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Mungokseong (Megrez) Falls Down in Goryeo

Gang Gam-chan, who was called Gang Eun-cheon during his childhood, was born in 948 (the 3rd year of Jeongjong) to father, Gang Gung-jin. Gang Gung-jin was called “Samhanbyeoksanggongsin” to recognize all of the help he gave to the King Taejo of Goryeo (Taejo Wang Geon). He lived in Geumju, as his ancestor Gang Yeo-cheon had settled there after emigrating from Silla (Geumji is the present Bongcheon-dong, Gwanak-gu, and some areas in Geumchon-gu including Siheung-gun near Mount Gwanak).

"Bohanjib," compiled by Choi Ja, a civil servant in the late Goryeo Dynasty, recounts the legend of Gang Gam-chan. According to "Bohanjib," while entering Siheung-gun, an envoy saw a big star fall down on a home and so they sent a man to go find it. He was surprised to find out that a woman in that house had happened to give birth to a baby boy at that same moment. The envoy was curious so they took in the baby to raise him, naming him Gang Gam-chan. Additionally, there is a record that states that an envoy from Song also came to pay homage to Gang Gam-chan. During their visit to Goryeo, they bowed unwittingly saying, "I have not seen Mungokseong (Megrez) in a long time. I am grateful to see it here." Mungokseong is the fourth star of the Big Dipper and is known to be in charge of learning. The legend that says that Gang Gam-chan passed the civil service exam for the first time in 983, the second year of Seongjong (960-997) and demonstrated an aptitude for studying. The place where the star [that had “announced” the birth of Gang Gam-chan] fell down is Nakseongdae, located in the present Bongcheon-dong. Nakseongdae is now known as the birthplace of Gang Gam-chan. However, "Yeojidoseo" says that Nakseongdae is the location where Gang Gam-chan's umbilical cord was buried.

An Official Adored by the People

Gang Gam-chan's civil service career began with his first passing of the "Gap" exam during the second year of King Seongjong. He was promoted several times to become a foreign vice minister and then was appointed royal secretary in 1011 (the 2nd year of Hyeonjong). As he had donated his land in Gaeryeonghyeon (Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province) to the military when he was the minister of home affairs, it was clear that Gang Gam-chan was not a greedy person.

On the other hand, "Goryeo (The History of Goryeo)" evaluates him in a slightly different light. The record claims that Gang Gam-chan was a smaller, not very good-looking man who enjoyed studying since an early age and was very resourceful. Furthermore, he was upright, thrifty and exhibited that he was uninterested in wealth by wearing shabby clothes. However, he is said to have been a pillar in the foundation of the country, as he always demonstrated his dignity when forming a national policy. It is easy to see that Gang Gam-chan was adored and highly respected by the people. The citizens accredited the country's state of peace and stability to Gang Gam-chan.

The Evacuation of Hyeonjong

The greatest national emergency that Gang Gam-chan oversaw as a politician was the invasion of the Khitans. The Khitans’ first attack on Goryeo was in the year 993 (the 12th year of Seongjong) during which Seo Hui (942-998) played a major role in warding off the Khitan forces. However, in the winter of 1010 (the 1st year of King Hyeonjong), the Khitan's King Shengzong personally led an army to invade Goryeo yet again. Khitan alleged that Goryeo had not cut off relations with Song and the Jurchen people, using this as their excuse for invasion. The invasion was intended to prevent further interactions with these countries that posed a military threat to their country. However, Khitan publicly justified its invasion using the excuse of Gang Jo’s assassination of Mokjong (980-1009), for fear that their true intentions as a great nation would be revealed.

It was difficult to block the Khitans’ momentum. Seogyeong was at a loss amid a string of Goryeo defeats. Countless servants came to King Hyeongjong and begged him to surrender. However, Gang Gam-chan suggested that the king merely avoid the enemy's forces for a while, stating that Gang Jo was to blame and there was nothing to worry about. King Hyeonjong left Gaeseong and fled to Naju. However, due to the seasonal conditions of winter and Goryeo's counter attack, the Khitan troops had to retreat in January of 1011 (the 2nd year of Hyeonjong). For the nomad tribes at that time, the outcome of the war would be determined directly by which king would surrender. However, unable to locate King Hyeonjong, the Khitans could not capture the king that they needed to surrender. It appears that Gang Gam-chan's advice to pull back their attack had an indirect effect on the Khitans’ withdrawal.

Repelling Khitans’ Attack at the Age of 70

The Khitans' invasions resumed in 1018 (the 9th year of Hyeonjong). The Khitans demanded King Hyeonjong's presence at their royal court, as well as the return of the fortresses east of the Yalu River known as the "six counties of Gangdong." However, naturally, Goryeo did not accept this request. Thus, the Khitans invaded Goryeo with an army of 100,000 soldiers led by Xiao Baiya. Goryeo appointed Gang Gam-chan as commander and Gang Min-cheon as deputy commander.

Gang Gam-chan waited for the Khitan troops at Heunghwajin in Euiju, North Pyeongan Province. After surveying the surrounding terrain, Gang Gam-chan hid cavalry in a valley of the mountains where they waited to ambush. While they waited, they blocked a big stream by stitching cowhide together with large ropes. When the Khitan forces arrived, the Goryeo army destroyed the dam, drowning a large number of Khitan soldiers. Gang Gam-chan then sent ambush troops to attack the remaining Khitan soldiers. Lastly, in February of 1019 (the 10th year of Hyeonjong), Goryeo sent their forces to Gwiju as their final attack on the retreating Khitan forces. Gang Gam-chan was 70 at the time.

The Goryeo troops fought the Khitans from the eastern suburbs of Gwiju, chasing them across Seokcheon and into Banryeong. In regard to the battle, "Goryeo (The History of Goryeo)" recounts, [Dead bodies littered the field, prisoners were taken alive, and innumerable horses, camels, armor and weapons were left behind.] King Shengzong of the Khitans was so irritated by his troops' defeat that he threatened to kill Xiao Baiya after skinning his face. The Goryeo-Khitan wars ended with an extremely unbalanced victory in Goryeo's favor. In fact, "The Sequel to Zizhi Tongjian," a history book on the period of Song, concluded that, [As Goryeo killed 200,000 Khitan soldiers and did not allow even a single horse and a single cart to return, the Khitan did not dare to attack Goryeo again.]

When Gang Gam-chan returned in triumph after winning the Battle of Gwiju, King Hyeonjong went all the way to the Yeongpa Posthouse to greet him. The king said to Gang Gam-chan, “Goryeo might have suffered ‘jwaim’ without you,” and personally placed eight kinds of golden flowers in Gang Gam-chan's hair. "Jwaim" refers to the style worn by ethnic groups from China's frontiers where the collar is adjusted more towards the left side. The king was expressing his gratitude by telling Gang Gam-chan that if it weren't for him, Goryeo would have lost to the Khitans.

Due to his old age, Gang Gam-chan begged King Hyeonjong to let him retire from office. However, the king would not accept his request and gave him a chair and a staff instead. The king gave Gang Gam-chan the privilege to appear at the royal court once every three days and to attend the morning meetings. Having retired from his government position, Gang Gam-chan returned to a villa in Seongnam where he spent his later years writing books such as "Nakdogyogeojib" and "Guseonjib" before dying at age 84 in 1031 (the 1st year of Deokjong). Goryeo's royal court showed their appreciation for his accomplishments by suspending the morning meetings for three days and granting him the respected title of "Inheon."