The Origin of Ruling Ideology over Ethnic Groups in the Worldview of the “Stele of King Kwanggaet’o”

This paper examines the perception on ethnic groups and its function as a governing ideology within Koguryŏ’s worldview (天下觀), as reflected in the “Stele of King Kwanggaet’o” during the early fifth century. As is well known, Koguryŏ’s worldview expressed a sense of superiority over other political and ethnic groups. This perspective was applied not only to neighboring states such as Paekche and Silla, but also to the ethnic groups incorporated into Koguryŏ, including the so-called “Newly Arrived Han and Ye (新來韓穢),” who were drafted as Sumyoin (隨墓人; tomb guardians). However, since Koguryŏ largely adopted self-ethnocentric ideology similar to the Chinese Sinocentric worldview, it would have been necessary to construct an internal logic that could justify such a perception as a ruling ideology. In this context, Koguryŏ’s perspective on the other ethnic groups was strongly influenced by the pluralized “Sinocentrism (中華)” during the period of the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Five Barbarians. With the collapse of Han Chinese regimes and the rise of the “Five Barbarians” in mainland China, each dynasty formulated its own version of Sinocentrism. During this process, the qualification to be a legitimate ruler of this Chinese world was claimed to be determined less by ethnic background, and more by the possession of virtue (德). At the same time, the subordination of other peoples was justified as a process of “reformation by the ruler (王化),” whose superior virtue legitimized their authority. This logic was appropriated by Koguryŏ’s ruling class, providing the basis for its ethnocentric world. It also served as the ideological foundation for Koguryŏ’s domination over other ethnic groups within its sphere, including the extraction of tribute and conscription of tomb guardians.