Korea is an old country, with the earliest states beginning about the time of the Late Chou Dynasty in China. Despite the predominant Chinese influence on Korea and the vast borrowing of Chinese vocabulary, the Korean language is unrelated to Chinese. There is no agreement about just what it is related to, though kinship with Japanese seems likely and to the Altaic languages (Manchu, Mongol, Turkish) possible. Originally written in Chinese characters, Korean now uses its own unique writing system, Han-gul, promulated by King Sejong in 1446. Han-gul writes syllabic characters that are regularly composed of elements indicating the phonology of the syllables. This would allow Han-gul to be easily and freely mixed with Chinese characters, as was long done, or completely replace them, as has largely been the custom since 1945. To the uninitiated, Han-gul characters can easily be distinguished from Chinese, since they contain circles, which are not used in Chinese characters.

Koguryo
Tongmyong/ Chumong Wang	37-19
Yurimyong Wang	19-18
Taemusin Wang	18 BC- 44 AD
Mingjung Wang	44-48
Mobong Wang	48-53
T'aejo Taewang	53-146
Ch'adae Wang	146-165
Sindae Wang	165-179
Kogukch'ong Wang	179-197
Sangsang Wang	197-227
Tongch'ong Wang	227-248
capital falls to Wei Dynasty, 244
Ch'ungch'ong Wang	248-270
Soch'ong Wang	270-292
Pongsang Wang	292-300
Mich'ong Wang	300-331
Chinese Western Tsin Dynasty) driven from Korea, Beginning of "Three Kingdoms" Period, 313
Kogukwong Wang	331-371
capital sacked by state of Yan, 342
Sosurim Wang	371-384
adoption of Buddhism, 372
Kogukyang Wang	384-392
Kwangaet'o Wang	392-413
Changsu Wang	413-491
Munja Wang	491-519
Anjang Wang	519-531
Angwong Wang	531-545
Yangwong Wang	545-559
P'yongwong Wang	559-590
Yonyang Wang	590-618
Yongnyu Wang	618-642
Invasion by Sui Dynasty defeated, 612
Pojang Wang	642-668
Invasion by T'ang Dynasty defeated, 645-647; conquered by Silla & the Chinese, 667-668

Silla
Pak Hykkose Kosogun	57 BC- 4 AD
Namhae Ch'ach'aung	4-24
Yuri Isagum	24-57
Sok T'arhae Isagum	57-80
Pak P'asa Isagum	80-112
Chima Isagum	112-134
Ilsong Isagum	134-154
Adalla Isagum	154-184
Sok Porhyu Isagum	184-196
Naehae Isagum	196-230
Chobun Isagum	230-247
Ch'omhae Isagum	247-261
Kim Mich'u Isagum	261-284
Sok Yurye Isagum	284-298
Kirim Isagum	298-310
Hurhae Isagum	310-356
Kim Naemul Maripkan	356-402
Silson Maripkan	402-417
Nulji Maripkan	417-458
Chabi Maripkan	458-479
Soji Maripkan	479-500
Chijung Wang	500-514
Pop'ung Wang	514-540
adoption of Buddhism, 535
Chinghung Wang	540-576
conquers Kaya, 562
Chingji Wang	576-579
Chingp'yong Wang	579-632
Sondok Yowang (f)	632-647
Chindok Yowang (f)	647-654
T'aejong Muyol Wang	654-661
Munmu Wang	661-681
Munmu Wang	668-681
Paekche, 671; Koguryo, 676
Sinmun Wang	681-692
Hyoso	692-702
Songdok Wang	702-737
Hyosong Wang	737-742
Kyondok Wang	742-765
Hyegong Wang	765-780
Sondok Wang	780-785
Wonsong Wang	785-799
Sosong Wang	799-800
Aejang Wang	800-809
Hondok Wang	809-826
Hongdok Wang	826-836
Huigang Wang	836-838
Minae Wang	838-839
Sinmu Wang	839-857
Honan Wang	857-861
Kyogmun Wang	861-875
Hongong Wang	875-886
Chonggang Wang Kim	886-887
Chinsong Yowang (f)	887-897
Hyogong Wang	897-912
Sindok Wang	912-917
Kyong Myong Wang	917-924
Koryo
T'aejo I	924-943
Hyejong	944-945
Chongjong I	946-949
Kwangjong	950-975
Kyongjong	976-981
Songjong I	981-997
Mokshong	997-1009
Hyonjong I	1010-1032
Tokjong	1032-1035
Chongjong II	1035-1047
Munjong I	1047-1083
Sunjong	1083
Sonjong	1084-1095
Honjong I	1095
Sokjong	1096-1105
Yejong I	1106-1122
Injong I	1123-1146
Uijong	1147-1170
Myongjong	1170-1197
Sinjong	1198-1205
Huijong	1205-1211
Kangjong	1212-1213
Kojong I	1213-1259
Mongol invasion, 1231; Mongol suzereinty, 1258
Wonjong	1260-1274
Ch'unguyol	1275-1309
Ch'ungson	1309-1314
Ch'ungsuk	1314-1330
Ch'unghye	1330-1332, 1339-1344
Ch'angsuk	1332-1339
Ch'ungmok	1344-1348
Ch'unajong	1349-1351
Kongmin	1351-1374
Sin U	1374-1389
Sinch'ang	1389
Kongyang	1389-1392
Joseon/Choson/Yi
T'aejo II	1392-1398
Chongjong III	1398-1400
T'aejong	1401-1418
Sejong	1418-1450
Han-gul introduced, 1446
Munjong II	1450-1452
Tanjong	1452-1455
Sejo	1456-1468
Yejong II	1468-1469
Songjong II	1470-1494
Yonsan Gun	1494-1506
Chungjong	1506-1544
Injong II	1544-1545
Myonjong	1546-1567
Sonjo	1567-1608
Japanese invasions, defeated, 1592, 1597-1598
Kwan Naegun	1609-1623
Injo	1623-1649
Hyojong	1650-1659
Hyonjong II	1660-1675
Sukchong	1675-1720
Kyonjong	1720-1724
Yongjo	1725-1776
Chongjo	1777-1800
Sunjo	1801-1834
Honjong II	1835-1849
Ch'oljong	1850-1864
Kojong II	1864-1907, d. 1919
Sungjong	1907-1910
Japanese Protectorate, 1905-1910; Annexed to Japan, 1910-1945; Allied Military Occupation, 1945-1948
Republic of Korea, 1948-present; Communist government, 1948-present

