The First States
The development of Bronze Age society eventually brought about social differentiation due to the control of bronze and its associated technologies, as such access accords power and status. This resulted in different farming communities banding together, eventually leading to the emergence of the earliest states. The first of these was Gojoseon. Korea's National Foundation Day, which is celebrated every October 3rd, commemorates the foundation of Gojoseon, which is based around Dangun, the mythical founder and first king of Gojoseon. There are several interpretations of the Dangun myth, but most suggest that 2333 BCE was the foundation date of this first state. Gojoseon was located in the north of the Korean peninsula and in Manchuria, in what is now the province of Liaoning in China. After the fourth century BCE Gojoseon developed political groups and powers and integrated other regional groups, meaning that between the fourth and second centuries BCE it was strong enough to compete with China. It was during this period that the first laws were codified in relation to the penalties for murder, injury and theft. Gojoseon continued until 108 BCE, when it lost power following a war with the Han Dynasty of China that lasted over a year. Buyeo, based in what is the present-day Jilin region of China and the north of the Korean peninsula, was the second state to emerge. Samhan, which emerged at around the same time, was located in the south. Other large states that followed after the collapse of Gojoseon were Okjeo from around the second century BCE in the north and Dongye from around the third century BCE in the northeast. It was the smaller states of Mahan, Jinhan and Byeonhan that expanded and developed into what was eventually to become the Gaya Confederacy, Baekje Kingdom and Silla Kingdom.
References/Further Reading
Kim, V. (2014) Dangun, Father of Korea: Korea’s foundation tale lends itself to many interpretations. Korea.net. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Song, H. J. (2004) The Formation of Gojoseon and its Social Characteristics. The Review of Korean Studies. Volume 7, Number 1. Pages 95-114.
Tomasek, M. (2015) Notes on the Development of Korean Law. The Lawyer Quarterly. Pages 102-115.