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The history of Taekwondo

Taekwondo is an art of self-defense that originated in Korea and its history grew with the history of the Korean nation. Though its tradition is ancient, there is no one account of its development. This must be pieced together from many accounts, both written and verbal, as primary sources were lost or destroyed. The story told here has been gleaned and arranged over the years from a multitude of sources.

The History of Taekwondo in the Three Kingdom Age

Approximately 1,300 years ago, the Korean peninsula consisted of three kingdoms: the Shilla, the Koguryo, and the Paekche. Shilla, the smallest of these, was under constant harassment and threat of invasion by its two powerful neighbors to the north and west.

Park Hyuk Gose founded the Kingdom of Shilla (57 BC–935 AD) and made Kyung Ju its capital. Consisting initially of weak, disorganized tribal groups seeking unity, Shilla finally emerged as a power in the fourth century. Because of its geographic location, it escaped occupation by its neighbors, Koguryo and Paekche. The small kingdom, however, was not spared military raids. These came not only from the neighboring kingdoms on the peninsula itself but from Japan as well. Thus, survival dictated the marshaling of a strong army in Shilla.

Shilla's military leadership grew from the intense loyalty of its tribal clans. In fact, so cohesive did their unity become, it proved superior to the strength of Paekche and Koguryo. Instrumental in bringing this about was the twenty-fourth king of Shilla, Chin Heung. He was able to assemble the Hwarang Do, an elite fighting corps. These men received not only regular military training with the then-known weapons of war but learned a discipline of mind and body beyond this. They voluntarily exposed themselves to severe hardships in order to condition themselves, comparable to what we know as the most rigorous training programs.

Needless to say, the deeds of the Hwarang Do became legendary not only on the battlefield but in their entire way of life. They inspired the people of Shilla to throw off their enemies, gather disparate loyalties, and unite the Korean peninsula with their victories. With this unification under Shilla's banner (337 AD–935 AD), the original martial art of Taekwondo came under popular and enthusiastic study.

The History of Taekwondo in the Koryo Dynasty

The "golden age" of Taekwondo seems strangely linked to the history of Korea. In 935 AD, the Kingdom of Shilla was overthrown, and the Kingdom of Koryo was founded. From "Koryo" comes the western name "Korea." During the Koryo Dynasty, Taekwondo flourished, as Koryo's survival depended on its retaining a strong martial spirit. During this time, the country produced some of its finest warrior heroes.

According to An Je San, a noted historian, the Yoo Sul school (which would now be classified as Jujitsu) was known under the name of Soo Bak Gi or Tae Kyon. Every May, the King of Chosun (Korea) held a match of unarmed combat at Kak Chon Pavilion on Ma Am Mountain. Whoever won the contest received a prestigious government pass. Tae Kyon became a compulsory part of every soldier's training. Three winners in the annual contest, Lee Yi Em, Jang Joong Boo, and Sa Kyang Sung, eventually became leading generals during the Koryo Dynasty. Thus, the art, having its inception in religious discipline and receiving royal patronage, became a permanent segment of national life.

The Records of Taekwondo

There is documentary evidence of specialized hand-and-foot fighting events as far back as 37 BC. Ruins of royal tombs built during this period contain murals depicting scenes of unarmed combat practice.

In 1035, a group of archaeologists discovered Muyong Chong and Kakchu Chong, two royal tombs dating to the Koguryo Dynasty. The tombs were located in Tangu, China, in the Tung-Hua province of Manchuria, where Koguryo had its capital. The ceiling of the Muyong Chong carried a painting portraying two unarmed men confronting each other. Since construction of the two tombs mentioned took place between the years 3 AD and 427 AD, one may surmise how old the art of Taekwondo is.

The History of Taekwondo in the Unified Shilla Dynasty

At the entrance to the Sok Kul Am is the statue of a figure in a typical fighting posture. Sok Kul Am is a small Buddhist cavern temple dating back to 751 AD, during the reign of King Kyung Duk (742–765), which was erected during the reign of King Hye-Gong (765–780). This provides evidence that the art of Taekwondo was continuously developing from the time it began.

The Record Book of Military Arts (Muye Dobo Tong Ji), written in 1790, contains illustrations that substantiate the theory that Taekwondo quickly developed into sophisticated forms and postures quite advanced relative to similar arts at that time.

The History of Taekwondo in the Yi Dynasty

After 500 years of rule, the Koryo Dynasty declined, and with it, the art of Taekwondo. The new reign was not only non-military but also anti-military. A period of "civil enlightenment" set in, during which anything related to military training was frowned upon. By the end of the Yi Dynasty, the martial arts seemed to have completely disappeared.

The History of Modern Taekwondo

The final blow to the arts came with the Japanese occupation in 1909, when it was forbidden to practice any martial arts. Tae Kyon, however, secretly survived among remnants of stalwarts, going underground and successfully passed on to a handful of students.

Meanwhile, many Koreans, oppressed at home, emigrated to study and work in other parts of the world, including China and Japan. No restrictions on unarmed martial training existed in these countries, and for the first time in over a thousand years, Tae Kyon was exposed to other forms of unarmed self-defense.

When these emigrants returned, they brought with them the newly improved form of Tae Kyon. They also brought various names indicative of particular emphases in Taekwondo, such as Tang Soo Do, Kwon Bob, Kong Soo Do, and Soo Bak.