[History Lives On – Goguryeo Series] Episode 6: King Micheon and Lelang – 313 CE, End of the Four Commanderies
When Korea gained independence from Japan in 1945, it celebrated the end of 35 years of colonial rule. But there was an even longer period of foreign domination in Korean history – exactly 421 years, from 108 BCE to 313 CE, under Chinese commanderies known as the Han Four Commanderies.
In October 313 CE, King Micheon of Goguryeo finally expelled the Lelang Commandery, ending over four centuries of Chinese control over northern Korea. This wasn’t merely territorial expansion – it was the completion of true independence and the foundation for Goguryeo’s golden age under Kings Gwanggaeto and Jangsu.
How did a man who once worked as a salt merchant become the king who solved a 400-year-old problem? Let’s explore this decisive moment when the collapse of China’s Western Jin Dynasty created an opportunity Goguryeo couldn’t miss.
🌍 Western Historical Parallel
While Goguryeo expelled Lelang in 313 CE, the Roman Empire was fragmenting under Constantine’s rule (306-337 CE). Like how Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople (330 CE) amid barbarian pressure, King Micheon seized China’s “Eight Princes Rebellion” (291-306) as an opportunity to reclaim ancient territories. Both empires faced similar challenges of managing vast territories during periods of internal chaos.
◆ A Crumbling Empire Creates Opportunity
When King Micheon ascended to the throne in 300 CE, China was descending into chaos. The Western Jin Dynasty (265-316), which had unified the Three Kingdoms period just 25 years earlier, was collapsing. The “War of the Eight Princes” (291-306) – a brutal 16-year civil war among eight royal princes fighting for power – had devastated the empire. Hundreds of thousands died, and Luoyang, the capital, fell multiple times.
Worse was to come. In 304 CE, Liu Yuan of the Xiongnu (Huns) established the state of Han, and in 311 CE, Luoyang fell completely to barbarian forces in what’s known as the “Disaster of Yongjia.” For the first time, a Han Chinese dynasty lost its heartland completely. This began the era of “Sixteen Kingdoms of Five Barbarians” (304-439) – 280 years of division comparable to Europe’s post-Roman dark ages. China, quite simply, had ceased to function as a unified state.
“The King led 30,000 soldiers to attack Xuantu Commandery, capturing 8,000 people and moving them to Pyongyang.”
– Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), King Micheon 3rd Year (302 CE)
◆ Same Era, Different Worlds
🏛️ Western Jin
Eight Princes War (291-306), Disaster of Yongjia (311), beginning of 280-year division
🗿 Roman Empire
Diocletian’s Tetrarchy (293-305), Constantine’s rise (306), Edict of Milan (313)
🕌 Sassanid Persia
Shapur II ascension (309), preparing for 40-year war with Rome
🌏 Indian Subcontinent
Gupta Empire emerging (320), golden age of Indian culture beginning
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⚔️ October 313 CE: The Final Stand
“Zhang Tong, you may take whatever people you can evacuate. But this land – this land returns to us.”
Zhang Tong, the de facto ruler of Lelang Commandery, had no choice. Since Seoanpyeong fell to Goguryeo in 311, the land route to the Jin heartland was severed. King Micheon’s forces relentlessly pressured Lelang. Maritime supply lines alone couldn’t sustain them. Finally, Zhang Tong fled to Liaodong with about 1,000 households, surrendering to the Xianbei chief Murong Wei. After 421 years, Chinese commandery rule ended on the Korean peninsula.
◆ Strategic Mastery: A Three-Phase Campaign
King Micheon’s expulsion of Lelang wasn’t accidental – it was the product of meticulous strategy executed over 13 years in three phases. Phase 1 (302 CE): Attack Xuantu Commandery, capturing 8,000 prisoners. This demonstrated Goguryeo’s military might and put pressure on all commanderies. Phase 2 (311 CE): Capture Seoanpyeong. This was the masterstroke – like Hannibal cutting Rome’s supply lines or Napoleon isolating enemy fortresses. By controlling this strategic chokepoint at the Yalu River mouth, Micheon isolated Lelang from reinforcement. Phase 3 (313-314 CE): Sequential expulsion of Lelang and Daifang. With their supply routes cut, the commanderies couldn’t hold out.
