The
Koryo dynasty, which reunified the Korean peninsula after Shilla (A.D.
918 to 1392), had the Taekkyon develop more systematically and made it a
compulsory subject in the examinations for selection of military
cadets.
The techniques and power of Taekkyon
grew to become effective weapons even to kill human beings. In the
military, a pattern of collective practice, called "obyong-subak-hui (5
soldier's Taekkyon play), was introduced so that it might be used in a
real war.
In
the early days of Koryo dynasty, martial art abilities were the only
required qualifications to become military personnel because the kingdom
utterly needed the national defense capabilities after conquering the
peninsula. A certain plain soldier who mastered Taekkyon techniques was
promoted to a general, and young were invited to Taekkyon contests where
the skilled ones were selected to become military officers. There were
lots of other examples in which many Taekkyon-mastered youths were
picked at contests, which is proof that Taekwondo sports was originated
in that epoch. The chronicles of Koryo dynasty writes: "at a power
contest of Taekkyon techniques, Lee Yi- Min punched a pillar of the
house with his right-hand fist, then some of the props of the roof were
shaken. Another Taekkyon practicer had his fist pierce through the
clay-wall."
Especially the kings of Koryo dynasty
were much interested in "subakhui" (Taekkyon contest), making it a
compulsory course of military training. Therefore, subakhui was also
popular out for inspection tours in the villages.
However, the Koryo dynasty in its latest
years had gunpowder and new types of weapons available at hand, thus
slowing down its support of martial as the folk games to be transmitted
down to the modern Korea, Chosun. (Taekkyon explained in the Koryo
history book)
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