Early Korean settlements developed south of the Han River relatively isolated from the Asian continent. Because of this, the Korean people were able to develop independently without early involvement with events on the continent, at least for the earlier periods of Korean development. Around the middle of the third century A.D., the Chinese began to become a serious threat which became a powerful force in unifying many of the tribes in the southern part of Korea. Using the Chinese form of the Centralized Government, the tribes began merging into kingdoms.
             The tribes in the southwest were the first to unite, calling the newly formed kingdom, Paekche. It was believed to have been created during the mid-third century A.D. after the attack from Koguryo became North-East Asia's strongest nation. However, Koguryo's rapid expansion brought it into conflict with China during the Sui Dynasty in the North, and Silla in the south.
             Though Koguryo had managed to fend off the Sui Dynasty, the combined forces of Silla and the Tang Dynasty of China eventually destroyed Koguryo. Koguryo's ally, Paekche, fell to Silla and the Tang Dynasty in 660 A.D. Silla and the Tang Dynasty then attacked Koguryo for eight years who eventually fell.
             Silla, which was established in 57 BC, was constantly being invaded by the larger more powerful neighbor to the north and west over a period of 1000 years. Around 540 AD King Chin-Hung called together the youth and patriots to form a military organization known as the Hawarang-Do. The Hawarang-Do was responsible for transforming and intensifying Silla's common method of foot fighting and added hand techniques which included a blend of hard and soft as well as linear and circular techniques calling this fighting art Tae-Kyon. The Hawarang-Do was a very unusual organization, for not only did the study the art of fighting, but also the arts of music and poetry as well, seeking always to unify body and spirit. Around ...