R.G. Collingwood philosophy of history monograph

The Warlord

I thought it was interesting to interpret history with a priori imagination the theory of R.G. Collingwood. Trying to use my priori imagination to the given facts of history, may have given some inaccurate conclusions. But according to Collingwood, history is all about the inside and in order to know the inside and fill the gap, we should use our rational thought.

I have decided to write about a famous general in the history of Korea, Gyebaek. His courage and his loyalty to his country are well known among Koreans. The most famous story that is told about him is that he killed his family with his own sword. (wikipedia) And I believe that through my rational thoughts, somehow the gap would be filled and the story will flow smoothly.

Long time ago when Korea was subdivided into three nations, Goguryeo, Baekjae, and Silla, the nation was under turmoil. Each nation desired to expand their territory and in order for them to do so, they had to make a brutal choice. (wikipedia)
To fight, to kill, and to conquer


After the war has broken between Baekjae and Silla, Goguryeo joined force with Baekjae to attack the massive force of angry warriors of Silla
led by General Kim Yu shin. (wikipedia)

Eventually, the joined force of Baekjae and Silla started to be driven back when
Silla got aid from China.
Gyebaek the Commander of Chief in Baekjae knew that Baekjae was
outnumbered by the joined force or Silla and China. (wikipedia)

Knowing that his forces couldn’t stand longer against the massive force of Silla,
Gyebaek went back to his house.
His family has gathered to know what was going on
And how the war is going to end.
They were scared after being pushed around by the soldiers of Silla.
The family knew that the battle would end soon
Baekjae would no longer be on the map.

Gyebaek with deep sorrow could hardly open his mouth.
His family wasn’t expecting so much of the words that would come out from his mouth.
Finally Gyebaek opened his mouth and said that Silla is going to win the battle
And everyone will die.

These were the word that he said.
“I would rather die than be a slave of the enemy."
(wikipedia)

And he draws his sword and said his last words to his family.
“See you again in sky…”

He started to kill his children first before he killed his wife. The children ran for their lives but were killed by the hands of their own father.
Seeing the children being slaughtered by her husband, she gives up her life
Probably, he says that he is sorry.
Promising her that they will meet again in a better place.

The floor was soaked with blood as he walked out of the house.
Probably, tears were falling down from his eyes but he was hiding it for he was the general who is supposed to demonstrate courage to his fellow soldiers.

The reason that he killed his family is to prevent them from falling into
The soldiers of Silla.
(wikipedia)
What could have happened if the soldiers knew that they were the family members of Baekjae’s commander of chief?

Gyebaek wasn’t feeling well.
The screaming of his children’s voice was still in his ears.
But he had no time for compassion.
He had no time to think about his dead family anymore.
The war was on.
The last battle to defend Baekjae.

If they win, they succeed to defend Baekjae from falling.
If they don’t then everything is over.
The soldiers also knew that this battle was the most important battle of their lives.

The king of Baekjae gave up his own nation
And was running for his life.
(wikipedia)
Every single soldier thought of running for their lives
For the fight was meaningless. They would all die.
Gyebaek also knew that he and his fellow man will fall
But he wasn’t a coward.
He said that he would never back down.
He said that he would rather die that backing out.

“I would rather die”
(wikipedia)

One fine day of 660 BC,
The battle broke out between the force of Silla led by General Kim Yu shin and the force of Baekjae led by General Gyebaek.
(wikipedia)

The battle was like the battle of David and Goliath.
Silla had 10 times the soldier of Baekjae.
But Baekjae wasn’t easily defeated.

Because before the war has begun,
Gyebaek told them that when they back out,
Then they would all die in Gyebaek’s hands.

Gyebaek and his man risked their lives in order to protect the country
While Kim Yu shin’s man wasn’t that eager to fight
Because they have underestimated the Baekjae soldiers.
(wikipedia)

First, it seemed like Gyebaek was winning the battle.
There was no way that Kim Yu shin and his man can defeat
The angry and furious soldiers of Gyebaek.
(wikipedia)

Kim Yu shin started to think of the ways to defeat Gyebaek and conquer Baekjae.
Because no matter how many man he had, he would loose to the high spirited/morale soldiers of Gyebaek.

When he was thinking, one of the elite youth soldiers of Silla named “Hwarang”
Drove his horse and charged all alone against the force of Gyebaek.
The first Hwarang who bravely charged against thousands of Gyebaek’s soldiers died.
(wikipedia)

The morale of Kim Yu shin’s soldiers began to rise up while seeing a 16 years old Hwarang charging against the enemy and laying his life for his own country.

Gyebaek had no choice but to see his fellow man being crushed by the massive force of General Kim Yushin.
He was shot by arrows.
The arrows speared through his flesh.
It was truly excruciating for a human to stand the pain.
But he wasn’t ashamed of his defeat.
He was happy that he could die for his own country.
Probably thinking that
Soon he will meet his family
In a better place.



Collingwood, R. G. (1946). The idea of history. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Pp. 205-334.

Gyebaek. Retrieved on Sept. 15, 2008
Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyebaek