Samhan

Quick Facts: Who was Samhan?

Subject:

Samhan

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Ancient confederacies (Byeonhan, Jinhan, Mahan) forming the basis of early Korean kingdoms.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Samhan, or Three Hans (Korean: 삼한; Hanja: 三韓), is the collective name of the three confederacies: Byeonhan, Jinhan, and Mahan that emerged in the first century BCE during the Proto–Three Kingdoms of Korea, or Samhan, period. Located in the central and southern regions of the Korean Peninsula, the Samhan confederacies eventually merged and developed into the Paekche, Silla kingdoms and Kaya confederacy. The name "Samhan" also refers to the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The Samhan are thought to have formed around the time of the fall of Old Chosŏn in northern Korea in 108 BCE. Kim Pusik's Samguk sagi, one of the two representative history books of Korea, mentions that people of Jin Han are migrants from Old Chosŏn, which suggests that early Han tribes who came to Southern Korean peninsula are originally Old Chosŏn people; this coincides with the state of Jin in southern Korea also disappearing from written records.

Career & Major Achievements

By the 4th century, Mahan was fully absorbed into the Paekche kingdom, Jinhan into the Silla kingdom, and Byeonhan into the Kaya confederacy, which was later annexed by Silla. Beginning in the 7th century, the name "Samhan" became synonymous with the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The "Han" in the names of the Korean Empire, Daehan Jeguk, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Daehan Minguk or Hanguk, are named in reference to the Three Kingdoms of Korea, not the ancient confederacies in the southern Korean Peninsula. In 1897, Gojong changed the name of Joseon to the Korean Empire, Daehan Jeguk, in reference to the Three Kingdoms of Korea. In 1919, the provisional government in exile during the Japanese occupation declared the name of Korea as the Republic of Korea, Daehan Minguk, also in reference to the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

According to the Samguk sagi and Samguk yusa, Silla implemented a national policy, "Samhan Unification" (삼한일통; 三韓一統), to integrate Paekche and Goguryeo refugees. In 1982, a memorial stone dating back to 686 was discovered in Cheongju with an inscription: "The Three Han were unified and the domain was expanded." During the Later Silla period, the concepts of Samhan as the ancient confederacies and the Three Kingdoms of Korea were merged. In a letter to an imperial tutor of the Tang dynasty, Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn equated Byeonhan to Paekche, Jinhan to Silla, and Mahan to Goguryeo. By the Goryeo period, Samhan became a common name to refer to all of Korea. In his Ten Mandates to his descendants, Wang Geon declared that he had unified the Three Han (Samhan), referring to the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1897: 1897 Milestone — In 1897, Gojong changed the name of Joseon to the Korean Empire, Daehan Jeguk, in reference to the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
2. 1919: 1919 Milestone — In 1919, the provisional government in exile during the Japanese occupation declared the name of Korea as the Republic of Korea, Daehan Minguk, also in reference to the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
3. 1982: 1982 Milestone — In 1982, a memorial stone dating back to 686 was discovered in Cheongju with an inscription: "The Three Han were unified and the domain was expanded.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Samhan

True or False: “The name 'Samhan' was exclusively used by the Tang Dynasty to refer to the three ancient confederacies, never evolving into a national identity term.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While initially used by China, the term Samhan later became synonymous with the Three Kingdoms of Korea and was adopted in modern Korean state names.

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