|
Pyongyang - History |
Kim Il Sung statue
Pyongyang is capital of north Korea and is built on the Taedong River about 30 miles (48 km) inland from the Korea Bay of the Yellow Sea. It is reputed to be the oldest city in Korea. The ancient capital of the legendary Tangun dynasty (2333 BC) was located on the site where, according to legend, the modern city of P'yongyang was founded in 1122 BC. The city's recorded history began in 108 BC with the founding of a Chinese trading colony near P'yongyang, and the city was subsequently fortified. In 427 P'yongyang became the capital of the Koguryo kingdom, but in 668 it was captured by Chinese invaders. Later, the kings of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) made P'yongyang their secondary capital. The city fell to the Japanese in 1592 and was devastated by the Manchus in the early 17th century.
The successive invasions left their mark on the Koreans, who became suspicious of all foreigners. When Korea finally opened its doors
to foreigners, P'yongyang became the base of an intensive campaign to bring Christianity to Korea. More than 100 churches were built in the city, which
in the 1880s was reputed to have more Protestant missionaries than any other city in Asia.
During the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95), much of P'yongyang was destroyed. Plague followed war, and in 1895 P'yongyang was left a virtually deserted and ruined city. During the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-45), P'yongyang was built up as an industrial centre. During the Korean War (1950-53) numerous air raids devastated P'yongyang. It was captured by United Nations forces in 1950 but subsequently was lost when Chinese communist forces entered the war. After 1953 the city was rebuilt with Soviet and Chinese assistance.
COPYRIGHT 2000 - ASIATRAVELLING.NET