Since the 1980s, there are continuous reports of archaeological outcome related to the Buyeo(夫餘) Dynasty in the Northeast region of China, resulting in recent active studies on the Buyeo Dynasty. As such, with the studies on the Buyeo Dynasty making substantial progress following the outcomes of archaeological discoveries, there is a growing need to revisit the Buyeo Dynasty that has been undertaken with the document studies to this point. Under the foregoing critical mind, this study is based on the document studies to lay down the foundation of new understanding on the Buyeo Dynasty.
First of all, under Chapter Ⅱ, it has reviewed on the founding time of Buyeo and the culture that enabled its founding. Buyeo was emerged of its presence for the first time in The record of the Grand Historian(Sagi 史記) that transmitted the situation of second century BC. Based on the foregoing, at the end of approximately third century BC, Buyeo seemed to found its state then. Around the first century AD, The Lunheng(論衡) that was published in China recorded the myth of founding the country of Buyeo, and the myth told the story of King Dongmyeong(東明) who had been born in the Takri Kingdom(橐離國) palace came down to south to found Buyeo.
Found of Buyeo was the incident occurring by the culture of different lineage and resident groups around the Jilin(吉林) City area of China going through the process of mutual convergence. Around 3∼2nd century BC, Buyeo had established a new culture by blending in the Chinese culture came up to north from the south, the migrating group that came down from north to the south, as well as the original residents that had established the Xituan Shan(西團山) culture. Accordingly, the culture that enabled the establishment of Buyeo contained diversity from the onset.
On Chapter Ⅲ, the review has been made on the history of East Buyeo(東夫餘). East Buyeo was the state existed around the North Okjeo(北沃沮) area, or the Tumen River basin area of today. Considering through the East Buyeo related myth as conveyed by The Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms(Samguk sagi 三國史記) and The Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms(Samguk Yusa 三國遺事), East Buyeo was the state founded by the resident group that migrated when Buyeo was expanding its influence toward the east. The central site is presumed to be located on the transportation route linking Dunhua(敦化) and Yanji(延吉). Henceforth, East Buyeo could mean the force that controlled the Dunhua and Yanji area based on the east-bound transportation route from the Four Gate Way(四出道) of Buyeo.
Articles related to Buyeo as conveyed on the Goguryeo's Record(高句麗本紀) of The Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms were mostly the records related to this East Buyeo. With the replacement of East Buyeo, it pressured Goguryeo on the basis of its superior national force from the time of King Dongmyeong(東明聖王) up to King Yuri(瑠璃明王) of Goguryeo. However, during the war against the military force led by King Daemusin(大武神王) of Goguryeo, with the leader Daeso(帶素) of East Buyeo killed and the ruling class disintegrated, it gradually walked the path of decline. Thereafter, East Buyeo was deviating from the forces of Buyeo to gradually be a part of Goguryeo.
Next, under Chapter Ⅳ, the review is undertaken on the Buyeo Dynasty around the Jilin City area in full-scale. The royal family of Buyeo handed down ‘Seal of King Ye(濊王之印)’ until the third century, and through this, the contact of the Western Han(西漢) dynasty and Buyeo was made during the period of BC. When The Joseon(朝鮮) collapsed and Hansa-gun(漢四郡) established, Buyeo approached Han Dynasty in full cooperation to respond to the changes in such political situation.
Thereafter, from the first half of the 1st century when the Eastern Han(東漢) was founded in China, Buyeo sent its envoy to China to exchange in a way of sustaining stable diplomatic relationship. In addition, around 1～2nd century, Buyeo had its influence to Yilou(挹婁) in the east. At this time, Buyeo had the role as the window of Yilou for its external exchange and trade. Up to the first part of the 3rd century, Yilou had the supply from Buyeo for supplies and goods directly related to the survival of its residents by sustaining its relationship of subordination.
However, Buyeo that was prosperous through the first to third century began to gradually crumble in the third century. At first, in the beginning of the third century, Yilou was deviated from the Buyeo's control. With Yilou breaking away from the influence of Buyeo, Buyeo lost all of its influences that it had asserted in the Yilou and North Okjeo areas. Furthermore, around the 3rd century, King Mayeo(麻余) of Buyeo was on the throne to start the power struggle in the ruling classes. In the political circle of Buyeo then, Daesa(大使) Wuigeo(位居) was emerged as the real power. He killed Cow-Ga(牛加) and King Mayeo to gain the power. Such political conflict in the central sector brought in the disintegration and deviation of the ruling class. Consequently, the collapse of Buyeo from the invasion of Murong Xianbei(慕容鮮卑) in 295 without any strong resistance could be attributable to such an internal chaos.
