This purpose of this paper is to describe the establishment and change of the Bukgye defense system. I have looked into the process of establishing the Bukgye defense system in the early Dynastic period of Koryo and how the principal army left the def...
This purpose of this paper is to describe the establishment and change of the Bukgye defense system. I have looked into the process of establishing the Bukgye defense system in the early Dynastic period of Koryo and how the principal army left the defense system following a mutiny that occurred in Bukgye during the period between the 12th and the 13th centuries along with subsequent changes in the defense system, accordingly.
Bukgye had two groups of army with different characteristics stationed at the time. The first group was Bangsu Army and the second was Jujin Army. Bangsu Army was stationed in Goryeo’s frontlines only. Accordingly, they were stationed in the vicinity of the Cheongcheongang(river) (river) and southern area only in early Goryeo Dynasty period and in the vicinity of the Amnokgang(river) (river) and the Cheongcheongang(river) (river) only in mid Goryeo Dynasty period and afterwards. Bangsu Army was organized and dispatched directly by the central government in Gaegyeong with the commander also appointed directly by the government as well. Jujin Army, on the other hand, was local troops stationed throughout the Bukgye area with the commander and soldiers recruited from local residents of Bukgye region.
There were four Yohaecheos (key strategic points for defense) in the north of Gaegyeong. The first Yohaecheo was Jeollyeong located immediately to the north of Gaegyeong, second near the Daedonggang(river), third near the Cheongcheongang(river) and the fourth near the Amnokgang(river). Four Yohaecheos were not only strategic military locations but also served as axes that divide the region.
The Daedonggang(river), a boundary between Bukgye and Namdo, served as the axis that divided the regions comprised of Juhyeon and Jujin, respectively in Bukgye while Cheongcheongang(river), in turn, served as another axis that further divided Jujin region into the frontline and the rear
Dividing Jujin region of Bukgye along the Cheongcheongang was attributed to the strategic importance of the Amnokgang-Cheongcheongang region, which was the very frontline of Goryeo and thus was critically important for military purposes. Therefore, Bangsu Army was stationed in this region only along with more troops of Jujin Army deployed in this region than in the south of Cheongcheongang.
It was the 12th century that the Bukgye defense system established in early Goryeo period started to wobble. Following the Myocheong's revolt, Seogyeong’s status plummeted and the royal tour to Seogyeong was suspended, causing increased grievance of Doryeong, public officials in Bukgye. Entering into the military regime, officials started to redeem the private land in Bukgye, causing fury among ordinary people. With grievance of Doryeong accumulated since the Myocheong's revolt topped with complaints of general public triggered Doryeong to build local powers in earnest. This phenomenon led Jujin Army to mobilize its troops in large scale and to engage in mutiny during the Jowichong’s revolt, which eventually resulted in the breakaway of Jujin Army from the defense system.
Following the Jujin Army’s move against the defense system, Goryeo rearranged the Bukgye defense system with the Bangsu Army serving as the axis. With general Bangsu holding multiple posts, including military judge, military administrator and local government official, Bukgye defense system was reshuffled and reorganized with Bangsu Army serving as the main principal. However, reorganization of the defense system based on the Bangsu Army led to a decrease of defense bases. In a war against the Khitan, the Amnokgang basin where Bangsu Army was stationed served as a sole major defense base, and the majority area of Jujinseong in Bukgye failed to serve as the defense base by the time when Goryeo engaged in the first clash against Mongolia. In the end, the decrease of defense bases in that period forced Goryeo to give up its original defense system and to turn to a new strategy called ‘Sanseonghaedo Yipbo(山城海島入保)’.
Keyword : Bukgye defense system, Bangsu Army, Jujin Army, Myocheong's revolt, Jowichong’s revolt.