Gang Gam-chan and the Battle of Gwiju: A Historic Victory That Preserved the Dignity of Goryeo
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| It is unclear whether the Khitan cavalry actually looked exactly like this. However, in ancient warfare, resisting an assault by such a mounted force would have been extraordinarily difficult—much like modern infantry attempting to defend against armored vehicles and tanks. By successfully repelling the attack of 100,000 northern cavalrymen, Goryeo ultimately compelled the Liao dynasty to abandon further invasions for the next hundred years. |
Gang Gam-chan and the Battle of Gwiju:
A Victory That Preserved Goryeo’s Dignity and Reshaped the East Asian Order
The Battle of Gwiju was a decisive confrontation in which the Goryeo army, led by General Gang Gam-chan, defeated the Khitan cavalry—the most powerful mounted force of its time. This victory elevated the international standing of Goryeo, founded by Wang Geon, and marked a historic turning point in the East Asian geopolitical order.
Introduction: Why the Battle of Gwiju Is Still Remembered Today
Dear readers, welcome.
In a previous post, we explored how Eulji Mundeok of Goguryeo led his nation to victory against overwhelming odds. Today, we turn to the kingdom that succeeded Goguryeo—Goryeo—and examine how Gang Gam-chan, one of its greatest figures, demonstrated extraordinary leadership during a national crisis, overcame a grave external threat, and emerged as a national hero.
Let us begin.
Korean history records many wars and victories, but among them, the Battle of Gwiju (1019) stands out as more than a military triumph. It was a battle that determined the survival of a state and redefined its international standing.
Admittedly, in terms of sheer scale, the Goguryeo–Sui Wars—where Goguryeo resisted an invasion force of over two million men, including logistics troops—may appear more dramatic. Those wars elevated Eulji Mundeok as an unparalleled hero in East Asian military history.
However—
In 1019, Gang Gam-chan, then a senior statesman of Goryeo, succeeded in annihilating the elite Khitan cavalry, widely regarded as the most formidable military force in East Asia, on open plains. This victory proclaimed to the world that Goryeo was not a peripheral state subject to foreign domination, but a sovereign and dignified regional power.
For this reason, the Battle of Gwiju is remembered alongside the Battle of Salsu (Eulji Mundeok) and the Battle of Hansan Island (Admiral Yi Sun-sin) as one of the Three Great Battles in Korean history.
This article explores why the Battle of Gwiju holds such distinction and how its outcome shaped both the legacy of Goryeo, founded by Wang Geon, and the broader East Asian order.
1. Goryeo Founded by Wang Geon and Tensions in the Northern World
1-1. The Spirit of Goryeo’s Foundation and Northern Awareness
From the moment he founded Goryeo, King Taejo Wang Geon clearly identified his state as the successor to Goguryeo. The very name “Goryeo” symbolized the revival of Goguryeo’s legacy and embodied a national vision centered on northern expansion and independent diplomacy.
(Historically, from the reign of King Jangsu—the son of Gwanggaeto the Great—Goguryeo was often referred to simply as “Goryeo.” Today, however, the name is reserved for the dynasty founded by Wang Geon to avoid historical confusion.)
Yet the northern regions were already dominated by the Khitan (Liao Dynasty), which had destroyed Balhae and rapidly risen to power.
The Khitan state, built upon nomadic cavalry warfare, possessed the strongest military force in East Asia. Even the Song Dynasty was unable to defeat it decisively and was compelled to sign the Treaty of Chanyuan, agreeing to pay substantial tribute.
1-2. The Khitan Strategic View of Goryeo
To the Khitan, Goryeo was far more than a neighboring state.
Its potential alliance with the Song Dynasty
Its strategic position south of the Yalu River
Its political and cultural symbolism as the heir to Goguryeo
All of these factors fueled the Khitan ambition to either fully subjugate Goryeo or place it under firm control. This ambition ultimately led to the three Goryeo–Khitan wars.
2. The Historical Significance of Gang Gam-chan
2-1. A Civil Official and Grand Strategist
Gang Gam-chan is often remembered simply as a great general, but in essence, he was a civil official and national strategist.
