高句麗의 西部 國境線과 武厲邏

Abstract

The western borderline of Koguryo has been understood to be the Liao River(遼河). It has been based on the ground that only Muryeora was the hub of Koguryo established in the west of the Liao River on the record, which was located in the west coast(西岸) of the river. However, the area is nothing more than the entrance to the west of the river, as an eastern end of the region. Considering that Koguryo was engaged in heated competitions with the Chinese people and nomads over the western area of the river, the west coast was not located in the place that cannot expect any functions of the frontline hub. The functions of Muryeora to monitor and check the passersby seem to fit for the checkpoint(關所) at the rear areas rather than a military base located in the borderline. Meanwhile, among the hubs of Koguryo in the west of the Liao River, there is also the Castle of Muryeo (武厲城) aside from Muryeora. The two regions have been considered the same one. However, the ‘ra’ (邏, guard post) of Muryeora was only a fortress or a military facility like the guard post rather than the castle (城) of Koguryo that served as a hub of regional dominance and military fortress. The Castle of Muryeo is considered a completely different place from Muryeora in terms of the size and function. The fact that the Sui Dynasty attacked the Castle of Muryeo by establishing the supply base on the frontline indicates that this region was the major hub of the western border of Koguryo. It is possible to estimate the western borderline with the location of the castle of Muryeo. The expansion of Koguryo into the west of the Liao River was marching into the west via the route used to march eastward in the former Chinese counties and prefectures. The hub of Koguryo is highly likely to be set in the historic site of the region. The former Castle of Muryeo is likely to be Muryeohyeon (無慮縣) in the Han Dynasty (prefecture of Mureyo). It is supported by the fact that the homophones of Muryeo (巫閭, Wulu) in the Han Dynasty was used as the name of the land. As the location of Muryeohyeon was in the south of Beizhen (北鎭市), the west of Koguryo is considered to cover the eastern foot of Mt. Yiwulu (醫巫閭山 東麓).