Volume 1: Dong Ho…East Tiger..The Land of Ancient Korea....

NEW Nine E Won

Volume 1: Dong Ho…East Tiger

Preface

“Who controls the present controls the past, and who controls the past controls the future.”

This is a quote from George Orwell’s 1984.

Though it is regrettable that we lost Nine E Won (The Land of Ancient Korea, 九夷原)

—a vast land spanning from the Kamchatka Peninsula to the Kunlun Mountains,

which was the stage for our ancestors during the ancient Gojoseon and Goguryeo eras—

we must guard against forgetting our homeland and heritage.

With the hope of restoring the spirit and vision of our ancestors,

I have embarked on writing Nine E Won.

The era is set during the late period of Dangun Joseon (the First Nation of Ancient Korea)

and the time when Haemosu founded Buyeo.

The depiction of Gu E Won is inspired by the heroic tales of warriors and chivalrous deeds

from the vassal states of Gojoseon, including the Five Houses (Oga: White Tiger Kingdom,

Azure Dragon Kingdom, Vermilion Bird Kingdom, Black Tortoise Kingdom, and Bear Kingdom),

along with DongHo(East Tiger), Huns, BeonJoseon, MaKhan (Makjoseon), DongYe,

DongOkJeo, BukOkJeo, EupRu, Guri Kingdom, and NakRangnang Kingdom.

Confucian Scholars of the Joseon Dynasty, following the principles of the

Spring and Autumn Annals (春秋筆法),

adopted the biased historical narratives of China without criticism.

One key principle was "praising China and disparaging the barbarians."

This uncritical acceptance led to the denigration of our own ancestors and history.

Chinese historical records referred to the nations that rose and fell on Korean soil

with derogatory names: Yemaek (獩貊), meaning "pig"; Xiongnu (匈奴), implying

"enslaved from the chest"; Dongho (東胡), "eastern barbarians"; MulGil (勿吉),

meaning "unpleasant guys"; and Xianbei (鮮卑), meaning "clearly lowly guys."

Furthermore, the vassal states of Buyeo were recorded under demeaning names

as the "Five Jia" (五加): Uga, Maga, Guga, and Jeoga.

These were misrepresented as names akin to "ox, horse, dog, and pig,"

not due to backwardness in the civilizations of Gojoseon and Buyeo,

but as a deliberate attempt by Chinese historians to belittle them.

Therefore, in this book, I have corrected these names to represent their true heritage:

Baekho-ga (White Tiger Nation), Cheongryong-ga (Azure Dragon Naion),

Jujak-ga (Vermilion Bird Nation), Hyeonmu-ga (Black Tortoise Nation), and

Woong-ga (Bear Nation).

The grandeur of ancient Korean civilization is evident in the artifacts of the HongSan culture

and the magnificent Four Guardian murals found in Goguryeo tombs.

The artifacts of the 'HongSan Culture' and the majestic depiction of

the Four Guardian Deities (Sasin-do) in the murals of Goguryeo tombs

reveal that Baedal Nation and Joseon were highly advanced civilizations during ancient times.

To save the suffering people of the Central Plains from the tyranny of Emperor Qin Shi Huang

and to avenge the heroic assassin HyeongGa, a legendary figure named YeoHong,

the Sacred Sword of Changhae, shattered the emperor's carriage—protected by iron-clad guards—

with a 120-kilogram iron mace.

This act shook the confidence of Qin Shi Huang,

who had grown arrogant after unifying the Central Plains.

Witnessing this, the people of the Central Plains,

who had once revered the emperor as a divine being,

no longer feared Qin Shi Huang and rose in rebellion like wildfire.

This event became a catalyst for widespread resistance against the oppressive rule.

Under the Blue Sky of Guiwon, Nine I Won (九夷原), 

Waiting for the Day the Vermilion Bird Soars

The Vermilion Bird Ode

Far beyond the slopes of Mount Baekdu,
The dry, desolate plains of Mongolia
Are swept by the fierce western wind—
A land once ruled by the sacred nation,
A guardian of the ancient heavens.

Flying across the skies of antiquity,
It now slumbers within ancient murals.

Hidden deep in a dark and silent stone tomb.
Breaking through the layers of endless time,
It awakens in the present,
Reminding the descendants of the sacred nation,
Scattered across the world,
Of their immortal and glorious heritage.

The dream of Hongik Ingan (弘益人間)—
To benefit all humanity—
Spreads across every plain and mountain,
Over the four seas and into the infinite cosmos.

It revives the soul that once communed
With the Big Dipper and the cosmic order.

Like the immortal phoenix,
Burning majestically in the fire of Juniper,
Then reborn, spreading its wings to eternity—
So too must you, my people,
Burn away all doubt and weakness,
Overcome petty hardships, division, and envy,
And rise like the eternal phoenix.

This is the message I leave you,
To remember and carry forward forever.