뉴스레터

Some offspring of social leaders tend to renounce their nationality these days, triggering a controversy. It is not a matter of their selection of a certain nation for their new citizenship. What matters is the fact that they try to avoid duties as citizen while enjoying privileges more than others. Against that backdrop, it is natural for ordinary people to be upset over their behaviors.

In ancient times, there were also people who changed their nationality. It is rather exact to say that they left their countries than they changed nationality. Before modern times, any changing of nationality meant leaving the nation.
They had many reasons for leaving the nation. Some left in pursuit of greater dream while others were forced to leave for political or economic reasons. In case of Goguryeo which collapsed being defeated in a war, many became captives in the middle of war while others were conscripted irrespective of their wills.

But some people left Goguryeo even before the collapse. Among them were Nam Saeng and Heonsung Cheon, who were known for their noble origins. Namseng Cheon's father was none other than the famous 'Yongaesomun' while Heonsung Cheon is the son of Namsaeng Cheon and grandson of 'Yongaesomun'. They became to adopt the new family name as they avoided the family name of Yon at that time when then Teng emperor Kojo's name was Lee Yon. According to New Teng History, they were inscribed in the tomb stone as 'Namsaeng Cheon' and 'Heonsung Cheon.' They could not use the original family name of Yon even after death as they were destined to be put under the influence of Teng.

The founding father of Yon family is said to have been born from water, which is the reason why they adopt the Chinese character of Yon meaning lake. In ancient ages, noble classes as well as royal families tend to have myths on their families' origins as part of efforts to boast the holiness of their family members. They alleged they were descendents of water and adopted the family name of Yon as they were families of Yongaesomun, who was at the top power hierarchy in later Goguryeo period.

According to the founding myths of Goguryeo, founder Jumong was the son between Haemosu, solar god, and Ms. Yuhwa, aquatic god. The fact that they described them as offspring of water means they had a great authority.

Scholars believe Yongaesomun might come from a newly emerged noble class in late Goguryeo era. The tomb stone of Namsaeng says he enjoyed prosperity thanks to his ancestors while that of Heonsung Cheon says his great grandfather grabbed military rights as Makriji and as the chief of 5 divisions, he put whole Samhan under his influence. According to Samguksagi (History of Three Nations), Yongaesomun's father was a great man from East (West). This tells that Yon family entered into the core of power from the time of Yongaesomun's father or grandfather. As the family's myths were known around Tomen River, it is assumed that native people around the area succeeded in entering the central government in 6th to 7th century. At that time, Yongaesomun had so huge power that he could build any myths, regardless of truths.

At any rate, the family of Yongaesomun's son had no choice but to adopt Chon, meaning spring in Chinese character, instead of Yon, a fact which indicates the family's honor dwindled from 'lake' to 'spring.' This is because Namsaeng and his son made a decisive role in leading Goguryeo to crumble though the nation had remained safe from the aggression of China's unified kingdom of Su and from invasion by Teng's Taejong.

Heonsung Cheon, Yongaesomun's grandson, was born in 650 when Yongaesomun was at the highest power. As the eldest grandson of the most powerful man, he got the title of 'Sonin' when he was only 9. In 666 when his father Namsaeng became Makriji, he accompanied his father in a provincial tour, a fact which shows he already acted as a government official at that time.

In 666, when Heonsung was 16, a major event took place which changed his and Goguryeo's destiny. When Namsaeng, who took over the position of his dead father Yongaesomun, left the capital city to make a provincial tour, Yongaesomun's other sons - Namgeon and Namsan - initiated a coup against their elder brother. Namsaeng and his followers could not return to the capital as they were defeated in the power struggle. After a long discussion, Heonsung suggested to move to the second capital of Gooknaesung area (currently Jirin City of Jirin Province).

The noblemen in Gooknaesung harbored complaints over their counterparts in the central area as their influence weakened with the shift of the capital city to Pyongyang. Heonseong came with the proposal in a bid to retain the power riding on the opposition forces in Gooknaesung. But such plan failed to make a smooth progress. (to be continued..)