This is an attempt to provide an objective view on Taekwon-do history. There are other sources for TKD history on the net, some objective and some not.
Taekwon-do is an budo-art with its origin from Korea, and it's history is closely bound to the history of Korea. One "problem" with the TKD history is that it is based more on legends than facts. This is particular for the old history. One fact the historians seems to agree on is that the Korean hand- and foot-fight methods had its origin in China and was imported to Korea through the trading between the countries. The name of Taekwon-do, and the styluses (there are several TKD styluses, just as there are several Karate styluses) as we know them did develop after World War II ; and TKD is still, more or less (dependent of which stylus we consider), under development.
Historically is the start of the Korean budo-art placed in the period of the three kingdoms Silla, Koguryo and Baek Je for about 1400 years ago. Silla, the smallest kingdom, was often attached by Baek Je (from vest) and Koguryo (from north). Because of this it was important for the Silla-dynasty to build a strong military force with strong leaders to protect the independent and freedom of Silla. The 24. king, Chin Heung, took the initiative to form a group of elite warriors. The group was named Hwa-Rang-do (Hwa = flower, Rang = young) and was formed in the year 540 a.c. The Wha-Rang's war trained in strong mental and physical discipline, and followed the five codes of human conduct given by the Korean Buddhist-munch and teacher Won Kang:
There are other translations (other use of words) of these codes, but the essence is the same.
The Hwa-Rang's was educated in the art of fighting, mainly Tae-kyon and Soo-bak. These two Martial Arts is often regarded as the ancestors to Taekwon-do. The fighting arts was dominated by high kicks and foot techniques. Historians is of the opinion that the topography of the country favoured the high kicks. Many of the soldiers was foot soldiers was jumping kicks used against soldiers at horse.
The Silla dynasty was dissolved in 935 and the Koryo-dynasty founded (835 - 1392 AD). The king of the Koryo-dynasty did arrange yearly tournaments in the fighting-styles. The tournaments was held at the Kak Chon temple at Ma Am mountain. The competition was open for all soldiers and the winner got a solid price. Winning the tournament demanded effective training over a long time, and the prestige of the tournament war significant. The competitors had to master 25 pose/positions, hand and foot techniques, falling-techniques and jumping techniques. It's mostly correct to mean that the Korean budo-arts found its shape and was perfected during the Silla- and Koryo dynasties.
During the Koryo dynasty, Soo bak once again become popular as an sporting activity as an martial art.In this period the Mongols had strong influence on Koryo and in the 13'th century it become a part of the Mongolian Empire. The 14'th century saw the expansion of Ming-dynasty (China) and the weakening/contraction of the Mongol empire. In 1392 Yi Songye came to power in Koryo and started the Yi dynasty.
During the Yi-dynasty (1392 - 1907 AD) the 3. king of the dynasty supported the development of the art by employing a expert to train the army. In the beginning of Yi dynasty Buddhism was replaced by Confucianism as the State Religion. Confucianism advocated classical Chinese thinking which played down the physical side of life and replaced it with classical arts like reading, writing, poetry and music. This, combined with a long period of peace, lead to the development of a strong anti-military attitude among the people. As a result of this the budo training in the army was dissolved. At the end of the Yi dynasty there was little left of the budo training, it was almost non existing. The Korean budo art was only trained in secrecy, mostly in Buddhist temples. During the Yi dynasty, Korea was under control by foreigners, particularly China. At the end of the 19'th century Korea set up relations with many Western nations in an effort to offset Japanese influence.
In 1905 Korea become under control by Japan, and from 1910 occupied by Japan. In the beginning many Korean started to train Japanese budo, but after a while all budo-training was forbidden. The budo-art survived through people who trained it illegally, especially the Tae Kyon system. In this period the Korean people also got impulses form Japan's budo-art's, especially Karate. The period of Japanese occupation was a hard time for Korea, but this not a topic in this article. In 1945 Korea was liberated, and budo training once more become popular. In a short period of time, several different budo schools was formed. The following 8 schools (Kwans) was the most important:
The 11. April 1955 the South Korean government took the initiative to a meeting between the leaders of these 8 kwans, historians and other prominent people. The goal with the meeting was to join the Korean budo-art under one banner. There is some dispute in my sources of when the name Taekwon-do was proposed: One version is that the first name used for thin "unified" art was Tae Soo Do but was changed to Taekwon-do in 1957. The second version is that Taekwon-do was proposed and accepted on the 11.April meeting. There is no doubt that it was Gen. Choi Hong Hi, the leader of Oh Do Kwan, who proposed the name Taekwon-Do and explained the meaning of the name:
- Tae = foot, kick, break with the foot.
- Kwon = hand, punch, break with the hand.
- Do = art, method, way of living.
The name was accepted by the others, mainly because the similarity with m.o. Tae Kyon. The proposal was later sent to the government who formally recognised Taekwon-Do as the official name for all Korean budo-art. In 1959 the Korean Taekwon-do Association (KTA) was formed with support from the government. The first president of KTA was Gen. Choi Hong Hi. In the following years all Korean budo-arts was forced under the leading of KTA. In 1966 the International Taekwon-do Federation (ITF) formed with Gen. Choi Hong Hi as president. In 1972 the ITF moves it's headquarters from South-Korea to Canada. In 1973 the World Taekwon-do Federation (WTF) formed with Dr. Un Yong Kim as president. The newest international TKD organisation is the Global Taekwon-do Federation (GTF). It was founded in 1990 with Park Jung Tae as president.
There may be potholes in this history, things that is missing. I have tried my best to cross-check the information that is used so that there should be no errors in it. If You have any comments to this history, if You have discovered any potholes or worse things that is utterly wrong, I would appreciate if You did contact me at once. Please mail to oes@pvv.unit.no
Editor: Øyvind Sæter - oes@pvv.unit.no
This document is the
April 1996
Version.
No older versions of this document exists.
[GTN]