ABSTRACT
The term “historiography” naturally implies that some historical narrative is being written on some physical material through a specific linguistic medium. This is such a basic assumption that scholars generally gloss over it or provide little more than a sentence or two. Kobayashi has argued that with the establishment of the four Han commanderies on the Korean peninsula by Emperor Wu around 108 BCE Chinese culture began to seep systematically into the cultures of the various native polities on the peninsula. One of these key components of Chinese culture was written communication, or the ability to read and write. Kwon has argued that Han China originally set up an “outer vassal” system with Old Choson during the reign of Emperor Hui, where responsibilities of defense and security were entrusted by the Han Court to Old Choson. When Old Choson’s belligerence and insolence became too much to stomach, Emperor Wu invaded Old Choson and destroyed it.
