Goguryeo–Wei War

Quick Facts: Who was Goguryeo–Wei War?

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Goguryeo–Wei War

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A series of devastating invasions by Cao Wei into Goguryeo between 244 and 245.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Goguryeo–Wei War was a series of invasions of Goguryeo from 244 to 245 launched by Cao Wei. The invasions, a retaliation against a Goguryeo raid in 242, destroyed the Goguryeo capital of Hwando, sent its king fleeing, and broke the tributary relationships between Goguryeo and the other tribes of the Korean Peninsula that formed much of Goguryeo's economy. Although the king evaded capture and would go on to settle in a new capital, Goguryeo was greatly diminished for a time, and would spend the next half century rebuilding its ruling structure and regaining control over its people, unmentioned by the Chinese historical texts. By the time Goguryeo reappeared in Chinese annals, the state had evolved into a much more powerful political entity—thus the Wei invasion was identified by historians as a watershed moment in Goguryeo history that divided the different stages of Goguryeo's growth. In addition, the campaigns provided the earliest descriptions of the peoples who lived in the Korean peninsula and Manchura.

Career & Major Achievements

The polity of Goguryeo developed among the peoples of Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula during the 1st and 2nd century BC as the Western Han dynasty extended its control to Northeast Asia, creating the Four Commanderies of Han. As it grew and centralized, Goguryeo increasingly contacted and conflicted with the Han dynasty. Goguryeo consolidated its power by conquering the territories on the north of the peninsula which were under Han rule. When the power of the Han dynasty declined to internal turmoil in the 2nd century AD, the warlord Gongsun Du came to control the commanderies of Liaodong and Xuantu, directly adjacent to Goguryeo. Gongsun Du's faction often quarrelled with Goguryeo despite initial cooperation, and the conflict culminated in the Goguryeo succession feud of 204, which Gongsun Du's successor Gongsun Kang exploited.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Though the candidate supported by Gongsun Kang was eventually defeated, the victor Sansang of Goguryeo was compelled to move his capital southeast to Hwando (present-day Ji'an, Jilin) on the Yalu River, which offered better protection. Gongsun Kang moved in and restored order to the Lelang Commandery and established the new Daifang Commandery by splitting the southern part of Lelang. Compared to the agriculturally rich former capital Jolbon, Hwando was situated in a mountainous region with little arable land. To sustain the economy, Hwando had to constantly extract resources from the peoples in the countryside, which included the tribal communities of Okjeo and Ye. The Okjeo were said to have worked as virtual slaves to the Goguryeo king, hauling provisions (such as cloth, fish, salt and other sea products) from the peninsula's northeast to the Yalu basin, reflecting the arrangement that Goguryeo had to adopt after the entry of Gongsun Kang.

Notable Quotes by Goguryeo–Wei War

“The Wei army, so enormous, cannot match a small force of ours, Guanqiu Jian is a great general of Wei, and today his life is in my hands!”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Goguryeo–Wei War

True or False: “Goguryeo was completely destroyed by the Cao Wei invasion and never recovered its former power.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Although greatly diminished, Goguryeo spent the following half-century rebuilding its ruling structure and regaining control over its people.

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