Korean History #2.
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With the progress of civilization within Korea Buddhism began to be accepted by some Dynasties, while others disagreed with the teachings within their Kingdoms. The Kingdom of Koguryo in the 6th Century was greatly influence by Confucianism doctrine began to accept the teaching aspects of Buddhism within the philosophic teachings, and the politics that were govern by Confucianism. During this period of the Kingdom of Koguryo a high level Monk named Po Duk traveled to China required a quantity of Buddhist scriptures from monasteries within China, carrying these scriptures back to Korea, and returning to the Kingdom of Koguryo in attempt to re-educate the high level officials within the government away from the doctrine of Confucianism to the teachings of Buddhism, and Monk Po Duk failed at this attempt to change the old ways of the Kingdom of Koguryo. Monk Po Duk departed this kingdom into the Kingdom of Paekche where Buddhism was a foundation of this government, and widely accepted into it's society during the 600 C.E.. The King of Paekche passed a law within his kingdom that forbid the taking of a life of any kind, and including animals, anyone who brakes this law would be put to death immediately. Many high level monks were appointed to travel to Japan from the Kingdom of Paekche in the 6th Century, and passed on Buddhism within Japan, this became the point of when Buddhism was introduced into Japanese society from Korea.
In 602 C.E., a Buddhist Monk, named Kwalluk, or Kanroku(Japanese) left Korea crossing the East Sea into Japan bringing with him quantities of Buddhist Sutras, historical books, and writings on Astronomy, Geography, the occult arts, the science of Chi, and the ancient art of Korean martial arts (Hwa Rang Mul Sul), which had great influence from the Chinese martial arts. Monk Kwalluk was the greatest influence in the founding of the Sanron School of Buddhism within Japan.
The end of the 6th Century, the Three Kingdoms within Korea was greatly influenced by the teaching foundation of Buddhism, and many high level Korean Monks traveled to China, India, and Japan carrying the teachings of Buddha with them. The teachings of Buddhism had completely depilated the primal Shamanistic Religions of old Korea that was indigenous to the entire Korean Peninsula. The Three Kingdoms became totally involved with the teachings of Buddhist Religion within their societies beliefs, but within the Three Kingdoms they had their own different political ideologies. The Kingdoms were at war with each other through the new expansionist of ideologies.
The Kingdom of Koguryo, the largest of all Three Kingdoms, with a great military strength had launch the first military attack with continued aggressive assaults on the other two Kingdoms of Shilla, and Paekche. Both these smaller Kingdoms not only fought against Koguryo, but fought against each other.
The Kingdom of Shilla which was part of Southern corner of Korea, the King of Shilla turned for help from China which was controlled by the T'ang Dynasty during that period of time. The Shilla Dynasty sent an envoy named Chunch Ue Kim to the T'ang Court in China to formulate a military alliance with the T'ang Dynasty to fight the forces of Koguryo, and Paekche Kingdoms. With the agreement set out that if the T'ang, and the Kingdom of Shilla armies defeat the Kingdom of Koguryo in Korea, that all the land South of P'yongyang would belong to the Kingdom of Shilla, and all the land North to the border of China would belong to the T'ang Dynasty, also if both armies defeat the Kingdom of Paekche, then the entire Korean country belongs to the Kingdom of Shilla. The forces of the T'ang Dynasty, and the Kingdom of Shilla army defeated the army of the Kingdom of Paekche in 660 C.E. After the defeat of the two kingdoms in Korea, the T'ang Dynasty totally ignored the agreement set up the Shilla Kingdom, and began to set-up military bases within Paekche Kingdom after the war, and then set up Pro-Chinese bases inside the Kingdom of Shilla. The government of Shilla was angered by this move of the T'ang. While Koguryo still existed in the Northern part of Korea, the Kingdom of Shilla could not expand it's military force against the T'ang Dynasty to defeat them.
During this extensive war in the period of the 6th Century, the Kingdom of Shilla formed a first highly trained martial arts force of practitioners ever known in the history of Korea. This force of martial artist practitioners were known all over Korea as the Hwa Rang, and the beginning of Hwa Rang Mul Sul training with great influence of the Chinese martial art systems of China. These Hwa Rang Warrior Knights of a aristocratic group of men born in Shilla, the Hwa Rang Warrior Knights contributed to the unification of the Three Kingdoms in Korea. In 576 C.E., King Chin Hung of the Kingdom of Shilla envisioned a great warrior group of Hwa Rang (Flowering Knights) before they they were formed into a army. King Chin Hung did have an army within the Kingdom of Shilla, but the King did not believe that his men had the exceptional nature as a warrior of the Hwa Rang to defeat the forces of the Koguryo, and Paekche Kingdom, and the armies of the T'ang Dynasty. King Hung began to organize a large group of men of noble status who were very talented in the art of warfare, and very loyal to the King, and the Shilla Kingdom. These men would be extensively trained in high levels of specialized warfare, and combat martial arts, and weapons, and be successful in going to war against the Kingdoms of Koguryo, and Paekche, and the Chinese T'ang Dynasty in battle. King Hung had concerns to secure, and to evaluate the group noble warriors of this type of caliber, he believed that the warriors could be formed into units, and trained in the higher levels Buddhism, honor, pride, and the ancient secret martial arts of the shadow warriors of China, the most talented warriors would become part of the Hwa Rang. During this period of training the King selected two of his highly trained court bodyguard women to be part of this group of men. The two court women were Nam Mo, and Chun Jung, who became the first women of Hwa Rang as warriors. Due to great jealousy between the two women warriors, Chun Jung drop poison into the drink of Nam Mo's wine. killing her, and then Chun Jung threw Nam Mo's body into a river. Chun Jung was put to death by the order of the King, and the Royal Court officials. Later, the group of Hwa Rang Warrior Knights were disbanded at this period of time.
The next method for King Chin Hung to choose men for the Hwa Rang warrior knight class were handsome young men of noble birth. The youngest of all these men that were accepted at the young age 12 years old, and older. In the old Hwa Rang Segi (Annals of the Hwa Rang), Tae Mun Kim, states, "Ministers, and loyal subjects shall be chosen from this group of men, generals, and brave soldiers will be born". These warriors were dressed in the finest all clothing of the Royal Court of Shilla Kingdom. These young men were highly trained in Buddhism, secret arts of the Chinese shadow warriors, combat martial arts, advance combat weapons, Chi science, education of the arts, and science of Hwa Rang Mul Sul. The martial arts training program included developing their mind, body, and spirit by climbing high rugged mountains, and training in turbulent rivers in the dead of winter in the coldest months of Korea. The training of the martial arts included all forms of hand-to-hand combat, the primary system was the art of foot fighting, they were highly skilled warriors in combat foot fighting. The Hwa Rang warriors were highly trained in the art of the Chinese shadow warrior's weapons, and were trained to use combat weapons unyieldingly. The Hwa Rang warriors arsenal comprised of a variety weapons dated back to China's shadow warrior era; sword, staff, hook, spear, chain, bow/arrow, sickle, and other variety of advance weapons to applications of secret training weapons. Those warriors greatly excelled in their training became great warriors, and were recommended to the Court of Hwa Rang. These great warriors were now referred to as Sul-sa(Knights of the Night) of Hwa Rang. The Hwa Rang Warrior Knights had invented the martial arts power of the Korean art of kicking.
_____Continued to Korea History #3__________________
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