The Han River () is a major river in South Korea. It flows through the central region of the Korean Peninsula, with some of its tributaries and drainage basin in North Korea. The Han River currently has eight river islands: Nanjido, Yeouido, , Nodeulseom, , Sebitseom, Bamseom, and Seonyudo.
The Han is the fourth longest river on the Korean Peninsula after the Amnok, Tuman, and Nakdong rivers.Shin, Jung-il, "Historic River Flowing through the Korean Peninsula." Koreana (Summer, 2004), 6. The river begins as two smaller rivers in the eastern mountains of the Korean Peninsula, which then converge near Seoul.
Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, is the only example of a major metropolis with such a wide river running through it; few large cities are divided by a massive river approximately 1.2 kilometers wide.서울의 한강이 갖는 특수성도 잘 살려져야 한다. 세계의 도시 속에 도시의 한가운데를 흐르는 1km나 넘는 강의 폭을 갖는 도시는 서울뿐이다. '99. 9. 월간서울 9월호 : 기획특집 「한강다리」 https://news.seoul.go.kr/safe/archives/823 The term "Miracle on the Han River", referring to South Korea's rapid economic growth, originates from this river.
Etymology The name Han River originates from the Korean word "Hangaram".https://hangang.seoul.go.kr/www/contents/762.do?mid=561,
『한강사』(서울특별시사편찬위원회, 1985)
『한강의 어제와 오늘』(서울특별시사편찬위원회, 2001)
『경강, 광나루에서 양화진까지』(서울역사박물관, 2018)
한국민족문화대백과, 한국학중앙연구원 In Old Korean, "han" means "big" or "great", and "garam" refers to a river—The Hanja character Han (漢) is a phonetic transcription. Until the early Three Kingdoms period, the Han River was called "Daesu" (帶水). It is recorded as Arisu (阿利水) on the Gwanggaeto Stele—an ancient stone monument erected in 414 AD. In the kingdom of Baekje, it was called "Ungniha"《삼국사기》 25권 <백제본기> 제3 개로왕 (郁利河). The Samguk sagi ("History of the Three Kingdoms"), a historical text, records the river as "Hansanha" (漢山河) or "Bukdok" (北瀆). The name "Han River" began to be used around the time when Baekje started interacting with China's Eastern Jin Dynasty; from then on, it was called "Hansu" (漢水) or "Hangang" (漢江).한강을 부르는 명칭은 시대와 지역에 따라 매우 다양했다. 중국의 한(漢)·위(魏)나라에서는 '대수(帶水)'라 하였으며 후한(後漢, 25년~220년)의 역사가 반고가 저술한 역사서, 『한서(漢書)』 지리지에는 대수(帶水)로 표기되어 있다. '대수'란, 한강의 모습이 한반도의 허리에 띠를 두른 것과 같음을 표현한 것이다. https://hangang.seoul.go.kr/www/contents/762.do?mid=561
Arisu (阿利水) is an archaic term used to refer to both the Han River and the Amnok River. Because of this historical significance, today it is also used as the brand name for tap water sourced from the Han River. The term seems to derive from ari, meaning "big" or "great", combined with su (水), which means "water". During the Goguryeo period, Arisu referred to the Han River. In the "Samguk sagi" (History of the Three Kingdoms), Baekje Annals Volume 3, in the account from early September of the 21st year of King Gaero, there is a record similar to that on the Gwanggaeto Stele in which the Han River is referred to as "Ungniha" (郁里河).Gwanggaeto Stele 광개토왕릉비(廣開土王陵碑)에는 아리수(阿利水)라고 표기되어 있는데, 여기서 '아리', 즉 '알'은 고대에 크다거나 신성하다는 의미로 쓰였다. 『삼국사기(三國史記)』의 백제건국설화에는 한수(寒水), 『삼국사기지리지(三國史記地理志)』에는 '한산하(漢山河)' 또는 '북독(北瀆)'이라 표기하였으며, 백제에서는 욱리하(郁里河)라고 부르기도 했다.
