(1) The Rise of the Three Kingdoms and Ancient Kingdoms
The patriarchal states which arose in various areas of the Korean peninsula and surrounding areas were gradually unified into the Three Kingdoms and continued to develop. Koguryo developed in Manchuria and the northern part of the Korean peninsula, and Paekche and Shilla arose along the Han River basin and the plains of Kyongju. According to the records of the Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Koguryo was established by King Chumong (Tongmyong Songwang), Paekche by King Onjo, and Shilla by King Pak Hyokkose respectively. The Three Kingdoms strengthened their monarchies, united patriarchal powers, expanded their territories and centralized their power. Thus, with the particular features of strong royal authority and a centralized governing structure they developed as ancient kingdoms.

Silla Kingdom (B.C.57~A.D.935)
The Silla Kingdom was founded in 57 B.C., Silla was located in the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula. In its early days, Silla was the weakest of three kingdoms in existence, but later became powerful enough to unify them under its rule in 676. After unification, Silla traded vigorously with foreign countries. General Jangbogo established Cheonghaejin on Wando Island and swept the pirates from the seas and led the overseas trade of East Asia Sea.

Goguryeo ( Koguryo ) Kingdom (B.C.37~A.D.668)
The Goguryeo Kingdom was founded in 37 B.C., and by the first century, it had firmly established itself as a powerful state. Goguryeo covered large parts of present-day Manchuria. The country was not only the most powerful and most aggressive kingdom of three kingdoms in existence (Baekje and Silla being the other two) but also the most powerful in Northeast Asia in the 5th century. King Gwanggaeto the Great (375-413), in particular, conquered the largest territory in the entire history of Korea.

Baekje ( Paekche ) Kingdom (B.C.18~A.D.660)
The Baekje Kingdom was founded in 18 B.C., Baekje was located in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula and was one of the most advanced nations at that time. Baekje had the closest communication with neighboring Japan and exerted great influence on various fields of Japanese culture, sending many craftsmen, artisans, tailors, tile makers, and scholars to that country

(2) Development of Koguryo and Paekche
Koguryo was the first nation to develop as an ancient kingdom. After the downfall of Kojoson, Chinese influences permeated inward for a time, but Koguryo grew independently while fighting against Chinese domination. In the latter half of the 1st century under King T'aejo's reign, Koguryo strengthened its base as an ancient kingdom and in the early 4th century during the reign of King Mich'on, it occupied Nangnang county and recovered almost all of the former territory of Kojoson. On the other hand, along the Han River basins, many immigrants settled from the north at the time of Kojoson's downfall. These were chiefly the people of Puyo and Koguryo. The kingdom of Paekche was established with the immigrants as its center. Paekche, which first began as the small nation of Mahan, gradually gained power. In the mid-3rd century during the reign of King Koi, Paekche concentrated its strength in the greater part of the Han River basin in order to solidify its base as an ancient kingdom, and in the mid-4th century during the reign of Kunch'ogo, it progressed into its Golden Age. King Kunch'ogo conquered the remaining land of Mahan to the south, completely unified the Honam district (now Cholla-do) and by rising victorious over battles with Koguryo, ruled over the Hwanghae Province to the north. During this period, Paekche also made inroads into Japan and parts of China including Shandong and Liaoxi. In the mid-4th century, Koguryo suffered a great loss as a result of invasions by Former Yan and Paekche but in the latter half of the 4th century, during the reign of King Sosurim, Koguryo accepted Buddhism, established a school called T'aehak, and through the promulgation of various laws, readjusted its national structure. During the consecutive reigns of King Kwanggaet'o and King Changsu, Koguryo greatly expanded its territory and held hegemony in north-eastern Asia.

Under the reign of King Kwanggaet'o, Koguryo occupied Manchurian territory to the east of Liaohe, attacked Paekche to occupy the north of the Han River and expelled foreign foes who were trying to invade Shilla. In the 5th century during the reign of King Changsu, Koguryo moved its capital from Kungnae-song to P'yong'yang and became a powerful country which ruled over the middle section of the south Han River basin by attacking Paekche. Paekche, in the 5th century, confronted the southward advancement of Koguryo, lost the territory along the Han River basin and moved its capital to Ungjin (Kongju). With its power weakened, Paekche, in the 6th century under the reign of King Song, again moved its capital, this time to Sabisong (Puyo), and began readjusting its institutions in order to revive itself. King Song actively promoted cultural exchanges with the Southern Dynasties of China and introduced Buddhism to Japan. During this period, Paekche joined Shilla to help control the Han River, only to lose it again to Shilla.

