In this article, in order to analyze the meaning of Goguryeo’s appointment by Former Yan(前燕) and Later Yan(後燕) in the change of appointment during 4th century, in addition to analyzing the appointment to Goguryeo, entire examples of the Sixteen States(五胡十六國)’s appointment, and reviewed the background of the appointment and Goguryeo’s response. In summary, it is as follows.
Goguryeo was appointed once by Former Yan in 355 and once by Later Yan in 396. Regarding the reason for the appointment, Later Yan was one-sided, with no request and insufficient requisites, while Former Yan did not have a direct request from Goguryeo but met several requisites.
Sixteen States unilaterally appointed in terms of the tribute and subjugation of the surrounding countries or with unknown reasons rather than following the death and succession of the monarch. Regarding the composition of the appointment title, general title was the most common, followed by local officials and the feudal title, and the proportion of central officials, Dudu(都督), king title, and Chijie(持節) was relatively low. In particular, the Dudu-zhujunshi(都督諸軍事) title tended to be appointed with local officials rather than Chijie title. The appointment of Goguryeo by Former Yan and Later Yan were all consistent with the tendency seen in the appointment of Sixteen States.
While Former Yan’s appointment was close to the actual expression of infeudation based on strong national power in the context, Later Yan’s appointment was made as a means to promote peace, so it was difficult to say that it was an expression of infeudation. In the case of Later Zhao(後趙) and Former Qin(前秦), who had diplomatic relations with Goguryeo, they didn’t appoint Goguryeo because they had a strong tendency to appoint them according to special circumstances and no special circumstances to appoint Goguryeo.
When examining the background of Former Yan and Later Yan’s appointment and Goguryeo’s response, Former Yan’s appointment consistently carried out its intention, while Later Yan’s appointment did not carry out its intention, and Goguryeo’s national power, which has grown rapidly since King Sosurim’s reign, greatly influenced this change.