According to historical records from the Three Kingdoms period, Baekje referred to it as "Ungniha" or "Hansu," while in Silla, it was called "Wangbongha" or "Hansanha." During the Goryeo Dynasty, it was also known as "Yeolsu." Among the old names of the Han River, "Arisu" is the most familiar to modern Koreans.
In the 19th century, the river was attested to in one English-language source as the Han River or Hang Kang.
At one time, the Standard Korean Language Dictionary listed "Arisu" as a dialectal term for "deception", but due to insufficient data and lack of clear evidence, it was deleted.국립 국어연구원에서 펴낸 표준 국어 대사(1999)에, '아리수'는「한강의 옛 이름」으로 기재되어 있고「속임수의 잘못」이라고 밝혀 놓았음. 이는 '아리수'가「한강의 옛이름」이란 것을 명시한 것이며, 이를 '속임수'로 쓰는 것은 잘못이라는 뜻임.
이전에 발간된 일부 국어 사전에서 '아리수'를 「'속임수'의 방언」으로 기재하고 있으나 어느 지역의 방언인지 확인할 수 없는 상태로 옛날 일부 지방에서 쓰이다가 사라진 말로 추정됨.[2004.9.17] Korean Language Society
There are records during the Goryeo period, that the Han River was also called Yeolsu (洌水), Sapyeongdo (沙坪島) and Sarijin. During the Joseon period, also as Gyeonggang (京江).고려 때에는 큰 물줄기가 맑고 밝게 흘러내리는 강이라는 뜻으로 '열수(洌水)'라 했으며 조선시대에는 오늘날의 서울 부근의 한강을 '경강(京江)'이라 불렀다.https://hangang.seoul.go.kr/www/contents/762.do?mid=561
History
Prehistoric Han River Various Paleolithic and Neolithic artifacts have been discovered in the Han River basin, with Amsa-dong Prehistoric Site in Gangdong District representing the local area's Neolithic culture. Artifacts such as pottery, stone tools, and spearheads, which provide insights into their dietary habits, have been unearthed. It is believed that these people engaged in intensive foraging activities in hills and low mountains, utilizing primitive fishing techniques like handline fishing or spear fishing from an early period, using tools such as spears or harpoons to catch fish.
However, while handline and spear fishing were individual efforts with limited catch yields, net fishing enabled large-scale catches through collective labor in conjunction with foraging methods. Evidence of net fishing has been found at numerous archaeological sites. These communities accumulated surplus production through such collective activities, enhancing their adaptability to the environment and increasing their chances of survival. Consequently, their populations grew, settlements expanded, and stable, sedentary lifestyles emerged, leading to further cultural development. This progression laid the foundation for the emergence of ancient states in the Han River basin following the advanced cultures of the Bronze Age.
Bronze Age Han River Geographically encompassing most of central Korea, the Bronze Age in the Han River basin was influenced by the northeastern regions of the Korean Peninsula (Hamgyeongbuk-do and Hamgyeongnam-do) and the northwestern regions (Pyeongannam-do and Hwanghae-do). This led to the establishment of the Bronze Culture in the Han River basin. The cultures of these two regions developed uniquely through their own progress and blending, creating a distinctive Bronze Age culture in the Han River basin. Additionally, the Han River basin served as an intermediary region that facilitated the spread of culture to the southern regions of the Korean Peninsula. By this stage, agriculture had further advanced compared to the Neolithic period.
Carbonized grains such as rice, barley, millet, and Job's tears were excavated from habitation sites, indicating that mixed grain farming had become widespread across the Korean Peninsula. It is also inferred that rice farming had become quite common in both the northwestern regions and the southern areas. Rice farming in the Han River basin is closely related to the southward movement of residents from the Pangyi () Pottery culture in the northwestern regions. As these southern-moving Pangyi Pottery people interacted and blended with the local Minmuni-toki-in () communities, rice farming became widespread in the Han River basin and further extended to the southern regions.
