:Pyongyang Castle

{{Short description|Historic building in North Korea}}

{{Expand Korean|topic=struct|date=April 2014}}

{{Infobox Korean name

| hangul = 평양성

| hanja = 平壤城

| rr = Pyeongyangseong

| mr = P'yŏngyangsŏng

| context = north

| image =

| caption =

| othername1 = Alternative name

| hangul1 = 장안성

| hanja1 = 長安城

| rr1 = Janganseong

| mr1 = Changansŏng

}}

File:Pyonyang castle 01543v.jpgese officers looking at maps and reviewing progress of battle taking place outside the fortress at Pyongyang.]]

Pyongyang Castle is one of the National Treasures of North Korea.

The castle was attacked by Geunchogo of Baekje in 375.{{cite journal |last= Kim Taek-Gyun |language=ko, en |year=2000 |title=The relationship between Shilla and Wae from the late 4th {{sic|cent|ry|nolink=yes}} to the early 5th {{sic|cent|ry|nolink=yes}} |url=http://www.dbpia.co.kr/Journal/ArticleDetail/648341 |journal= Studies in Humanities |publisher= Institute of Humanities at Kwangwon National University |volume=8 |pages=307–335 |access-date=24 April 2014}}

In 427, Jangsu of Goguryeo transferred the Goguryeo capital from Gungnae Fortress (present-day Ji'an on the China-North Korea border) to Pyongyang Castle,{{efn|It was in 427 that the capital was moved to Pyongyang, however the location of the capital moved slightly to the east from Anhak Palace in Pyongyang to the current location of the pyongyang castle in 586 after careful planning regarding constructions of the new pyongyang castle(a project organized by kagun) known as Janganseong since 522.{{cite web|url=http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0048656|title=장안성}}{{cite web|url=http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0035088|title=안학궁}}{{cite web|url=http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/CategoryNavi?category=field&keyword=%EC%97%AD%EC%82%AC/%EA%B3%A0%EB%8C%80%EC%82%AC&ridx=2&tot=3644|title=가군}}}}{{cite book|last1=ICOMOS|last2=Kim|first2=Lena|title=Koguryo Tomb Murals: World Cultural Heritage|date=2010|publisher=Giljabi Media|page=99|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xR-GBgAAQBAJ&q=king+jangsu&pg=PA99|access-date=2 February 2016}}{{cite book|last1=Jeon|first1=Hotae|title=Koguryŏ = Koguryo, the origin of Korean power & pride|date=2007|publisher=Northeast Asia History Foundation|location=Seoul|isbn=9788991448834|pages=25–27}} a more suitable region to grow into a burgeoning metropolitan capital,{{cite book|last1=Lee|first1=Ki-Baik|title=A New History of Korea|date=1984|publisher=Harvard University Press|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts|isbn=067461576X|pages=38–40}} "This move from a region of narrow mountain valleys to a broad riverine plain indicates that the capital could no longer remain primarily a military encampment but had to be developed into a metropolitan center for the nation's political, economic, and social life." which led Goguryeo to achieve a high level of cultural and economic prosperity.{{cite book|last1=Kim|first1=Jinwung|title=A History of Korea: From "Land of the Morning Calm" to States in Conflict|date=5 November 2012|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0253000781|page=36|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QFPsi3IK8gcC&pg=PA36|access-date=15 July 2016|language=en}} "Because Pyongyang was located in the vast, fertile Taedong River basin and had been the center of advanced culture of Old Chosŏn and Nangnang, this move led Koguryŏ to attain a high level of economic and cultural prosperity."

In 668, Pyongyang became the capital of the Protectorate General to Pacify the East established by the Tang dynasty of China. However, by 676, it was taken by Silla, but left on the border between Silla and Balhae. Pyongyang was left abandoned during the Later Silla period, until it was recovered by Wang Geon and decreed as the Western Capital of Goryeo. During the Joseon period, it became the provincial capital of Pyeongan Province.

During the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98), Pyongyang was captured by the Japanese and held until they were defeated in the Siege of Pyongyang. Later in the 17th century, it became temporarily occupied during the Qing invasion of Joseon until peace arrangements were made between Korea and Qing China. While the invasions made Koreans suspicious of foreigners, the influence of Christianity began to grow after the country opened itself up to foreigners in the 16th century. Pyongyang became the base of Christian expansion in Korea. By 1880 it had more than 100 churches and more Protestant missionaries than any other Asian city,{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/484693/Pyongyang|title=Pyongyang|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|access-date=19 April 2015}} and was called "the Jerusalem of the East".{{cite news|title=Pyongyang, one-time Jerusalem of East|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2021/03/197_304944.html|work=The Korea Times|date=2021-03-04}}

In 1890, the city had 40,000 inhabitants.{{cite web| first = Jan | last = Lahmeyer | publisher = University of Utrecht | url = http://www.populstat.info/Asia/nkoreat.htm | work = Populstat | title = North Korea – Urban Population}} It was the site of the Battle of Pyongyang during the First Sino-Japanese War, which led to the destruction and depopulation of much of the city. It was the provincial capital of South Pyeongan Province beginning in 1896.