In the mid-seventh century, China’s Tang Dynasty attacked the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo. Tang’s founding Emperor Li led an invasion of the country with his 300-thousand army but suffered crushing defeat by General Yang Man-chun of the Ansi fortress. It is one of the three greatest victories in the history of Goguryeo.
Amid the turbulent history, Dae Joyoung was born.
His mother country, Goguryeo, was a grand empire which defeated the world’s strongest Tang Dynasty. However, in 668—two decades after the Ansi victory—, the joint forces of Shilla and Tang overpowered Goguryeo leaving many of its people homeless.
As a young man, Dae Joyoung dreamed the revival of Goguryeo.
He organized forces and rescued the former residents of Goguryreo from the oppressive Tang military. One by one, he conquered neighboring tribes and founded the kingdom of Balhae, 30 years after Goguryeo crumbled down.
Dae Joyoung’s Balhae overcame difficulties in politics, military and diplomacy and faced Tang with dignity. In the next two centuries, Balhae was in the center stage of Asia continuing on the continental lineage of Korea. Unfortunately, the importance of Balhae and its founder Dae Joyoung has been downplayed by distorted historical views toadying to the powerful and under the Japanese colonialism.
In a monumental effort to restore what is true in the history of Korea, this epic drama reflects on the continental Balhae. A look back at the past will offer us an insight into the future of the Korean people as we live in the present of divided nations.
NOW ON KBS TV.
No comments:
Post a Comment