Five Divisions of Koguryo
In the early days of state building there were five divisions that formed main forces in Koguryo--Yonna-bu, Kwaru-bu, Hwanna-bu, Kwanna-bu and Jena-bu.
Here is Hwang Kum Sok, Researcher of the History Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences.
"At the beginning of state building the names of the five divisions represented those of tribes and their living areas.
Afterwards, however, they were mainly used as the names of the capital of Koguryo and the administrative districts in and around it.
Those names were also used for a long time as the terms identifying the origins of the nobles consisting of their ruling circles.
In addition, they had different names according to their positions and directions. Such fact is represented in a number of historical records including 'Samguksagi' (Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms)."
Originally, the heads of nobles of the five divisions were the local political forces with their independent ruling structures.
After the foundation of Koguryo, however, they became the central peers. The heads of the five divisions had subjects under their direct control, whose positions were lower than the vassals of the king.
After the five divisions became the administrative districts in the vicinity of the capital, their governor was called monarch.
But the heads of the five divisions, who were of noble lineage, were called bosses.
As said above, Koguryo, a powerful country in the East for 1,000 years, splitted the whole country into five large administrative divisions and ruled over them from the beginning of the state building, storing up its powerful strength.
The historical records on the five divisions serve as valuable data in studying the relations of class and social positions and the ruling system at the beginning of building Koguryo, a powerful country in the East for 1,000 years.
Here is Hwang Kum Sok, Researcher of the History Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences.
"At the beginning of state building the names of the five divisions represented those of tribes and their living areas.
Afterwards, however, they were mainly used as the names of the capital of Koguryo and the administrative districts in and around it.
Those names were also used for a long time as the terms identifying the origins of the nobles consisting of their ruling circles.
In addition, they had different names according to their positions and directions. Such fact is represented in a number of historical records including 'Samguksagi' (Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms)."
Originally, the heads of nobles of the five divisions were the local political forces with their independent ruling structures.
After the foundation of Koguryo, however, they became the central peers. The heads of the five divisions had subjects under their direct control, whose positions were lower than the vassals of the king.
After the five divisions became the administrative districts in the vicinity of the capital, their governor was called monarch.
But the heads of the five divisions, who were of noble lineage, were called bosses.
As said above, Koguryo, a powerful country in the East for 1,000 years, splitted the whole country into five large administrative divisions and ruled over them from the beginning of the state building, storing up its powerful strength.
The historical records on the five divisions serve as valuable data in studying the relations of class and social positions and the ruling system at the beginning of building Koguryo, a powerful country in the East for 1,000 years.