Koguryo

Koguryo was the largest, most powerful, and most aggressive of the three kingdoms. Due to its location, its main role from the first to the third century AD was to act as a bulwark against Chinese colonial forces and the aggressive, nomadic tribes that wandered the northern region. The survival of the kingdom depended on the ability of its people to defend themselves against constant attack and to preserve their territory. The Koguryo people lived in mountainous areas ill suited for agriculture, so they turned their hunting activities into a professional military way of life. The people of Koguryo were hardy and strong willed, and became militarily powerful with a united spirit of invincibility. Early references to Koguryo reveal a people who were fierce fighters that frequently engaged in warfare. They were described by their Chinese neighbors as being ambitious, aggressive, warlike, and courageous. For centuries, the people of Koguryo withstood invasions and defended their territory against all attacks.

As Chinese military colonies began pushing their way onto the Korean Peninsula, they brought with them advanced farming techniques and they introduced bronze to the peninsula in 108 BC. All this led to a rapid growth of both weaponry and farming for the Korean people. However, from the beginning Chinese rulers faced many uprisings by the Korean people against their rule. Starting from a point along the Hun River (a tributary of the Yalu), Korean rebels expanded their activities to the north, south, and southeast, increasingly menacing Chinese authority.

In the spring of 109 BC, the Chinese invaded the northern Korea peninsula and established a Chinese administration at Nang-nang, which endured for 400 years. The Chinese had great influence during this period and their presence led to the unification of many of the local tribes. In 37 BC, on a tributary of the Yalu river, a group who considered themselves a branch of the Puyo people united to form the kingdom of Koguryo under the rule of King T'aejo (53-146 AD). From its inception, Koguryo was dedicated the expulsion of the Chinese colony at Nang-nang.

Koguryo claimed to be the successor to the Ko-choson (ancient) kingdom but it took almost a hundred years for it to develop an army sufficient enough to wage full-scale attacks against the entrenched Chinese. The subsequent fall of the Han Dynasty and ensuing political divisions in China enabled Koguryo to consolidate and extend its power. After a long struggle against the Chinese, by the fourth century, Koguryo had gained full control of Nang-nang, achieved undisputed control of all of Manchuria east of the Liao River as well as of the northern and central regions of the Korean Peninsula, and was attempting to spread its control over the other two kingdoms on the Korean peninsula.

Koguryo's best-known ruler, King Kwanggaet'o (whose name literally means "broad expander of territory") lived to be only thirty-nine years of age, but reigned twenty-one years, from 391 to 412AD. During that period, he conquered 65 walled cities and 1,400 villages, in addition to aiding Silla when it was attacked by the Japanese. Koguryo moved its capital to P'yongyang in 427AD and ruled the territory north of the Han River. But Koguryo's expansion caused it to come into conflict with the Sui Dynasty of China (581-617AD) in the west and Silla, which was beginning to expand northward, in the south.

The Chronicle of Old Joseon , a history book on the old Joseon Dynasty, describes life in Koguryo. It said that people gathered on March tenth of every year at a site of a ritual where they performed a sword dance and held archery and Subak contests. The book implies that Subak was one of the popular events for rituals in Koguryo days. The chronicle said:

"At a power contest of Subak techniques, Lee Yi-Min punched a pillar of the house with his right-hand fist, then some of the props of the roof were shaken."

Young people were invited to Subak contests where the skilled ones were selected to become military officers. Subakhui was so popular among the populace that they were held wherever a king went on inspection tours in villages. In the military, a pattern of collective practice called "dbyong Subak hui" (5 soldier's Subak play) was practiced so that it might be used in a real war. Subak grew to become an effective weapon to kill human beings.

Paekche

When Koguryo was first formed, a large contingent of the Puyo population moved south into the Ma-han area where, in 18 BC, they established the kingdom of Paekche. Due to its geographical closeness to China and friendly relationship with neighboring Chinese colonies, the new kingdom prospered.

Chinese culture had a significant impact on the development of Paekche; even her governmental system was patterned upon that of the Chinese. However, because of this heavy dependence upon Chinese culture, Paekche culture was not as individual and independent as the cultures of Koguryo and Silla. On the other hand, its close involvement with China enabled Paekche to enjoy a higher degree of cultural advancement. Due to the constant threat from Koguryo to its north, Paekche sought all possible allies.