Kwang-Gae -Recoverer Of The Land

39 Moves 1st Dan

Kwang-Gae is named after the famous Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang, the 19th King of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater part of Manchuria. The diagram represents the expansion and recovery of lost territory. The 39 movements refer to the first two figures of 391 A.D., the year he came to the throne.

King Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang (meaning "broad expander of territory") was born in 374 AD and ascended to the throne in 391, at the age of just seventeen, to become the 19th king of the Koguryo Dynasty. He ruled over Koguryo at the time in Korea's history known as The Three Kingdoms, so called because during this time the Korean peninsula was constantly being fought over by the three Koguryo, Silla and Paekche dynasties. He is sometimes referred to as Great King Yeongnak, after the era name selected by him.

He expanded Koguryo’s territories far into the Korean peninsula by advancing southward at the expense of the Paekche dynasty to occupy the north of the Han River, and occupied Manchurian territory to the east of Liaohe. On his death in 413, at just 39 years of age, Koguryo ruled everything between the Sungari and Han Rivers. This gave it control over two thirds of what is now modern Korea as well as a large part of Manchuria. In addition, the chieftains of Silla submitted to the northern kingdom's authority in 399 to receive protection from Japanese raids. Only Paekche continued to resist Koguryo domination during this period, thereby preventing what would have been the first recognised unification of the Korean peninsula.

During his reign, King Kwang-Gae conquered 65 walled cities and some 1,400 villages, in addition to aiding Silla when it was attacked by the Japanese. In 392 he built nine Buddhist temples in Pyongyang. His accomplishments are recorded on a monument which was erected in 414 in southern Manchuria.

Q: The first movement in Kwang Gae Tul is stated as follows :
Bring the left foot to the right foot, forming a close ready stance B toward D, bringing both hands in a circular motion.
I was wondering if, like the moosa sogi stances in later patterns, this movement had any meaning attached to it. My only idea is that it might signify the expansion and recovery of lost territory as per the pattern meaning.
Has anyone got any other ideas, or perhaps, the answer?!

A: I heard an interesting story about this movement.
It is said to signify the warrior-king standing amidst his army. Perhaps imagine him with his army on either side of him, facing an enemy. He then surveys the weather conditions, position of the sun etc to determine if they are favourable to his army. He then breaks his hands/arms apart in a circular motion signaling his army to attack from those flanks.
-Norm Bernard

The South Korean Navy has a frigate:
The 3,900 ton King Kwang-Gae-to-dae-wang was commissioned last year, and is the first of the KDX-1 class FFGs. It is fitted with 8 Block 1C Harpoons, and RIM-7P Sea Sparrow in Mk 48 VLS.

Ko-Cho-Sun
In Sam-Kuk-Yu-Sa, an old history book, writes about the legend of foundation of Ko-Cho-Sun, reading as " The son of God, Hwan-Ung, came down to Tae-Bak mountain from heaven, in order to give wealth to people in the earth, with his men who control wind, rain, and cloud respectively. There he opened a God's city to rule the people conducting 360 different guides for grains, lives, crime & punish, etc. necessary to people's life. One day a bear came to him to ask for a life as a human. Thus, Hwan-Ung let it be a woman and married her to get a baby boy who is so called Dan-Kun, (Dan-Gun) a founder of Ko-Cho-Sun."

The history book continues as Dan-Kun built a Capital at A-Sa-Dal (current Pyung-Yang of North Korea) in 2333 BC. With help of Iron Age begun about 5th century BC in the peninsula, Ko-Cho-Sun used iron made tools for farming and maintained very strong military forces, enabling her to expand her power over Yo-Ryung area of China including Korea peninsula. She intended to invade Yun of China in the mid of 4th century BC, however, got attacked by her instead and the power got shrunk temporarily. Nevertheless, Ko-Cho-Sun maintained the strong shape of nation as King Bu and Jun ascended the throne in order.

Around the end of 3rd century BC in China, Chin got perished and Han arose. In the chaos during the change, a man Wui-Man, with a group of his people, came over to King Jun, who let him defend the western border of Ko-Cho-Sun. However, Wui-Man later subverted King Jun and made himself a King. King Wu-Guo, a grandson of Wui-Man, cut off direct trade between Han and other countries on the outskirts of Ko-Cho-Sun and made big geographical advantages by transit trade between the two. Han got upset for this and attacked Ko-Cho-Sun. After one year lasted war, Ko-Cho-Sun got perished by Han. However, King Mi-Chun and Kwang-Gae-To, of Koguryo of the Era of Three Kingdoms recovered the lost territories.