(3) Development of Shilla and Changes in Kaya
Saroguk, which arose in the area of Kyongju, developed into the kingdom of Shilla. From the 1st century, Shilla, under King Naemul, developed by combining the entities around it and by the latter 4th century, built the base for the ancient kingdom. Ever since King Naemul's era, successors to the throne were all members of the Kim family. The power of the king was further strengthened as he was referred to as "Maripkan", the Great Chief, instead of "Isagum", meaning successor. At that time, Shilla, with the aid of King Kwanggaet'o of Koguryo, drove out Japanese invaders from its land. Afterwards, Shilla was under the influence of Koguryo for a time, but by concluding a treaty of alliance with Paekche, overcame the influence of Koguryo. On the other hand, in the lower delta of the Naktong River, a confederation of six Kaya states appeared with Kumgwan Kaya in Kimhae and Tae Kaya in Koryong as the centers. The power of Kaya was so strong that at one time it threatened Shilla and advanced toward Japan, but it was annexed by Shilla without having developed into an ancient kingdom. .. Shilla, which developed slowest among the Three Kingdoms, had made great progress by the 6th century. King Chijung changed the name of his country to Shilla and adopted the title of King instead of Maripkan. Under the reign of King Pophung, Shilla officially recognized Buddhism and promulgated laws and regulations. King Chinhung occupied the Han and Naktong River basins and even made inroads into the Hamhung Plains.

(1) Koguryo's Great Victory at Salsu and Ansi-song
When Shilla occupied the Han River basin in the latter 6th century, Koguryo and Paekche made a pact to attack Shilla. To ward them off, isolated Shilla approached China for help. At this time, long-split China was unified by Sui. Koguryo was frequently attacked by Sui but managed to expel them with the resistance of its united army and the entire population. In particular, when a large army of more than a million under the personal command of Emperor Yangdi of Sui invaded Koguryo, General Uljimundok feigned defeat in order to lure the 300,000 special soldiers of Sui and all but annihilated them at the Battle of Salsu (Ch'ongch'on River). This was the great victory of Salsu in 612, and it has come to be known as the most glorious military triumph in Korea's national history.

Following Sui, the Tang Dynasty, which then ruled over China and had maintained at one time friendly relations with Koguryo, prepared to invade Koguryo when Emperor Taizong of Tang came to the throne. In Koguryo, Yongaesomun was in power and fiercely confronted Tang's attack. Taizong led a large army to lay siege on Ansi-song while the defending soldiers and citizens resisted the concentrated attack for 60 days. They fought valiantly and drove back Taizong's soldiers in 645. It was a glorious triumph over a national crisis by the unified effort of the Koguryo people.

(2) Destruction of Paekche and Koguryo
Shilla, isolated on the Korean peninsula, formed an alliance with the Tang Dynasty against Koguryo and Paekche. Shilla drew help from the Tang army and attacked Paekche first. The death bands of Kyebaek fought against the Shilla army under the command of Kim Yu-sin with much courage, but they were defeated by the overwhelming numbers of Shilla troops. Finally Sabi-song fell to the allied troops of Shilla and Tang, and Paekche fell in 660. In Koguryo, after the death of Yongaesomun, internal dissension rose among the leading generals. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Shilla and Tang attacked Koguryo. After resisting the attack for a year, P'yong'yang fell and the Kingdom was destroyed in 668.

(3) War between Shilla and Tang and Unification of the Three Kingdoms by Shilla
After the downfall of Paekche and Koguryo, Tang ruled over their former domains and even tried to incorporate Shilla into the sphere of its rule. Confronted with Tang's threat, Shilla combined the strength of the defeated people of Paekche and Koguryo and waged a fight against Tang for 10 years. Shilla smashed the Tang army in the battle of Maech'o-song and destroyed the Tang navy at the mouth of the Kum River. Shilla finally drove out the Tang armed forces and succeeded in unifying the Three Kingdoms in 676. Shilla's unification of the Three Kingdoms was not a complete one, limited only to the south of the Taedong River and the Bay of Wonsan. But it did form the basis for an independent national government and a national culture throughout the Korean peninsula.

(1) Societies and Economies of the Three Kingdoms
In the Three Kingdoms, class distinctions between the aristocracy, commoners and menials were very rigid. The central aristocrats and royal families were in charge of the government, economy, and culture, and exercised many privileges. The commoners were mostly self-sustaining farmers who cultivated their own lands and paid taxes to the government. The menials were slaves and villagers in Pugok who composed the lowest stratum in society. The ruling classes were the families of the kings and queens. In Koguryo the Ko clan of Kyerubu became the royal family, and in Paekche the Puyo clan was the royal family. In early Shilla the three clans of Pak, Sok and Kim alternated in succeeding the throne, but after King Naemul, the Kims inherited the throne. In Shilla there was a strict system of personal status called Kolp'um which was distinguished into Songgol, Chin'gol (royal family) and 6,5,4,-tup'ums (classes of aristocrats). Among them many aristocrats of the 6-tup'um chiefly engaged in scholarly pursuits and religion. In Shilla, there was the Hwabaek system in which representative aristocrats gathered to determine important affairs of the state unanimously. There was also a youth organization called Hwarang-do (Flower Youths) which trained many capable men who, following the five secular commandments of Won'gwang, received mental and physical training and had loyalty to the state inculcated in them.