Having placed first in the state civil service examination in 983, he was a man of deep Confucian learning and political insight. He viewed war not as a matter of tactics alone, but as a question of national survival.
During the Second Goryeo–Khitan War, when the royal court debated surrender, Gang Gam-chan advised King Hyeonjong to evacuate temporarily rather than capitulate—a decision that ultimately saved the kingdom from destruction.
“This crisis is the fault of a single traitor, not of the nation itself. We mgistust avoid the enemy’s initial momentum and preserve our strength for the future.”
This was not retreat born of fear, but strategic patience aimed at eventual victory.
3. The Course of the Battle of Gwiju: Defeating the Supreme Cavalry Force
3-1. The Outbreak of the Third Goryeo–Khitan War
In 1018, the Khitan launched a massive invasion led by General Xiao Baiya, commanding approximately 100,000 troops. This was not a limited campaign, but a final attempt to force Goryeo into submission.
(By this point, two major wars had already been fought between Goryeo and the Khitan.)
In response, Goryeo appointed Gang Gam-chan as Supreme Commander and mobilized over 200,000 troops, demonstrating that the kingdom had fully prepared its defense system and was ready for a prolonged war.
3-2. From Heunghwajin to Gwiju: The Art of Attrition Warfare
Gang Gam-chan avoided direct confrontation and instead pursued a strategy of systematic exhaustion.
Flood attacks at Heunghwajin
Continuous harassment at Jaju and Matan
Supply disruption through scorched-earth tactics
These measures neutralized the mobility-based advantages of the Khitan cavalry. Believing themselves victorious, the Khitan forces advanced deeper into Goryeo territory, steadily depleting their strength. By the time they reached the plains of Gwiju, they were utterly exhausted.
3-3. The Battle of Gwiju: The Hammer and Anvil Complete
In March 1019, the decisive battle unfolded at Gwiju.
Gang Gam-chan blocked the enemy head-on with the main force while cavalry units under Gang Min-cheom and Kim Jong-hyeon struck from the flanks and rear, forming a complete encirclement.
The result was devastating:
Near-total annihilation of the Khitan army
Fewer than several thousand survivors
The death of many senior commanders
This was not merely a victory—it shattered the myth of Khitan military invincibility.
4. The Impact of the Battle of Gwiju on Goryeo and East Asia
4-1. The Rise of Goryeo’s International Standing
After the Battle of Gwiju, the Khitan never again invaded Goryeo by force.
While Goryeo maintained nominal diplomatic relations, it secured de facto autonomy and sovereignty.
This victory led neighboring states—including the Song Dynasty, the Jurchens, and even Japan—to recognize Goryeo as a formidable power.
4-2. A Shift in the East Asian Balance of Power
Following Gwiju, Khitan influence began to wane. In time, they would lose dominance to the rising Jurchen Jin Dynasty.
Thus, the Battle of Gwiju was not merely a Korean victory—it marked a fracture in the existing East Asian international order.
5. Why the Battle of Gwiju Is One of Korea’s Three Great Battles
The reasons are clear:
The survival of the nation was at stake
A supposedly invincible enemy was decisively defeated
Long-term peace and stability were secured
Strategy, tactics, and leadership aligned perfectly
Notably, the Battle of Gwiju is a rare case in world history where a civil official in his seventies defeated the most powerful cavalry force of his era.
Conclusion: The Battle of Gwiju as Goryeo’s Declaration of Identity
The victory at Gwiju was far more than success in a single war.
It was a declaration that Goryeo, founded by Wang Geon, would chart its own path despite external pressure.
Gang Gam-chan achieved victory not through brute force alone, but through insight, patience, and an unwavering sense of responsibility to the state.
The Battle of Gwiju remains a lasting symbol of independence, strategy, and dignified triumph in Korean history.
For these reasons, it continues to be recorded as one of Korea’s Three Great Battles—and stands as a victory worthy of far greater recognition in world history.
Thank you for reading.
I look forward to meeting you again soon with new content.
