Ancient Period of Many Nations Three Kingdoms Koryo Chosun Modern
According to legend in 2333 BC king Tan-gun founded Ko-Chosun, the first Korean kingdom, with Pyongyang as its capital.
The period of many nations was B.C.140 and some point to this time as Taekwondo's development period. The people of this time worshipped the Heaven's god. Though the names of each country were different, they all performed the ritual to worship the Heaven's god. In this process, it is assumed that martial arts started to be specialized and developed out of military arts for national defense. During these rituals, a game to show fighting skills was held. It still remains in our folk festivals such as instrumental music of peasants and Korean wrestling. The countries developed during times of political and diplomatic conflicts. so, it is natural to think that military arts for national defense developed in this process.
There were three kingdoms of Korea:
Although Taekwondo first appeared in the Koguryo kingdom, it is the Silla's Hwarang warriors that are credited with the growth and spread of Taekwondo throughout Korea. Silla was the smallest of the three kingdoms and was always under attack by Japanese Pirates. Silla got help from King Gwanggaeto and his soldiers from the Koguryo kingdom to drive out the pirates. During this time a few select Sillan warriors were given training in Taek Kyon by the early masters from Koguryo. The Taek Kyon trained warriors then became known as the Hwarang. The Hwarang set up a military academy for the sons of royalty in Silla called Hwarang-do, which means "The way of flowering manhood." The Hwarang studied Taek Kyon, history, Confucian Philosophy, ethics, Buddhist Morality, and military tactics. The guiding principles of the Hwarang warriors were loyalty, filial duty, trustworthiness, valor, and justice. The makeup of the Hwarang-do education was based on the Five Codes of Human Conduct written by a Buddhist scholar, fundamental education, Taek Kyon and social skills. Taek Kyon was spread throughout Korea because the Hwarang traveled all around the peninsula to learn about the other regions and people.
Today, The original Five Codes of Human Conduct have been correlated into the so-called Eleven Commandments of modern day Taekwondo, which are:
- Loyalty to your country
- Faithfulness to your spouse
- Respect your parents
- Loyalty to your friends
- Respect your brothers and sisters
- Respect your elders
- Respect your teachers
- Indomitable Spirit
- Never take a life unjustly
- Loyalty to your school
- Finish what you begin
During the Silla dynasty (A.D. 668 to A.D. 935) Taek Kyon was mostly used as a sport and recreational activity. Taek Kyon's name was changed to Subak and the focus of the art was changed during the Koryo dynasty. When King Uijong was on the throne from 1147 through 1170, he changed Subak from a system that promotes fitness to primarily a fighting art.
The Koryo dynasty lasted from 918 A.D. to 1392 A.D. and the name Korea is derived from Koryo. The people of Koryo defended their country from the Mongolian imperialists who had subjugated much of Asia at that time. During the Koryo Dynasty the sport Subak, which was then used as a military training method, became popular.
During the Yi-dynasty (1392 A.D. - 1910 A.D.) this emphasis on military training disappeared. King Taejo, founder of the Yi-dynasty, replaced Buddhism by Confucianism as the state religion. According to Confucianism, the higher class should study the poets, read poems and play music. The first widely distributed book on Taekwondo was during the Yi dynasty. This was the first time that Subak was intended to be taught to the general public, in previous years the knowledge was limited to the military. During the second half of the Yi dynasty, political conflicts and the choice to use debate instead of military action almost lead to the extinction of Subak. The emphasis of the art was changed back to that of recreational and physical fitness. The lack of interest caused Subak as an art, to become fragmented and scarcely practiced throughout the country.
Modern-day Taekwondo is influenced by many other Martial Arts. The most important of these arts is Japanese Karate. This is because Japan dominated Korea during 1910 and occupied the country for 36 years.
To control Korea's patriotism, the Japanese banned the practice of all military arts, Korean language and even burned all books written in Korea. This ban was responsible for renewed interest in Subak. Many Koreans organized themselves into underground groups and practiced the martial arts in remote Buddhist temples. Other people left Korea to study the martial arts in other countries like China and Japan. In 1943 Judo, Karate and Kung-fu were officially introduced to the Korean residents and the martial arts regained popularity. In 1945 Korea was liberated. In the last few years before liberation, there were many different variations of Subak/Taek Kyon in Korea. This was due to all of the other martial arts influence on it.
During WWII, lots of Korean soldiers were trained in Japan. During this occupation of Korea, the Japanese tried to erase all traces of the Korean culture, including the martial arts. The influence that Japan has given to Taekwondo are the quick, linear movements, that characterize the various Japanese systems.
After World War II, when Korea became independent, several kwans arose. The original kwans of Taekwondo were:
.Chang Moo Kwan
Chung Do Kwan
Han Mook Kwan
Jido Kwan
Jung Do Kwan
Kang Duk Kwan
Moo Duk Kwan
Odokwan
Soong Moo Kwan