Three Kingdoms Period During the Three Kingdoms period, the fortunes of nations were closely tied to the gains and losses of the Han River basin. This was because the Han River, as a major river flowing through the central part of the peninsula, became the central stage of the Korean Peninsula. Additionally, it was considered important for military, economic, social, and diplomatic reasons. Consequently, this region became a primary target in the power struggles among the three kingdoms, and controlling the Han River basin provided a strong foundation for territorial expansion and national development. As historical records show, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla alternately ruled the Han River basin. Occupying the Han River basin led to national prosperity, while losing it resulted in decline.
Baekje was founded in the basin of the Han River, and from the Three Kingdoms period onward, the zenith of each kingdom was determined by who controlled the middle and lower reaches of this river. Controlling the Han River was so crucial that it essentially defined a nation's golden age. Initially, Baekje held control, followed by Goguryeo, and later by Silla. As each kingdom rose to prominence, the other two would invariably form alliances to balance the power. This power dynamic continued throughout the entire Three Kingdoms period.
The importance of the Han River stemmed from its numerous advantages: the agricultural productivity of its basin, the securing of transportation routes through river navigation, and the establishment of maritime trade routes with China. It was the only region that could simultaneously connect major rivers flowing through the Korean Peninsula—such as the Taedong River, Geum River, Yeongsan River, and Nakdong River—and the shipping routes of the southwestern sea.『한강사』(서울특별시사편찬위원회, 1985)
Unified Silla Period After the unification of the Three Kingdoms, Silla designated the Hansanha (another name for the Han River) in the north as one of the nation's four great rivers, alongside the Hwangsanha (Nakdong River) leading to the South Sea, the Ungcheonha (Geum River) leading to the West Sea, and the Tojiha (Gokgangcheon in Heunghae-eup, Pohang) leading to the East Sea. These were collectively known as the "Four Waterways" (四瀆). The state held regular rituals (Jungsa, 中祀) for these rivers, underscoring their ideological importance.
Goryeo Dynasty In the 21st year of King Munjong's reign, the importance of the Han River basin was recognized, and Yangju (now Seoul) was promoted to Namgyeong (Southern Capital), making it one of the three major strategic locations alongside Kaegyeong (New/Open capital) and Seogyeong (Western Capital). Later, in September 1382 (8th year of King U), the capital was moved to Hanyang(Another name for now Seoul). However, due to political and social unrest, along with the prevalence of geomancy and the belief that the new capital was inauspicious, the capital was returned to Gaeseong the following February.김흥순. (2009). 조선 개국 초 한양 천도(遷都) 논쟁. 국토계획, 44(4), 21-36.
During the reign of the last Goryeo monarch, Gongyang (1390), the capital was moved back again to Hanyang in September 1390. However, after the establishment of Hanyang, significant storms, thunder, lightning, and disasters struck the nation, causing frequent misfortunes like people being swept away by the river, alongside bad omens such as tigers killing men. As a result, in February 1391, the capital was moved back to Gaeseong, effectively ending the issue of relocating the capital (to Hanyang, or Seoul) within the Goryeo Dynasty.
The eventual relocation of the capital to Hanyang (Seoul) was achieved in 1394 when Yi Seong-gye founded the Joseon Dynasty.오종록. (2007). 왜 이성계는 한양으로 천도했나?. 내일을 여는 역사,(27), 162-170.
Joseon Dynasty After ascending to the throne, Taejo Yi Seong-gye ordered the relocation of the capital to Hanyang on 3 August 1392, sixteen days after his coronation. This was done on 25 October 1394 (lunar calendar).태조 이성계는 즉위후 불과 16일만인 1392년 8월 3일에 도평의사사에게 한양천도를 명하여 태조3년(1394년) 10월 25일(음력) 천도를 실현하였다. https://hangang.seoul.go.kr/www/contents/818.do?mid=563
After the capital relocation, the first time Seoul was the capital of any Korean nation since Baekje's Wiryeseong, the Han River grew in importance alongside the city's new prestiege. The Korean Peninsula, being a very mountainous region, has traditionally relied heavily on canal- and river-based water transport for everything from inter-province trade to taxes, which at the time were mostly paid in commodities.문광균. (2022). 조선후기 충청도 조운제도의 변화와 금강 일대 군현의 세곡운송. 한국사연구,(198), 147-182, 10.31791/JKH.2022.09.198.147