The Korean chronicle Samguk Sagi records tersely: “In the 14th year, winter, 10th month, [the king] invaded Lelang Commandery and captured more than 2,000 men and women.” But the Chinese history Zizhi Tongjian is more detailed: “Zhang Tong of Liaodong occupied both Lelang and Daifang commanderies and attacked King Eulbulli of Goguryeo for several years without resolution.” Eventually Zhang Tong led his people to submit to Murong Wei, who nominally established “Lelang Commandery” in Liaodong with Zhang as governor. But this was a commandery in name only – a ghost administration with no actual territory.
This victory’s significance transcended mere territorial expansion. First: Complete recovery of ancient Gojoseon homeland, 421 years after Han Wudi’s invasion in 108 BCE – comparable to if Britain had held Scotland for four centuries before independence. Second: Control of the fertile Pyongyang plains, dramatically boosting Goguryeo’s agricultural capacity and economic power. Third: Direct access to advanced Chinese culture and technology, similar to how Renaissance Europe absorbed Byzantine knowledge after 1453. Fourth: Establishment of a launching pad for Liaodong expansion – with the rear secured, northward expansion became feasible.
Period
300-331 CE
Key Figure
King Micheon (Eulbul)
Achievement
Four Commanderies expelled
Historical Impact
421 years rule ended
📖 Scholarly Debate: Location of Lelang
Mainstream View
Lelang was located in the Pyongyang area (Daedong River basin). Supported by extensive archaeological evidence including Toseongri ruins and Lelang tomb complexes. King Micheon expelled the commanderies from this region in 313.
Alternative Theory
Some suggest Lelang was in Liaodong (modern Liaoning). However, lacks archaeological support. A 2014 Beijing tomb inscription mentioning “Lelang Commandery” dates to 539 CE – likely migrants after 313 expulsion.
📖 Key Terms Explained
- Han Four Commanderies (漢四郡)
- Administrative units established by Han Dynasty Emperor Wu in 108 BCE after conquering Gojoseon. Comparable to Roman provinces like Britannia or Gaul.
- Lelang Commandery (樂浪郡)
- Most important and longest-lasting of the four commanderies, centered around modern Pyongyang. Lasted 421 years until 313 CE.
- Eight Princes Rebellion (八王之亂)
- Civil war in Western Jin (291-306 CE) among eight royal princes. Comparable to Rome’s Crisis of the Third Century or Wars of the Roses.
◆ Lessons for Today’s World
What can modern nations learn from King Micheon’s expulsion of Lelang in 313? First: Seizing opportunities during great power transitions. Like how the United States emerged during British decline, or how Asian economies grew during the post-Cold War order, Micheon turned China’s “Eight Princes Rebellion” and subsequent chaos into Goguryeo’s moment. Today’s multipolar world offers similar windows for mid-sized powers.
Second: Strategic thinking over brute force. Micheon didn’t directly assault Lelang – he captured Seoanpyeong first, cutting supply lines. Like Scipio defeating Hannibal by invading Carthage’s homeland, or modern sanctions targeting financial systems rather than direct military action, indirect approaches can be more effective. In today’s business world, disrupting supply chains often trumps direct competition.
Third: The value of true independence. Ending 421 years of foreign presence wasn’t just about territory – it was about genuine sovereignty. Today’s debates over technological independence (semiconductors, AI), economic self-reliance, and cultural identity echo this ancient struggle. Nations increasingly recognize that depending on single supply chains or technologies creates vulnerability comparable to Lelang’s dependence on a single supply route.
| Aspect | Micheon Era | Modern Parallel |
|---|---|---|
| Geopolitics | Western Jin collapse, power vacuum | US-China competition, multipolar transition |
| Strategy | Seoanpyeong capture → supply cut | Control chokepoints (chips, rare earths) |
| Independence | 421 years of foreign rule ended | Tech sovereignty, supply chain resilience |
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📚 Diving Deeper
- Pyongyang’s Toseongri ruins and Lelang tomb complexes – archaeological evidence of 400+ years Chinese presence
- King Micheon’s legend: From salt merchant to monarch – a rags-to-royalty story rivaling any European fairy tale
- 342 CE tragedy: Former Yan Dynasty troops desecrated Micheon’s tomb – Korea’s worst case of posthumous humiliation
The Voice of Living History
October 313 CE: When King Micheon expelled Lelang Commandery, it wasn’t merely a military victory. It marked the end of 421 years of foreign rule and the beginning of true independence. This foundation enabled the golden age under Kings Gwanggaeto and Jangsu that would follow.
“Don’t wait for opportunity – create it from chaos. As Micheon did.”
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Episode 5: King Gogukcheon’s Reform – Royal Power and State System
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Episode 7: King Gwanggaeto the Great – Birth of a Conqueror
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