Fragments of 6th-Century Goguryeo Politics Reflected in the Tale of Chunam

According to the 『Samguk Yusa』, in the biography of Kim Yusin, a man from Goguryeo named Chunam was wrongfully killed by the queen and her associates for violating the principles of yin and yang. After his death, he was reincarnated as the Silla general Kim Yusin to seek revenge. While the story seems unrealistic, the tale of Chunam may be dismissed as mere fantasy. However, records from the Joseon Dynasty, such as 『Geumosinhwa』, 『Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam』, and 『Gwanseo Eupji』, note a famous site in Pyongyang called Chunamhuh, meaning the former site of Chunam’s residence, along with its location. The existence of Chunamhuh as a well-known landmark in the Pyongyang region suggests that Chunam had long been remembered and passed down through generations, implying that people recognized Chunam as a historical figure who once lived in Pyongyang. In the tale of Chunam, just as the queen’s violation of yin and yang caused disorder at the borders of Goguryeo, there was an incident in the mid-6th century during King Yangwon's succession, where the Chugunn faction, which supported the queen and emerged victorious, caused the significant loss of life among the opposing the Segun faction. Interestingly, both the tale of Chunam and King Yangwon’s succession process share the common theme of the queen and her faction disrupting Goguryeo’s political stability. Moreover, the timing of Chunam’s death could not have extended beyond the late 6th century, which aligns closely with King Yangwon’s ascension. In many respects, the political context reflected in the tale of Chunam corresponds with mid-6th century Goguryeo politics, particularly the dominance of the queen's faction. Thus, the tale of Chunam has been utilized as a case study to explore the abuses of power by the queen’s faction in the 6th century, a topic previously raised in research on Goguryeo history.