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Tang Soo Do is a Martial Art that originated in Korea early in the 1st century. Over the last two thousand years it has changed and evolved to become the international martial art it is today. Tang Soo Do is practiced in 6 continents and has hundreds of thousands students worldwide. Even though I have been taking Tang Soo Do for about 4 years I didnt know very much about its history and I wanted to find out why Tang Soo Do was created. My thesis is that Tang Soo Do was created because of the turmoil in Korea at the time. The differences in religion, politics, and foreign influence created a turbulent time that required one to know how to defend your self.
At the time of Tang Soo Dos creation the main religion in Korea was a mixture of Chinese and Japanese Buddhism. Even though Buddhism was a peaceful religion that preached pacifism Buddhist monks saw the need for a way to defend them selves. The monks learned Tang Soo Do from the elite warrior class in Korea called Moo ryae Dun and started to spread it around Asia.(Essence25)
Politics played an important role in the forming of early Korea and the constant fighting between the three empires required people to know how to fight in self-defense. The three countries at the time were the Silla, Paeckche, and Koryo. They were constantly fighting but neither side gained any decisive victories. Each nations armies were trained in the various forms of Tang Soo Do and often fought hand to hand then with weapons. After a long period of war the Silla dynasty united the nations. Then a single standardized form of Tang Soo Do was created. This is the form still prevalent today. After a long period of peace a powerful warlord named Wan Kun conquered Korea and formed the Koryo dynasty. His dynasty was very militaristic and the Martial Arts flourished underneath the Koryo Dynasty.(Essence 45)
Korea was the object of many conquest armies from China, Japan, and even Mongolia. Korea included the fertile Manchurian plains. From the late 19th century to 1945 Korea was a part of the Japanese empire. Japan placed a ban on all Korean culture including religion, martial arts, names, and language. Even though it was banned Tango Soo Do was still practiced by a devote group of followers including Jae C. Shin the current president and grandmaster of the world Tang Soo Do association, practiced in underground groups or in foreign nations. Many other foreign martial arts influenced Tang Soo Do such as Karate, Judo, and Hapkido.(Basics133)
In conclusion Tang Soo Do was needed as a way to protect ones self from enemies in the chaotic and strife stricken times of ancient Korea. Without the turmoil created by the diverse religion, politics, and foreign influence there would have been no need for Tang Soo Do and it would never would have existed.
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