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I. THE BEGINNING OF THE HISTORY OF KOREA
The history of Korea stretches back through the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages. The ancestors of the Korean people lived on the Korean peninsula and in Manchuria. The people of the Stone Age lived by hunting and fishing and began to develop primitive forms of agriculture. The people of the Bronze Age began to farm rice, and as they became engaged in full-scale farming, they developed a new society. Kojoson, Korea's first nation-state, developed into a central force within East. In addition to Kojoson, many other nations existed on the Korean peninsula and in Manchuria during the Iron Age. By using iron farm implements, productivity and military strength increased, accelerating social development.

(1) Origin of the Nation
Since the prehistoric age, the ancestors of the Korean people lived widely dispersed on the Korean peninsula throughout Manchuria, and the Gulf of Bohai in East Asia. People lived in these areas from the Paleolithic age, but they had little direct bearing on the formation of the Korean nation. The basis of the Korean nation is believed to have formed from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Ethnologically, the Korean people belong to the Mongoloid family and the language is derived from the Altaic language family. The Yemaek and Han tribes recorded in early China formed the main ethnic background of the nation as they developed the Bronze culture.

(2) Paleolithic and Neolithic Cultures
The Paleothic culture in Korea began 600,000 years ago. The most famous relics have been unearthed in: Sokjang-ni, Kongju county; Kulp'o-ri, Unggi county; and Chongok-ni, Yonch'on county. The Paleolithic people lived in caves. They used bones and horns to catch wild beasts and fish and plucked fruits from trees for their sustenance.
The Neolithic culture began about 8,000 years ago. Relics from this age are largely found along the seacoasts and river basins. The Neolithic people used ground stone implements and earthenware with comb-shaped figures. In earlier stages, they caught fish and beasts, but in the later stages they began to engage in primitive forms of agriculture. They gathered in clans, and as such, formed clan societies.

(3) Bronze Culture and Social Change
Around the 10th century B.C., people who used figureless earthenware appeared. Thus, beginning the formation of the Bronze culture. This culture began to develop along the Liaoning of Manchuria and in the northwestern areas of the Korean peninsula, and it later gradually spread throughout the entire country.

In the early Bronze Age, the northern Bronze culture introduced a type of bronze sword known as the Pip'a. However, the Pip'a-type bronze sword eventually evolved into a slender type of the bronze sword, and bronzeware also began to be made in Korea. Thus, developing a unique bronze culture. The people of the Bronze Age lived in hilly areas, engaging chiefly in agriculture and even began rice farming. They began to build dolmens and stone-coffin tombs. At this stage, the power of the patriarchs strenghtened, and they made their advent as rulers, thus forming the early tribal states in the patriarchal society.

(1) The Founding of the Nation by Tan'gun and the Development of Gojoson
Gojoson was the first country formed in Korea and was based on the Bronze culture.
Gojoson's patriarch was referred to as Tan'gun Wanggom. In Samguk yusa, he is described as the son born between the son of God, Hwanung, and a woman incarnated from a bear. He established the kingdom of Gojoson in 2333 B.C. It is thought that this myth alludes to the formation of a patriarchal state through the union of separate tribes with different clans. Gojoson first developed with the Liaoning district as its center. Thus, Gojoson gradually rose as a center of the East. Then, around the 4th century B.C., as it faced the Yan nation of China across its borders, it began to struggle for supremacy.

(2) Introduction of the Iron Culture and Changes in Gojoson
The Iron culture was introduced around 4 B.C. By that time, China was in the confusion of the Warring States Period and some of the Korean ancestors in the Shandong peninsula and in the northeast moved back to Gojoson. They used iron tools and weapons. Wiman, the leader of these immigrants, drove out King Chun of Gojoson in the early 2nd century B.C. and became king. Later, Gojoson's influence spread to occupy many of its surrounding territories. However, the nation was confronted with aggression from Han China, which ensued into a year-long battle, and its capital Wanggom-song fell to the enemy. Gojoson's long history thus came to an end.

(1) The Spread of the Iron Culture
After the destruction of Gojoson, its wandering people scattered out in all directions and spread the Iron culture to all parts of the Korean peninsula. On the basis of this new culture, the new nations of Puyo, Goguryeo, and the three Hans began. During this period, iron-made farm implements were used and agriculture was highly developed, accelerating social development and change, heightening productivity and strengthening military might.

(2) Northern Nations
The nation of Puyo grew around the Sungari River basins in Manchuria; Goguryeo rose in the environs of the mid-Yalu River. Okcho stood in the plains of Hamhung on the eastern coast, and Tong'ye developed to the south. The Okcho and Tong'ye Kingdoms came under the control of Goguryeo shortly thereafter. Puyo existed as a national entity for a long time, but was finally annexed as a part of Goguryeo. As part of their beliefs, the people of Puyo observed a heaven-worshipping ceremony called "Yonggo" during the twelfth lunar month. Meanwhile during the tenth lunar month, Goguryeo offered a sacrifice to the spirits of their ancestors by holding a huge banquet refered to as "Tongmaeng" and Tong'ye held a celebration worshipping the heavens called "Much'on". The people of Goguryeo respected military arts and strength; thus they were known to be tough and strong.

(3) Southern Nations
The nations of Mahan, Chinhan and Pyonhan, along with other small states existed south of the Han River. In Samhan, rice farming flourished and dam reservoirs such as Pyokkol-je in Kimje and Susan-je in Miryang were built. In addition, during the fifth and the tenth lunar months, their people offered sacrifices to heaven and engaged in songs and dances.

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