Goguryeo's the surely a poweful, influncial country that took a huge terriotory ranging from todasy's China and Korea. It's also the country that Koreans are proud about the most, and firmly believe to be their ancestor country.
But the thing is China has launched its Northeast Project in 2000s, claiming that Goguryeo was one of Chinese' minority governments and supposed to included in Chinese history. Of course Koreans got furious at this.
These are some main arguments on the issue.
Chinese claims that Goguryeo was found in today's Chinese territory and always stayed at it. And where Goguryeo was at belonged to Han, the Chinese government, territory.
Korean objects that Goguryeo conflicted with Han and eventually expelled Han government from their land.
Chinese claims that Goguryeo paid a tribute to China, proving that the country was subordinate to China.
Korea objects that tribute was a token gesture and there are plenty of evidences Goguryeo had its pride as an independent nation. Korea also argues that other independent nations at that time also paid a tribute to China and it's nonsense to say only Goguryeo was a subordinate.
China claims that Su and Tang had a war with Goguryeo to unite China.
Korea claims that Goguryeo fought off Su and Tang to protect their independence.
The absulute truth is that history's always on the winner's side. The powerful country writes history to show off their glory and greatness. And they reads the history favorable to them, to add to their fame and powefulness. Today China's in a superior state than Korea in a global world, so it tries to make Goguryeo history to make their history look good---it's rather political than to explore the historical truth. I heard China also wish Goguryeo (and Balhae) to be their history, in case North and South Korea's united and claim Gando territory which used to be theirs.
Perhaps Goguryeo's neither China nor Korea. There's been some evidences on this, first Goguryeo lied at Liaodong peninsula, which initially was neither Chinese or Korean territory. Its language wasn't same as Chinese or Korean; it had its uniqueness instead. Historically Goguryeo had not been dominated by China, Korea, or Japan. Its culture didn't look much like China or Korea. (I sort of agree with this, Goguryeo relics queit look different than the countries that existed at the same time...) So Goguryeo's not China nor Korea, it's just "Liaodong Nation"!
Of course I want Goguryeo to be part Korea's history. But I guess I have to be neutral at history to see every posibility and examine every basis, to have my own point of view.
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