KSIS : Philosophy serving the military

This new special article plunges us into the feudal history of Korea, and the genesis of an army of elite soldiers called HWARANG. Dive without further ado into this aristocratic system of the kingdom of Silla, which was institutionalized in 576, under the reign of King JINHEUNG.

Korea was not always the peaceful peninsula we know today, despite its painful separation from the North. In the past, the country was divided into four kingdoms: Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla and Gaya. As Gaya was invaded by Silla, this dynasty, which dated from 57 BC to 668 AD, would be referred to as the period of the Three Kingdoms. It was in this particular context, between wars and political alliances, that King JINHEUNG (reigning from 540 to 576) decided to develop a military system in order to strengthen the power of Silla, the smallest of the Three Kingdoms. Having ascended to the throne at only 7 years old, it was his mother, Queen JISO, who ensured the regency of the country, facing a distrustful aristocratic elite seeking to seize power. It was therefore quickly necessary to develop a strategy to control the wealthy on one side, and the enemy kingdoms on the other. This is how the HWARANG came into being.

“The goal was to maximize their human potential in every aspect, and they learned warfare, philosophy, literature and the arts” —DANIELLE TARTARUGA, reporter

The reign of JINHEUNG, one of the longest of the dynasty (36 years), would also be characterized by the development of Buddhism throughout the territory, one of the values that became part of the HWARANG’s code of honor, which would evolve over the years. One of the key texts in Korean history is the “Samguk Sagi”, the oldest official text of the country, which constitutes a chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, written by KIM BUSIK in 1145, divided into fifty volumes (annals, chronologies, rites and institutions, and biographies). It recounts the development of the kingdoms, but also that of the HWARANG, as well as the important terms needed to understand their system:

HWARANG : military leader

NANGDO : soldiers under the command of a HWARANG

HWARANGDO : unit incorporating HWARANG and NANGDO

GUKSEON : leader of the HWARANG

PUNGWOLDO : spiritual code of the HWARANGDO

SESOK OGYE : moral code of the HWARANGDO

The National Institute of Korean History nevertheless highlights the existence of a military system that existed before that of the HWARANG, known as WONHWA. The WONHWA were two women renowned for their beauty at the head of a group of three hundred soldiers. Named NAMMO and JUNJEONG, they symbolized the birth of a new army, but also marked its end, paving the way for the creation of the HWARANG. Indeed, the “Samguk Sagi” describes an unhealthy rivalry between the two women, to such an extent that JUNJEONG eventually killed NAMMO after getting her drunk and throwing her into a river. JUNJEONG was then sentenced to death, and the army was disbanded. After this event, men were selected, forming the HWARANG, although they were initially also chosen for their delicate masculine beauty.

“Among the sons of noble families, those who were handsome were chosen. They put on powder and adorned themselves beautifully, and they were given the name HWARANG” – LINGHU CHENG, official of the Tang dynasty

But beauty was not everything. The HWARANG above all made it possible to identify young aristocrats who might one day become officials, military leaders or even advisers to the king. During their years spent as soldiers, they were monitored, meaning that the HWARANGDO can be considered a unit training the future leaders of the kingdom. Thus, their education included horseback riding, hunting, singing, dancing, physical and martial activities (Gwonbeop), as well as pilgrimages sometimes going as far as India or China to connect with nature, for Buddhism. According to Professor KIM SANG YOUNG, the HWARANGDO can thus be described as “the pursuit of integrity, purity, and honesty”.

A HWARANG, during his own training, could command up to one thousand NANGDO, despite his very young age, which could be as little as 13 years old. He had to develop his leadership qualities by applying five key values forming the “Sesok Ogye”:

Serve the king with loyalty (사군이충)
Serve one’s parents with filial piety (사친이효)
Treat one’s friends with trust (교우이신)
Do not flee before the enemy (임전무퇴)
Do not kill indiscriminately (살생유택)

As for the “Pungwoldo”, it is based on the teachings of Buddhism, but also of Confucianism and Taoism, in order to make the most of the best of the three texts. The “Samguk Sagi” thus summarizes the HWARANGDO code as being based on filial piety, political loyalty, moral teaching, spirituality, and culture. Moreover, it was closely linked to Hyangga, ancient poetry sung in the kingdom of Silla. The HWARANG quickly gained the title of “flower boys”, with hwa translating as flower. It was during Silla’s period of expansion that they would gain importance.

One of the most famous HWARANG was SADAEHAM, leader of approximately one thousand NANGDO and participant in a military campaign to conquer the kingdom of Gaya in 562. He became famous for his bravery, being only a teenager at the time, but also for his honorable moral code. Indeed, JINHEUNG granted him land and prisoners of war at the end of the campaign, with SADAEHAM requesting the release of the prisoners and refusing part of the land. The HWARANGDO became both a military and moral symbol, where honor and bravery enabled Silla’s success. We can therefore see that, although the institutionalization of the HWARANG dates back to 576, they already existed a few years earlier.

Other famous HWARANG included GWANCHANG (war with the kingdom of Baekje), KIM HEUMUN (posthumous importance) and KIM YUSIN, the most famous of them all, who, among others, helped unite Korea by participating in wars against all the kingdoms, but also against the Tang Empire in China. Becoming a HWARANG at the age of 15, he gained the title of GUKSEON only three years later, and would be buried like a king in recognition of his sacrifice and achievements as leader of the Silla army in 645. His sister even married the future King TAEJONG MUYEOL.

As JINHEUNG sought to control the entire peninsula, the need for warriors was increasingly felt, and the HWARANG were a direct response to this issue. True elite soldiers trained in the art of war and martial arts, and excelling in horseback archery, they greatly helped Silla become the most powerful kingdom, eventually forming the Unified Silla dynasty.

“They were trained to become the perfect warrior-scholars, the best that a human being could become.” – LEE BANGJOO, founder of hwarangdo.

After the conflicts of unification, the HWARANGDO gradually lost its military aspect in favor of an administrative one. This system eventually disappeared completely under the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), but the martial art hwarangdo helped bring the HWARANG back into honor in the 20th century. This martial art, inspired by the principles of the HWARANGDO, is centered around four fundamentals:

Internal powers (Naegong): development of ki energy
External powers (Waegong): physical techniques
Mental powers (Shingong): mental development of higher consciousness
Weapon powers (Mugigong): control of external objects

Thanks to this institution, JINHEUNG enabled his kingdom, Silla, to gain in strength and prosperity. During the following decades, the HWARANG helped kings conquer the peninsula, allowing a kingdom small in size to become the greatest power in Korea, until it unified the entire country and asserted itself against China. In 1989 and 1995, historical records on the HWARANG were made public, allowing Koreans to discover more about their history. These texts are called “Hwarang Segi”, although some specialists are skeptical about their authenticity. Despite everything, the enthusiasm was there, so much so that a drama was filmed in 2016: “Hwarang: the Beginning”, starring PARK SEOJOON, PARK HYUNGSIK, GO ARA and V of BTS.