Under Chapter Ⅴ, the analysis is made on the political structure and national system of Buyeo. To this present time, the academic circle has understood that the kingship of Buyeo was significantly vulnerable. However, looking closely on the record of The Records of the Three Kingdoms(Sanguo Zhi 三國志), it was shown that the royal family of Buyeo had been flawlessly succeeded from the 2nd century to the 3rd century without any interruption. Therefore, the prevailing opinion that discussed the vulnerability of the kingship of Buyeo with the focus on succession process of kingship would be difficult to concur.
Around the 3rd century, the punishment system of Buyeo was more advanced than that of Goguryeo. In Buyeo, the punishment system that ordinarily operated existed and it was operated by a national agency that was symbolized with the governmental agency and prison. And, in harvest ceremony(祭天行事), Younggo(迎鼓), of Buyeo, the national amnesty that was led by the king of Buyeo to render the punishment and released the criminal was made. Through this practice, it is shown that the Buyeo royal authority at the time controlled the power of punishment.
The ruling class of Buyeo then had the king of Buyeo at the peak with the bureaucrat class of Horse-ga(馬加), Cow-Ga, Pig-ga(豬加), Dog-ga(狗加), Daesa, Daesaja(大使者), Saja(使者) and others to serve him. In addition, multiple ruling classes expressed as the 'several Ga(諸加)' ruled the regions of Buyeo on the basis of Four Gate Way. Among the foregoing, Horse-ga, Cow-Ga, Pig-ga, Dog-ga and other noble classes were the descendents of the force group that led the founding of Buyeo Dynasty together with the royal family. On the other hand, Daesa, Daesaja, Saja and others were administrative bureaucrats that were in charge of practical administrative affairs.
As such, while the central power of Buyeo was structured around the royal authority and central bureaucrats, the regional parts of Buyeo was ruled by 'several Ga' with the Four Gate Way as the foundation. The Four Gate Way was the regional ruling organization consisted on the basis of the transportation route stretching in all directions with the Buyeo as the central hub. Regions of Buyeo were ruled based on this transportation route as the focal point. As such, Buyeo operated its national affairs on the basis of unique dual power structure available only in Buyeo that was structured with two axes of central power and regional power.
Lastly, under Chapter Ⅵ, the review has been made on the process of the fall of Buyeo and movement of refugees. Buyeo was temporarily collapsed by the attack of Murong Xianbei in 285. But it was revitalized with the support of the Western Jin(西晉) dynasty, at this time, the control system of Buyeo was completely fallen. Furthermore, with Western Jin that was friendly to Buyeo collapsed in the early 4th century, Buyeo was no longer expected to have the support and protection of the China's dynasties any further. Thereafter, Buyeo had to relinquish its control of the Jilin City area where the capital was located to Goguryeo in the middle of 330s and was forced to move to the Nong'an(農安) area. And, again, it was attacked by the Former Yan(前燕) in 346 to transfer into its control.
Thereafter, with Former Yan and Later Yan(後燕) fallen, Buyeo was forced to transfer into the power of Goguryeo. Notwithstanding the fact, Buyeo still continue its vitality of the royal family until the middle of the 5th century. In 457, Buyeo paid a tribute to Northern Wei(北魏) Dynasty to emerge in the international stage. However, it was forced to succumb to the attacks of Wuji(勿吉) that was blown from the north, and in 494, it finally gave in to Goguryeo, ending the long history of Buyeo from the history. Meanwhile, in the later part of the 5th century with Buyeo about to face its collapse, the northern region had Dumangnu(豆莫婁) that claimed to be the descendent of Buyeo from the north emerged. From the later part of the 5th century to the first half of the 8th century, it was seen for over approximately 200 years. However, the history of Dumangnu was no longer seen from the military conflict between Balhae(渤海), Tang(唐) Dynasty and Heishui Mohe(黑水靺鞨) that was commenced from 726.