The Three Kingdoms developed as ancient kingdoms readjusting their political organizations. In Koguryo, there were 12 classes of bureaucrats below Taedaero and in Paekche there were 16 classes below Chwap'yong. In Shilla, there were 17 classes of bureaucrats below Ibolch'an. Advancement to officialdom was strictly restricted to those of Kolp'um status, and the political activities of the Three Kingdoms were carried out through the unified efforts of the aristocrats. Taedaero in Koguryo and Sangdaedung in Shilla (equivalent to premier) were chosen at meetings of aristocrats. In the Three Kingdoms, agriculture developed as the most important industry. In Paekche and Shilla, irrigation facilities expanded with rice farming. In Koguryo, millet, soybeans and other dry farm crops were the chief crops. In addition, handicrafts were also developed. In the Three Kingdoms, the practice of usury boomed, and many commoners were driven to become slaves as a result of heavy debt. In Koguryo, the government practiced Chindae-pop, a law of loaning grain in the spring and being repaid in the autumn, to prevent impoverished peasants from turning into the slaves of aristocrats.

(2) Transmission and Development of Buddhism
While the Three Kingdoms developed as ancient kingdoms, they required a new religion for spiritual unity of their people. Just at this period, Buddhism, which began in India, was introduced into the Three Kingdoms through China. In Koguryo, during the reign of King Sosurim, Shundao from Former Qin in northern China introduced Buddhism in 372. In the kingdom of Paekche, an Indian monk named Marananta arrived by sea through Dong-Jin China to introduce Buddhism in 384. Buddhism was first introduced to Shilla in 384 by Mukhoja, a priest from Koguryo, but it was subjected to oppression. After a hundred years, following the martydom of a famous monk named Yi Ch'a-don, King Pophung officially recognized Buddhism in 527. Buddhism in the Three Kingdoms flourished with the support of the royal family and the aristocrats. In this way, Buddhism became the state religion, which contributed to the national defense. This was especially true in Shilla where Buddhism was combined with the development of the royal family to play a leading role as the national ideology. Taoism was also introduced to the Three Kingdoms. In the Sasindo drawn on the old tomb of Koguryo and in the Sangyong Munjon of Paekche, traces of Taoism can be found.

(3) Popularization of Confucianism and the Compilation of History
Upon entering the period of the Three Kingdoms, Chinese characters began to be widely used, and Confucianism and Chinese literature began to rise in popularity. In addition, the writing system of Idu was used in which Korean words were recorded by selecting the corresponding meaning and sounds in Chinese characters. Shilla's Sol Ch'ong designed this system Idu. In Koguryo, a school called T'aehak was established in P'yong'yang to teach Confucianism, and schools called Kyongdang were set up in many districts to teach Chinese characters and military arts to the youth. In Paekche, the Ogyong scholars taught the Confucian classics to students. All three kingdoms tried to compile their own histories. In Koguryo, 100 volumes of Yugi were compiled and under the reign of King Yongyang, Yi Mun-jin compiled them into five concise volumes. Ko Hung of Paekche compiled Sogi during the reign of Kunch'ogo, and Koch'ilbu of Shilla compiled Kuksa, a record of the national history under the reign of King Chinhung. But the history books compiled during the Three Kingdoms period have not survived to today.

(4) Art Activities of the Three Kingdoms
With an aristocrat-centered culture rising, refined and colorful aristocratic art developed, and simple traditional artwork remained among the people. The arts of the Three Kingdoms developed in two fields-old tomb art and Buddhist art. Physical strength and passion overflowed in the Koguryo art work while elegant and refined beauty was characteristic of Paekche art objects, and Shilla art objects gradually displayed a beauty of harmony. The famous old tombs of Koguryo are Changgun-ch'ong (Tomb of the Generals), Muyong-ch'ong (Tomb of the Dancers and Hunters), Ssangyong-ch'ong (The Double Pillar Tombs) and the Kangso-daemyo (The Great Tombs).
Among them, the Changgun-ch'ong is believed to be the tomb of King Kwanggaet'o. It is a big stone tomb with steps of seven-stories. The hunters and dancers drawn in the Muyong-ch'ong, pictures of warriors and their genre painted in the Ssangyong-ch'ong, and the pictures of 4 guardian spirits as embodied by different animals in the Kangso Big Tombs are all brilliant frescos which represent the ambitious spirit and customs of the Koguryo people at that time. Paekche's old tombs possess a powerful beauty in their architecture and frescos. The tomb of King Munyong is famous for the many burial accessories and the slate inscribed with the record of the deceased. Gold crowns and beautiful art works have been excavated from the old tombs of Shilla and the picture of a heavenly horse which represents Shilla's emblem has been found in the Ch'onmach'ong.

