Hwa-Rang

Hwa-Rang is named after the Hwa-Rang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. The 29 movements refer to the 29th Infantry Division, where Taekwon-Do developed into maturity.

The History of the Hwa-Rang

The Korean peninsula was divided into three kingdoms of Silla, Koguryo, and Paekche during the 6th century AD with the smallest kingdom, Silla, constantly besieged by its neighbours. So in 576 AD the 24th king of the Silla dynasty established Hwa-Rang warriors from groups of young noblemen to be trained in all forms of warfare and defend the kingdom.

Each group consisted of thousands of members from the nobility chosen by popular election and each senior leader would be regarded as Kuk-Son which were similar to the Knights of King Arthur’s round table.

There were five cardinal principles of human relations, three scholarships and six ways of service that trainees had to learn and after completion they were presented to the king for nomination as Hwa-Rang or Kuk-Son.

The Hwa-Rang trained to improve their military skills, enhance their minds with principles, and strengthen their bodies with physical training. Along with lessons in arts, literature and science these candidates also learned the art of warfare and hand to hand combat.

The hand to hand combat was based on Um-Yang principles of Buddhist philosophy. Subak which was practiced by common people throughout the three kingdoms was adopted and transformed by the Hwa-Rang, as they intensified and added more techniques to the discipline. It was believed that a Hwa-Rang punch was so powerful as it could penetrate a wooden armour of the enemy.

The Hwa-Rang code was established in the 30th year of King Chin-Hung’s rule. It was told that a set of commandments was given by Wong-Gwang Popsa, a famous Buddhist warrior monk, and based these on Confucian and Buddhist principles that were divided into five rules and nine virtues.

The Hwa-Rang were the first group to possess a spiritual warrior code which was passed on to Japan and gave birth to the famous Samurai tradition.

The zeal of Hwa-Rang helped Silla become the world’s first Buddhist kingdom and united the three kingdoms of Korea. After the unification and the defeat of the Chinese Tang dynasty, the people started to think more of philosophical ideas. With their vast knowledge of healing they became known as specializing in Buddhist philosophy, healing and poetry and no longer as royal warriors.