Paekche
Ongjo Wang	18 BC- 28 AD
Taru Wang	28-77
Kiru Wang	77-128
Kaeru Wang	128-166
Kusu Wang	166-214
Sabang Wang	214-234
Koyi Wang	234-286
Ch'aekkyo Wang	286-298
Punso Wang	298-304
Piryu Wang	304-344
Kye Wang	344-346
Kunch'ogo Wang	346-375
Kungusu Wang	375-384
adoption of Buddhism, 384
Ch'imnyu Wang	384-385
Chinsa Wang	385-392
Asin Wang	392-405
Chongji Wang	405-420
Kungsin Wang	420-427
Piyu Wang	427-455
Kaero Wang	455-475
Mungju Wang	475-477
Samgung Wang	477-479
Tongsong Wang	479-501
Munyong Wang	501-523
Song Wang	523-554
Widok Wang	554-598
Hye Wang	598-599
Pob Wang	599-600
Mu Wang	600-642
Uyja Wang	642-660
overthrown by T'ang Dynasty China, 660

The earliest important state in Korea was Old Choson, which began in the 4th century BC and endured until its conquest by the Chinese state of Yen (or Yan) around 300 BC. When Yen was conqured by the Ch'in Dynasty in 222, its Korean possessions passed with it, though my map of the Ch'in actually doesn't show it extending that far, so perhaps Ch'in control quickly lapsed. Nevertheless, at the fall of the Ch'in in 206, Han Dynasty control was extended into Korea, but briefly. A rebellion between 194-180, under a Chinese leader, Wiman, resulted in the independence of Choson until renewed Han conquest in 108 BC. Chinese control lapsed in the last reign of the Later Han Dynasty, around 210 AD, but then was restablished in the Three Kingdoms Period by the Wei Dynasty, around 238.

Meanwhile, other Korean states developed. North of the Chinese possessions was Puyo, beginning in the 4th century BC, which later was absorbed by Koguryo, traditionally founded in 57 BC. South of Chinese possessions in the Korean penninsula was the state of Chin, beginning in the 2nd century BC. Chin broke apart into the "three Hans," the states of Mahan, Chinhan, and Pyonhan.

