Citing such reasons as the founding location of Goryeo, components of its people, and the origin of Wang Geon, the founder of Goryeo, Chinese scholars have maintained that Goryeo is not so much the successor of Goguryeo as a part of Chinese history. H...
Citing such reasons as the founding location of Goryeo, components of its people, and the origin of Wang Geon, the founder of Goryeo, Chinese scholars have maintained that Goryeo is not so much the successor of Goguryeo as a part of Chinese history. However, this is not true in both historical facts and understanding.
As to historical facts, Goryeo's strong claims to the legacy of Goguryeo are well manifested in such facts as the title of Goryeo, a phonetic parallel to Goruryeo, and choosing of Pyeongyang, formerly Goguryeo's capital as its capital. Further, Gaeseong, the original founding place of Goryeo formerly belonged to Goruryeo. In addition to these facts, Wang Geon was an offspring of Goguryeo or Balhae in terms of his pedigree, and the persons who played a predominant role in the course of founding of Goryeo were the people of the former Goguryeo.
As the historical understanding, Goryeo was described as the successor of Goguryeo in the SongSa, a Chinese history book, and by the Song officials who paid a visit to Goryeo. Goryeo peoples such as Seo Hi, Gim Busik, and Yi Gyubo had a clear understanding that Goryeo was a successor of Goguryeo. And this understanding had led Goryeo to build a shrine for both Dongmyeongseongwang, the founder of Goguryeo, and Habaeknyeo, his mother in both Seogyeong and Gaegyeong. And the wholehearted acceptance of the Balhae people to Goryeo society can also be ascribed to the understanding.