Seeing Japan distort history makes me realize the importance of history books.

 

Sado Mine, Designated by UNESCO, Japan Continues to Distort History

Sado Mine is a site where 2,000 Koreans were forcibly mobilized during the Japanese colonial period. Japan attempted to have this site registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, but faced strong opposition from the Korean government. The Korean government wanted Japan to sincerely commemorate all the laborers at Sado Mine, especially the Korean workers. Japan promised to install new exhibits at the Sado Mine site that would acknowledge the harsh working conditions of Korean workers and honor their suffering. With this condition, the Korean government agreed to the registration of Sado Mine as a cultural heritage site, which it had previously opposed. On July 24, 2024, Sado Mine was designated by UNESCO, and later, members of South Korea’s opposition party visited the site. Upon visiting, they found that there was no mention of forced labor, and Japan had not kept the promises made to the Korean government. Japan was not fulfilling its promises and was distorting history. Nationalist historian Shin Chae-ho once said, "A nation that forgets its history has no future." While Korea remains consumed by internal ideological conflicts, it has been unable to adequately respond to Japan's historical distortions. In the past, the kings of ancient Korean kingdoms recognized the importance of history and ordered the compilation of historical records. Let’s explore the kings who sought to preserve history for future generations.

The interior view of the Sado Mine, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, had no mention of forced labor by Koreans anywhere.

King Geunchogo of Baekje, Who Compiled the History of Baekje, "Seogi"

King Geunchogo (近肖古王) was the ruler who led Baekje to its golden age. According to the Old Tang Book, "The territory of Baekje stretched south across the sea to Yuezhou, north across the sea to Goguryeo, and south across the sea to Wa (Japan)." If this record is accurate, it implies that Baekje’s territory extended to present-day Shandong, Manchuria, and even Japan. As Baekje grew into a great empire by subduing its northern rival, Goguryeo, King Geunchogo sought to leave records of Baekje for future generations by compiling historical texts. The history of Baekje, Seogi (書記), was reportedly written by the scholar Goheung. In addition, there were other records such as Baekjeg (百濟記), Baekje Sinchan (百濟新撰), and Baekje Bongi (百濟本記). If the brilliant history of Baekje, spanning over 600 years, had been preserved to this day, historians would have been able to confidently illustrate the expansive territory of Continental Baekje. Unfortunately, the current reality is that we have to rely on a brief line in Chinese records to estimate Baekje’s territory. Recording history to pass down to future generations is not merely to boast of achievements, but to serve as a spiritual pillar that helps a nation find its roots and cultivate pride.

(Left) The territory of Baekje during its peak as shown in textbooks (Right) The territory of Baekje based on Chinese historical sources

 

Seeing Japan distort history makes me realize the importance of history books."

King Sosurim (小獸林王) was the 17th ruler of Goguryeo, who laid the foundation for its prosperity during a time of crisis. Goguryeo had been attacked from the north by the Yan dynasty, resulting in the fall of its capital, and from the south by Baekje, which led to the death of King Gogugwon (故國原王). King Sosurim ascended the throne after his father, King Gogugwon, and sought to unify the kingdom. He adopted Buddhism, established laws, and strengthened the foundation of the nation. To cultivate elites, he established Taehak (太學), an academic institution. Believing that the achievements of past kings should be taught to future generations, he had a historical text called Yugi (留記), consisting of over 100 volumes, compiled. Sosurim's efforts bore fruit during the reigns of his descendants, King Gwanggaeto, King Jangsu, and King Munja. Goguryeo eventually dominated Manchuria, Mongolia, Beijing, and regions south of the Han River, achieving its greatest prosperity. At the time, the Xianbei people of the Sui and Tang dynasties in China, who had unified the country after a period of chaos, believed that to fully unify the region, they needed to conquer Goguryeo, which was part of the same Yemaek lineage. The Sui and Tang dynasties launched relentless attacks on Goguryeo, and the 700-year history of Goguryeo eventually came to an end. It is said that when the Tang dynasty captured Pyongyang, it took them a month to burn Goguryeo’s historical records. Today, thanks to brief mentions in the Samguk Yusa, Samguk Sagi, and Chinese historical texts, we know that Goguryeo ruled the vast Manchurian plains and expanded into the continent. Although Korea now occupies a small territory on the Korean Peninsula, there is pride in knowing that it is the descendant of Goguryeo, which once ruled the continent.

(Left) The maximum territory of Goguryeo as learned in textbooks (Right) The maximum territory of Goguryeo inferred from historical records

 

Click if you want to read another article recommended by JadeWolveS.

What is the secret of organizations that achieved great results with minimal size?