The State of Old Chosun

Histories of the Han dynasty in China relate the establishment of a state called Chosun (Chaoxian) in the northern part of the Korean peninsula. Some

Korean historians claim an earlier state in this region which they refer to as Kija Chosun, founded around 1000 BCE by a relative of the last Shang king who was conquered by the Zhou. No archaeological evidence supports the interpretation of such a state in the Korean peninsula.

According to later Chinese historical writings, the state of Chosun was founded by Wiman in the location of a walled city, and archaeological evidence suggests complex society in northern Korea by the fourth century BCE. For example, knife-shaped coins from the Warring States period in China (450-221 BCE) are found in clusters and sometimes hoards from the Yalu River to the Taedong River. In addition, some burials near Pyongyang contain artifacts with Chinese inscriptions, including dates in the third century BCE, contemporaneous with the Chinese Qin dynasty. These discoveries confirm the literacy in Chinese of some inhabitants of Chosun.

Han dynasty documents describe the battles through which Wiman, who himself was from Liaoning, became the leader of that state of Chosun. Later when both an army and navy from the Chinese Han dynasty conquered his grandson Ugo’s city, Chinese documents provide corroborating detail for the existence of such a state, including the lengthy siege and strong armies that were needed for the conquest. Archaeological evidence includes a walled city across the Taedong River from Pyongyang, which possibly is the remains of the original capital of Wiman Chosun, since it has the irregular walls of a Korean city rather than the rectangular shape of a Chinese city. Shortly after the Han conquest a census recorded the population, with many locations having the name of Tosong, or earthen fortress, suggesting walled towns. Many of these have been located by archaeological survey.

The Han leadership was not content with merely conquering Chosun; it set up governing command-eries in the northern part of the peninsula, using both native and Chinese administrators, some of whose tombs have been excavated. The longest lasting of these commanderies was called Lelang (Nangnang in Korean). The Han interest in the peninsula was partly a matter of protecting Chinese borders, but trade was also an important impetus. The Han had declared a state monopoly on both salt and iron, and may well have been seeking these commodities in Korea. The presence of Chinese officials and local nobles during the Lelang period is reflected in the burials, with both local and imported artifacts.