The Formation of the Yalu River Boundary between China and Korea: Focusing on the Northwestern Strategies of the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties

Abstract

In history, the formation of the Yalu River boundary between China and Korea was mainly attributed to the territorial expansion and strategic operations of the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties in the northwestern region of the Korean Peninsula. By expanding into the Juchens’ territories, Goryeo had extended its reach to the vicinity of the Yalu River estuary by the early 11th century. The occupation of Baozhou by Goryeo in the early 12th century marked the beginning of the Yalu River’s establishment as a boundary. Between the mid-14th and early 15th centuries, the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties successively expanded and consolidated control over the southern bank of the middle Yalu River, gradually stabilizing the boundary in this region. In the mid-15th century, the Joseon Dynasty established the ‘Four Counties’ and constructed the ‘Yalu River Riverside Defensive System’, which effectively defined the boundary of the Yalu River mainstream, excluding its source area. Subsequently, the Joseon Dynasty actively maintained the Yalu River boundary until 1712, when Mukedeng conducted a survey to delineate the river’s source, finalizing the full boundary of the Yalu River. In general, the formation and stabilization of the Yalu River boundary were not only driven by the strong territorial ambitions of the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties, but also shaped by various factors that restricted these ambitions.