An Examination of the Location of the Six Eastern Provinces Through the Battle Routes of Goryeo and Khitan

Yalu River on the Korean Peninsula, is evaluated based on the river's location. Historical and geographical evidence supports opposing theories in this regard. However, it is difficult to conclusively determine whether the Six Eastern Provinces are located south of the Yalu River or near the Liao River based solely on historical geographical records of place names. Therefore, it is essential to also consider the military strategic perspective, as there are historical records detailing the geographical locations and battle routes of the Khitan invasions of Goryeo in the Six Eastern Provinces. Understanding the location of the Six Eastern Provinces can be clarified by analyzing the war routes between Goryeo and Khitan from a military strategic viewpoint. The topographical characteristics of the Six Eastern Provinces and the manner in which battles unfolded allow for the accurate identification of their location. However, the battle routes of Khitan's first and second invasions show paths that are hard to understand from the current theories about the Six Eastern Provinces, in terms of war efficiency and speed. This discrepancy arises from interpreting the battle routes mentioned in historical records with place names from the Korean Peninsula that emerged during the period of resistance against Japan, leading to contradictions. Misinterpretation of historical texts as referring to the Yalu River in the Korean Peninsula rather than its actual location leads to erroneous understandings of battle routes. Thus, a military strategic perspective on these routes enables a more integrated understanding of the actual location of the Six Eastern Provinces. Battle routes typically show a clear and consistent direction of advance towards an objective, and it is unusual for forces to change their direction from south to north abruptly without specific reasons, typically only occurring during retreats after defeats. Analyzing the war routes between Goryeo and Khitan from a military strategic angle can thus clarify our understanding of the geographical position of the Six Eastern Provinces.