![[History Lives On – Gojoseon] Episode 9: The Clash with Yan – 4th Century BC East Asian Geopolitics](https://thekoreantoday.com/ulsangangbuk/wp-content/uploads/sites/171/2025/10/featured-image-108.png "[History Lives On – Gojoseon] Episode 9: The Clash with Yan – 4th Century BC East Asian Geopolitics")
In 323 BC, a new order began to emerge across East Asia. As the authority of the Zhou Dynasty completely collapsed and various states began proclaiming themselves kingdoms, Gojoseon—Korea’s first kingdom—declared its king as well.
During the era when the Seven Warring States competed for supremacy in China, Gojoseon stood shoulder to shoulder with the Yan State on its western border. The Bronze Age power of Gojoseon versus the rising Iron Age force of Yan—this was not merely a border dispute. It was a clash of civilizations and a turning point that would reshape the flow of East Asian history.
Around 300 BC, an invasion led by General Qin Kai resulted in Gojoseon losing 2,000 li (approximately 600-800 kilometers) of western territory. Forced to retreat from the Liaoxi region to Liaodong, how did this defeat change Gojoseon’s destiny? And what does this ancient confrontation tell us today in our modern world of technological competition and geopolitical tensions?
◆ The Ancient Landscape
The late 4th century BC was an age of great turmoil in China, as the Seven Warring States (Qin, Chu, Qi, Yan, Zhao, Wei, and Han) competed for hegemony. The Qin State laid the foundation for wealth and military power through Shang Yang’s reforms. The Zhao State revolutionized cavalry tactics by adopting nomadic dress and horsemanship (known as hufu qishe). The Qi State established the Jixia Academy, gathering scholars from across the known world. Amid this massive vortex of change, the Yan State in the northern frontier struggled for survival.
In 323 BC, when the authority of the Zhou Dynasty collapsed, the Yan State and several other states proclaimed themselves kingdoms. Remarkably, at precisely this moment, Gojoseon also declared its king. The ancient text Weilüe (Brief Account of Wei) records: “When the Zhou Dynasty weakened, Yan arrogantly proclaimed itself a kingdom and sought to invade the east. The Marquis of Joseon [Gojoseon] also proclaimed himself king and raised an army to attack Yan in return, intending to support the Zhou royal house.”
“When the Grand Officer Ye remonstrated, [the king] desisted. He sent Grand Officer Ye to persuade Yan in the west, and Yan ceased its attack. Later, as the descendants of the Marquis of Joseon grew increasingly arrogant and tyrannical, Yan sent General Qin Kai to attack western Joseon, seizing over 2,000 li of territory and establishing the border at Manfanhan. Joseon subsequently weakened.”
– Source: Weilüe, quoted in Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Zhi), Biography of the Eastern Barbarians
◆ Same Era, Different Worlds
🏛️ China – Warring States Period
Shang Yang’s reforms in Qin (356 BC), cavalry innovation in Zhao (307 BC), Jixia Academy in Qi at its peak. An era of transformation as Iron Age civilization and centralized bureaucracy took hold
🗿 Mediterranean – Eve of Hellenism
Alexander the Great’s eastern campaign (334-323 BC) destroyed the Persian Empire. Macedonia unified Greece, forming a new world order and spreading Greek culture across three continents
🏺 India – Maurya Empire
Chandragupta Maurya established India’s first unified empire (321 BC). Rising as a new power after Alexander’s invasion, it would eventually control most of the Indian subcontinent
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[Image: Map of the Warring States Period – showing the positions of Yan State and Gojoseon, 4th century BC East Asian geopolitics, General Qin Kai’s invasion route and the location of Manfanhan]
📜 Scene from That Day
“Autumn, 300 BC. A Gojoseon outpost in the Liaoxi region. General Qin Kai’s 30,000 iron cavalry, fresh from defeating the Donghu nomads, crossed the border. A Gojoseon commander drew his bipahyeong bronze dagger. The dull gleam of bronze caught the setting sun.”
“The Yan cavalry’s swords flashed—sharp, light iron blades. When they clashed with the bronze swords, the bronze shattered. The Gojoseon forces crumbled. 2,000 li. From Liaoxi to Liaodong, Gojoseon continued its retreat. At Manfanhan, somewhere west of the Tianshan Mountains, the war stopped. But Gojoseon’s Bronze Age ended that day.”
◆ Uncovering Historical Truth
The Yan State was the northernmost of the Seven Warring States. Its capital was Ji (near present-day Beijing). Though it had existed since the Western Zhou period, Yan remained relatively insignificant until the late Chunqiu (Spring and Autumn) period. Everything changed when King Zhao of Yan ascended the throne in the late 4th century BC. King Zhao appointed Guo Wei to implement reforms and recruited the brilliant general Yue Yi to strengthen military power. Qin Kai was one of these outstanding commanders during King Zhao’s reign.
