Page:Village life in Korea (1911).djvu/39

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
Historical Sketch.
33

China into Korea. The country was at that time inhabited by wild tribes living in an unorganized manner. It was into the midst of these people that Kija and his followers came and took up their abode. The great Kija was soon recognized by the tribes as a great leader, and so they asked him to become their king. He established his capital in Pyeng-yang, and called his kingdom Chosen. Here we state that this is the modern name of the country, or was till the close of the Japan-China War in 1894, at which time it was changed to Tai Han; but old names are not easily shaken off, and so the common people continue to speak of their country as Chosen. Kija was undoubtedly a very wise man for his time, and succeeded in giving to the people and country which he adopted as his a form of government very superior to anything that was in existence in that part of the world. He was well acquainted with the best that China had been able to devolve; and so, taking advantage of this knowledge, he was able to give Chosen something very much in advance of anything its people had ever known.

Prof. H. B. Hulbert, in his "History of Korea," says: "Kija was fifty-three years old when he came to Korea, and he reigned here forty years." His grave is now to be seen just outside the wall of Pyeng-yang, near by which is a temple to his memory. This temple and grave place are well cared for, and, the visitor to Pyeng-yang never thinks of leaving the city till he has made a visit to Kija's grave. It was this man that brought Chinese ideas and customs to Ko-