The Han states ended up aborbed by new kingdoms in the South, Paekche, Silla, and Kaya. The Kings of Paekche and Silla are listed here. Mahan fell to Paekche in 369. When Koguryo drove out the Chinese in 313 and arrived at the borders of Paekche and Silla, this began the "Three Kingdoms" period in Korean history (313-668). Koguryo is the kingdom that was attacked by the Sui Dynasty in 612. This was followed by T'ang Dynasty invasions, also defeated, 645-647. But the Chinese made headway, conquering Paekche in 660 and combining with Silla to overthrown Koguryo in 667-668. The Chinese tried to retain their Korean territory; but Silla took Paekche in 671, and the Chinese conceded the penninsula in 676.

Silla becomes the single kingdom of Chosen or Korea. The initial state survives until broken up by rebellions beginning in 891. A new "Three Kingdoms" period develops, until the country is reunified by the Koryo ("Later Koguryo") state, which annexed Silla in 935. This is indicated in the King list as no more than a change in dynasty.

These lists come entirely form Bruce R. Gordon's Regnal Chronologies. Korean language information is from Barron's Korean at a Glance, by Daniel D. Holt and Grace Massey Holt [Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1988], and NTC's Compact Korean and English Dictionary, by B.J. Jones and Gene S. Rhie [NTC Publishing Group, 1995].

The modern Japanese occupation of Korea, although recent, had major long term effects. The oppressive Japanese regime included the forced imposition of Shinto rites and the "missions" of various Japanese Buddhist sects. This tended to motivate sympathy for Western religion and, in particular, to discredit Buddhism altogether. Thus, up to a third of (South) Koreans are now Christians, and it is a rare church in California that does not have some Korean on its signs. A third of Koreans, however, are still Buddhist, and the rest observe the Korean equivalent of traditional Chinese Confucian/Taoist religion.

The Japanese occupation, of course, did not end without a new national trauma being introduced -- the Russian occupation of the northern part of the country and then the establishment there of a Communist regime. When the North, with Russian blessing, invaded the South in 1950, this set off the first major shooting war in the Cold War. Before the front stabilized, the Communists nearly overwhelmed the surprised South Koreans and Americans. The North Koreans collapsed, however, when Douglas MacArthur daringly landed in their rear at Inchon. Only the intervention of the Chinese recovered the Communist position and resulted in a stalemate and a cease-fire with roughly the status quo ante.

The South Korean flag, with its traditional Chinese yin and yang symbols, is given at right. The North Korean flag, with a typical Communist red star, is unworthy of notice. Indeed, as South Korea grew into one of the economic "Four Tigers" of East Asia and left behind decades of dictatorship for democracy, North Korea developed into one of the nastiest and most psychotic tyrannies in history, with a dynasty of despots, the Kims, who have actually allowed the country to starve rather than have the word "pragmatism" cross their minds. North Korea even charges foreign relief organizations for the privilege of providing free food. Recently, the North and South have established some more friendly contacts, and the North has allowed some communication between divided families, but the present "Great Leader" of the North, Kim Jong Il, has given no indication of releasing his iron grip either on power or on the suffocated economy of his prison-state -- which has not stopped radical and clueless South Korean students from demonstrating on behalf and the North and for reunification.

Recent developments, late in 2002, have thrown new light on North Korea. The government recently admitted that it had been kidnapping Japanese, in Japan itself, including one 13-year-old girl, in order to plant North Korean agents. They have now allowed some of these victims to visit relatives in Japan, but since they are not allowing their Korean families out of the country, the victims are expected to dutifuly return to their North Korean prison -- most have not, hoping that their families will eventually be allowed to follow. The most unsettling revelation, however, has just been that North Korea ignored right from the beginning the agreement negotiated in 1994 by Jimmy Carter by which they would receive technical assistance in their nuclear power program, on the condition that they end their nuclear weapons program. Since there never was any provision for verifying the end of the weapons program, they simply didn't bother to end it. Why they have now admitted this is a matter of speculation. In retrospect, one remembers Ronald Reagan's maxim when dealing with the Soviets, "Trust, but verify." Jimmy Carter, consistently naive in Realpolitik, demonstrates his ability to do damage even long out of office (even Bill Clinton didn't want him in North Korea and had to accept the fait accompli negotiated by Carter). In 2003, the North Korean government announced that it had actually already produced a number of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, North Koreans, who are allowed to travel to China, have been seeking asylum in Western embassies and consulates there. In one incident, Chinese police broke into a Japanese consulate to drag out Korean supplicants. Japan protested, since this is a violation of International Law, and the Chinese actually released the Koreans.

In November 2004 National Geographic released a map showing the Earth at night. Japan, South Korea, and even much of China are lit up like lamps. North Korea, however, is as dark as many uninhabited places on Earth. Few things would be as graphically revealing of the poverty and misery of the North.