Among the stone pagodas of Paekche, the pagoda located on the site of Maitreya Temple in Iksan and the five-story stone pagoda on the site of Chongnimsa Temple in Puyo are the most renowned. In particular, the five-story pagoda on the site of Chongnimsa Temple, which is representative of Paekche art, is well balanced and is a beautifully executed masterpiece. The most distinct stone constructions of Shilla are the pagodas in Punhwangsa Temple and the Ch'omsongdae observatory. Remarkable Buddha figures include the gold-plated figure of Buddha sitting with his legs half-crossed and Sosan's Three Buddhas of Ma'e. The former expressed elegance (frequently produced in each of the Three Kingdoms), and the latter represents the typical features of Buddhist images present in Paekche. It shows a thin mild smile on its face called "Paekche's smile." From ancient times the Korean people have loved songs and dances. Among the songs of the Three Kingdoms, Hyesongga, a Hyangga (folk song) of Shilla, remains. Wang San-ak of Koguryo improved the seven-string instrument of China, Ch'ilhyongum, into Komungo and U Ruk of Kaya introduced the Kayagum to Shilla. Paekche music was introduced to Japan and influenced the development of Japanese music.

(1) Political Advances by Paekche
Among the Three Kingdoms, Paekche was the most active in making advances abroad. In the mid-4th century, when Dong-Jin was weakened, Paekche advanced to Liaoxi and Shandong of China, and it also made inroads into many parts of Kyushu, Japan. Through these activities, for a time Paekche formed a large sphere of influence connecting the peninsula with Liaoxi, Shandong and Japan. However, after the 5th century, with the southward push of Koguryo and Chinese resistence, Paekche's influence was weakened. The Kingdom of Kaya also, early on, advanced to Japan. In various areas of Japan, the activities of Paekche and Kaya are noticeable and Koguryo also left footprints of their activities in Japan.

(2) Monks' Study and Their Activities in China
After the introduction of Buddhism, many monks of the Three Kingdoms went to China to study, and some even travelled to India. A Koguryo monk named Sungnang grasped the esoteric meanings of Buddhism and trained a large number of students in China to become harbingers of Sanlunzong of China. Kyomik of Paekche under the reign of King Song traveled to India and brought back Buddhist books and translated them together with other monks. In Shilla, monks studying abroad were also very fashionable. All of the high monks of Shilla except Wonhyo learned the Buddhist canon in China. Among them, Won'gwang and Chajang, after returning home, contributed greatly to the promotion of important state policies.

(3) Emigration of People of the Three Kingdoms to Japan
The history of ancient Northeastern Asian society, generally speaking, flows from the continent toward the ocean, and from cultural highlands to the lowlands. Riding on this current, during the prehistoric age Korea introduced metal civilization to Japan and taught them rice farming. Upon entering the age of written history, many people journeyed across to the Japanese archipelago. The Japanese called these people Toraijin (those from the Three Kingdoms) and greatly welcomed them for they brought with them advanced skills and cultures to help civilize ancient Japan. As conflicts among the Three Kingdoms intensified and social confusion increased, a considerable number of people emigrated to Japan. These emigrants resided in groups in the Yamato district in the heart of Japan as an influencial force of the times, taking charge of political and cultural activities in Japan. They displayed their ability to develop underdeveloped areas. The useable wilderness and swamps of Musashino in today's Tokyo are the gifts of immigrant groups from Koguryo under the leadership of Yakkwang (Wakamitsu).

(4) Diffusion of Cultures of the Three Kingdoms to Japan
The cultures which were developed during the Three Kingdoms period were propagated to Japan and greatly influenced the formation and development of ancient Japanese culture. Especially, the Paekche culture influenced the development of the Asuka culture. Ajikki and Wang In of Paekche taught Chinese characters to the Japanese, and Tan Yang-i and Ko An-mu, among the five-classic scholars, taught Confucianism in Japan. Under the reign of King Song, Norisach'igye was sent to Japan to introduce Buddhism with Buddhist images and sutras. From Paekche, monks, temple-building architects and Buddhist art manufacturers were sent to influence the development of Buddhism and culture in Japan.

Tamjing of Koguryo taught literature and painting in Japan. The fresco in the Golden Hall of Horyuji Temple, of which Japan is proud, is believed to have been painted by him. The Koguryo monk Hyeja and Paekche monk Hyech'ong became the royal tutors of Crown Prince Shotoku and led the spread of Buddhism in Japan. The frescos in the Takamatsu old tomb best display the relationship between Koguryo and ancient Japan. Particularly Paekche, among the Three Kingdoms, introduced many kinds of learnings and technology to Japan and became the driving force of the golden age of the Asuka culture.