The Koguryo Annals of the Samguk Sagi (second edition)

Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) is a history book of 50 volumes of which Bongi, or Main Texts, is regarded as particularly important because it contains records of main historical events arranged in a chronological order including the myths around the foundation, rise and fall of the three early Korean kingdoms, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, and the succession of their rulers. The book was compiled by a Goryeo scholar-statesman Kim Bu-sik in 1154, and is regarded as one of the most important source material for the study of the ancient Korean history. As Korea’s earliest remaining history book compiled under the patronage of the state, the book had set a good example for the history books that followed it. The Main Texts consist of the history of Silla from 57 BCE to 936, which is the longest and most complex part of the book, Goguryeo from 37 BCE to 668, and Baekje 18 BCE to 660, which is the shortest of the three texts. Translation of the Samguk Sagi into English, or in fact any foreign language, has long been regarded as a daunting work because translator(s) would require systematic knowledge of Korean history and culture in addition to expert command of English, Korean and Chinese. That is why we are so pleased to see the publication of The Koguryŏ Annals of the Samguk Sagi following the translation by Professor Edward J. Shult in The University of Hawaii who is widely admired as a specialist in the ancient Korean history. The book will be followed by The Silla Annals of the Samguk Sagi which is planned to be published later this year. As for the publication of The Koguryŏ Annals before those of Silla and Baekje, Professor Shult wrote that he wanted readers to “better understand the special position the Korean kingdom has in the world history and the influence its traditions and values has upon the identity of modern Korea.” He also expects the book to give readers “a closer, clearer look at the history of Goguryeo that played a key role in the historical development of Korea.”