--- title: Hwarang author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Hwarang/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 1970-01-01 --- # Hwarang _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ The *hwarang* was a state-sponsored organisation for the education of elite young males in the ancient kingdom of [Silla](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silla/), [Korea](https://www.worldhistory.org/Korea/). Variously translated as the 'Flower Boys,' 'Flowering Youth,' or 'Elite Youth' (and sometimes, too, the rather misleading 'Knights'), the *hwarang* pledged loyalty to the state, their family, and each other. The boys often met in places of great natural beauty, especially sacred mountains and rivers, where they sang and danced with their faces painted and wore jewelled shoes. The organisation aimed at preparing young males for their future role in society and the majority of the state's most important politicians and administrators were educated in the *hwarang*. Formed from at least the 6th century CE, the *hwarang consisted of teenage boys who followed the ideal known as *pungwolto or 'way of wind and moon.' It is not clear what this meant exactly, but it is known from Korean history sources such as the *Samguk sagi* and *Samguk yusa* that the boys followed an educational mix of religious and martial teachings along with [music](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Music/), dancing, ethics, and a good dose of nationalism, including a defiance of [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/). Only sons of the aristocracy were eligible to join, and the true purpose of the system, sponsored as it was by the state, was likely to enable the ruling class to select the most talented youths and earmark them for future positions within the state apparatus. The religious part of the education was, as in wider Korea, a mix of [Buddhism](https://www.worldhistory.org/buddhism/), [Taoism](https://www.worldhistory.org/Taoism/), and [Confucianism](https://www.worldhistory.org/Confucianism/) with, probably, elements of shamanism which was long practised in the peninsula. The *Samguk yusa* adds that the boys also studied the Five Relationships, the Six Arts, the Three Scholarly Occupations, and the Six Ways of Government Service, which all contained rules of ethical behaviour and prepared the students for life in the civil service. The Five Relationships (*sesok ogye*) honour code, created by the [Buddhist](https://www.worldhistory.org/buddhism/) monk Wongwang in the early 7th century CE, best illustrates the strong association between the *hwarang* and the needs of the state for they were: - To serve the king with loyalty. - To serve one's parents with loyalty. - To always show loyalty to one's friends. - To never retreat in [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/). - To never kill unnecessarily. The precise organisation of the *hwarang is not known beyond that the leader of a single group of a few hundred youths held the title of *kukson* or 'National Immortal.' He was selected from the true bone or *chingol class of the Silla kingdom's rigid social hierarchy, the [Bone Rank System](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bone_Rank_System/). The *kukson was assisted by several Buddhist scholar-monks who likely carried out the instruction. The patron of the group was the Maitreya [Buddha](https://www.worldhistory.org/Siddhartha_Gautama/) (the coming Buddha), also know as 'the Friendly One,' indeed, members considered themselves reincarnations of Buddha. The *hwarang* was divided into subgroups which had Buddhist-associated names such as 'the Band of the Dragon Flower Tree' (referring to the tree where Maitreya first arrived on earth). Details are lacking of the initiation ceremonies the boys carried out except that dancing and singing were important elements, as was an oath of loyalty to fellow members. *Hwarang* members and ideals were celebrated in *[hyangga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hyangga/)*, the indigenous folk song-poems of Korea. Indeed, many were written by members of the group. In this example, written by Tugo and titled *Mo Chukchirang ka* or 'Ode to Knight Chukchi' written c. 692-702 CE, the author praises his master: > All living beings sorrow and lament > Over the spring that is past; > Your face once fair and bright > Is about to wear deep furrows. > I must glimpse you > Even for an awesome moment. > My fervent mind cannot rest at night > In the mugwort-rank hollow. > (Lee, P.H., 72) Some of the most famous former members of the *hwarang* are the great general [Kim Yu-sin](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kim_Yu-sin/), his son Won-sul, and Kwanchang, who gave his life bravely in a battle against the [Baekje](https://www.worldhistory.org/Baekje/) ([Paekche](https://www.worldhistory.org/Baekje/)) kingdom in 660 CE. Following a rise in Korean nationalism and the discovery of a manuscript titled *The Chronicles of the Hwarang* (*Hwarang segi*) in the 1980s CE there has been a renewed interest in the subject, with even a new television series scheduled for December 2016 in Korea based on the *hwarang* and carrying that title. This content was made possible with generous support from the [British Korean Society](http://www.britishkoreansociety.org.uk/?utm_source=ancient.eu&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=ancient.eu). #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Ki-baik Lee. *A New History of Korea.* Harvard University Asia Center, 1984.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/067461576X/) - [Kyung Hwang. *A History of Korea.* Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0230205461/) - [Lee, P.H. *A History of Korean Literature.* Cambridge University Press, 2009.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0521100658/) - [Seth, M.J. *A History of Korea.* Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/074256715X/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **57 BCE - 918 CE**: The [Silla](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silla/) Kingdom rules in [Korea](https://www.worldhistory.org/Korea/), first as one of the Three Kingdoms and then alone from 668 CE. ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2016, November 21). Hwarang. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Hwarang." *World History Encyclopedia*, November 21, 2016. . ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Hwarang." *World History Encyclopedia*, 21 Nov 2016, . ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 21 November 2016. 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