The Influence of Korean Nationalism on the Formational Process of T’aekwŏndo in South Korea

Abstract

T’aekwŏndo  is presented in popular historical descriptions as the offspring of ancient Korean indigenous martial arts. However, this article focuses less on the connection or lack thereof between ancient Korean martial arts and t’aekwŏndo , but instead on the well-documented relationship between the founders of t’aekwŏndo  and Japanese karate. During the formation process of the different schools under the name ‘t’aekwŏndo ,’instructors of that time and following generations may have misrepresented t’aekwŏndo ’s historical origins, with Korean nationalism as the driving, motivational force. The creation of t’aekwŏndo ’s historical narrative as rooted in ancient Korea was a gradual process that was influenced and inspired by the realities and necessities of the South Korean nation at that time. The development has to be seen in the light of South Korea’s quest for survival after liberation from Japanese colonial rule and the destruction occasioned by the Korean War. This tendency to invent the past in a more favorable light is by no means peculiar to the t’aekwŏndo  environment. However, in line with Korea’s economic and political development as an advanced nation, the time has come for a more balanced and accurate portrayal of t’aekwŏndo ’s historical roots and modern development. Moreover, in a broader context, t’aekwŏndo ’s historical ‘resume’ may also be seen as a reflection of the wide-ranging tendencies and political disputes currently taking place in East Asia.