeo (ìš°ê±°,å³æ¸ ), allowed many exiles from Han China to live in Wiman Joseon, and their numbers of exiles were so significant. In addition, Wiman prevented Jin state from communicating with the Han Dynasty. Thus, in 109 BC, Wudi of China invaded against Wiman Joseon near the Luan River, but Wudi had failed several times to destroyed Wiman Joseon. So, Han Wudi tried to conciliate the princes of Wiman Joseon to kill the king Ugeo of Wiman Joseon [2], which was the cause of destruction of the entire Gojoseon. After the war of Han China and Wiman Joseon, Wudi of Han China sentenced the two generals to death for failing the war against Wiman Joseon[2]. For more details of the war between Wiman Joseon and Han China, see the authoritative Chinese history book Shiji (Chapter 115) by Sima Qian.
After a year of battle, Wanggeom-seong was captured Wiman Joseon was destroyed. Han China established Four Commanderies of Han in the captured areas, which corresponds to the current North Korea, and eastern Liaoning. The Commanderies eventually fell to the rising Goguryeo. Several nations were formed in its place. Among them was the Nangnang Nation, which was founded by Choe Song (최송) The Nangnang nation must be differentiated from the Lelang commandery[3].