According to the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian), Qin Kai had once served as a hostage to the Donghu nomads, earning their trust before returning to launch a surprise attack that conquered over 1,000 li of territory. He then attacked Gojoseon and seized over 2,000 li of land. This war is estimated to have occurred between 300 and 282 BC. The timing seems reasonable, considering that Qin Kai’s grandson, Qin Wuyang, attempted to assassinate the First Emperor of Qin alongside Jing Ke in 227 BC—an event famously recorded in the Shiji.
The critical question is: what did “2,000 li” actually mean? One li at that time was approximately 300-400 meters, making 2,000 li roughly equivalent to 600-800 kilometers. Scholarly opinions differ regarding the location of Manfanhan, the border established after Gojoseon’s territorial loss. Traditional views placed it at Bakcheon in North Pyongan Province (present-day North Korea), but recent archaeological research suggests the Tianshan Mountain range in Liaodong. According to Professor Lee Hoo-seok’s 2017 research, the distribution of material culture around the Tianshan Mountains changed dramatically before and after the war. The boundary between Gojoseon’s slender bronze dagger culture and Yan-affiliated material culture shifted significantly.
Period
323 BC – King proclamation
300-282 BC – Qin Kai invasion
Key Figures
Qin Kai (Yan general)
King Zhao of Yan, Grand Officer Ye (Gojoseon)
Key Events
Loss of 2,000 li territory
Retreat from Liaoxi to Liaodong
Impact
Bronze to Iron Age transition
Shift to Pyongyang-centered system
🔍 Academic Perspectives
Mainstream View
Manfanhan is located in the Tianshan Mountain range in Liaodong. Gojoseon lost its Liaoxi territory and contracted to Liaodong and northern Korean Peninsula. The power center subsequently shifted to Pyongyang
Alternative View
Traditional views place Manfanhan at the Cheongcheon River. Some scholars suggest the 2,000 li figure may be exaggerated and actual territorial loss was smaller
◆ Speaking to Our Present
The defeat of 300 BC was not merely territorial loss. It was the moment Gojoseon was forced to undergo civilizational transformation. The Bronze Age powerhouse knelt before Iron Age technology. Yet Gojoseon did not perish. It relocated its center to Pyongyang, adopted iron technology, and developed new bronze weapons called slender daggers (sehyeong donggeom). Crisis became opportunity.
Today, Korea faces similar challenges. Semiconductor supremacy wars, AI technology competition, new Cold War dynamics—we must survive amid these pressures. Just as Gojoseon adapted to Iron Age civilization 2,300 years ago, we must adapt to new technological civilizations today. History repeats itself. But the wise learn from history. The question is: will we be as adaptive as our ancient ancestors?
| Category | Gojoseon Era (300 BC) | Present (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Technological Hegemony | Bronze vs. Iron Age clash | Semiconductor & AI competition |
| Geopolitical Crisis | Survival amid Warring States hegemony struggles | Diplomacy in US-China new Cold War |
| Survival Strategy | Technology adoption and systemic innovation | Technological self-reliance and diversified diplomacy |
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[Image: Modern interpretation – Comparative photo of bipahyeong bronze dagger and iron sword, or infographic showing Gojoseon’s territorial changes. Visualization of power center shift from Liaoxi → Liaodong → Pyongyang]
📚 Diving Deeper
- In 2000, a stone chamber wooden coffin tomb was excavated at Dongdazhangzi Village, Jianzhang County, Liaoning Province, China, containing bronze daggers and Yan pottery—artifacts presumed related to Qin Kai’s campaign
- Qin Kai’s grandson, Qin Wuyang, participated in Jing Ke’s failed assassination attempt on the First Emperor of Qin in 227 BC and was executed. This event is recorded in detail in Sima Qian’s Shiji, “Biographies of Assassins”
- Following Qin Kai’s conquests, the Yan State built the Great Wall from Zaoyang to Yangping and established five commanderies (Shanggu, Yuyang, Youbeiping, Liaoxi, and Liaodong) to defend the northern frontier
The Voice of Living History
When Gojoseon lost 2,000 li in 300 BC, many predicted the kingdom’s demise. But Gojoseon survived. It shifted its center to Pyongyang, adopted iron technology, and created new cultural forms. Crisis was not an ending but the beginning of transformation.
“History belongs not to the strong, but to the adaptable. Gojoseon proved this, and we must do the same today.”
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Episode 10: Wiman’s Coup – A Turning Point in Gojoseon’s Political History
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This content is based on historical facts and presents various academic perspectives in a balanced manner.
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