Founding Process of Koguryo Clarified Through a Legend

Koguryo, the most powerful country in the history of the Korean nation in the Middle Age!

It is conceivable apart from the immortal efforts and exploits of Chairman Kim Jong Il, a wise teacher of the Juche-oriented study of history that the one-thousand-year-old history of Koguryo, the first feudal state in the East could shine in the time-honoured history of the nation.

During his revolutionary activities at Kim Il Sung University, Chairman Kim Jong Il gave a brilliant prediction for the clarification of Koguryo foundation through "Legend of King Tongmyong" (alias Ju Mong legend), one of the folklore of the Middle Age.

It was on January 27, 1961, when the students were discussing the myths and legends after the lecture on the history of national economy.

Listening to their discussion, Chairman Kim Jong Il said that although it was true that myths and legends were made-up stories, they should not be treated in a nihilistic way and that they were important historical materials in studying history, taking example of "Legend of King Tongmyong".

Chairman Kim Jong Il said:

"We should have correct understanding of the myths and legends."

The legend of King Tongmyong is a story of the founding history of Koguryo, which tells that it was established by Ju Mong's force parted from Puyo.

He taught the students that the story of Ju Mong's escape from the torments of Puyo Kingdom shows that the founder of Koguryo is King Tongmyong and that of his victory in the skills match over King Songyang of Piryu Dynasty is an expression of the fact that Koguryo annexed the small neighbouring countries to it.

He added that when myths and legends were used as historical materials, the standpoint of working class should be held fast to, that they were made up in conformity with the demands and interests of several classes and strata over a long time, and that unless they were not studied in the proper way, the history could be distorted.

Indeed Chairman Kim Jong Il, brightly proved the historic facts of the foundation of Koguryo and its annexation of the surrounding small countries through the legend of King Tongmyong, though it was made up as a fantasy on the basis of the historical facts.

Thus, he provided a valuable guideline for the scientific clarification from the Juche-oriented standpoint of the history of Koguryo that had been under cover.