Hyeokgeose Geoseogan, the founder始祖赫居世居西干

The founder's surname was Bak and his name Hyeokgeose (赫居世). In the first year of Wufeng of Emperor Xiaoxuan of the Former Han, a gapja year, in the fourth month on the day byeongjin, he ascended the throne and took the title Geoseogan (居西干). He was thirteen years old, and the country was named Seonabeol (徐那伐).

Before this, the remaining people of Joseon had settled apart among the mountain valleys and formed six villages. The first was Yangsan village on the Alcheon. The second was Goheo village at Dolsan. The third was Jinji village at Jasan. The fourth was Daesu village at Musan. The fifth was Gari village at Geumsan. The sixth was Goya village at Myeonghwalsan. These were the six divisions of Jinhan.

Sobeolgong, headman of Goheo village, looked toward the foot of Yangsan and saw a horse kneeling and neighing in the woods beside the Najeong well (蘿井). He went to look. All at once the horse was gone, and only a great egg lay there. He split it open, and a small child came out, so he took the child in and raised him. By the age of ten and some years he stood tall and was grown before his time. The people of the six divisions honored him because his birth was a wonder, and now they raised him up and made him their ruler.

The people of Jinhan call a gourd bak (朴). The great egg at the beginning was like a gourd, so Bak was taken as his surname. Geoseogan is the word for king in the speech of Jinhan.

In the fourth year, in summer, the fourth month, on the first day sinchuk, the sun was eclipsed.

In the fifth year, in spring, the first month, a dragon appeared at the Aryeong well (閼英井) and bore a girl from its right flank. An old woman saw her and thought it strange, and she took the child in and raised her. She named her after the well. When she grew up she had a bearing of virtue. The founder heard of it, received her, and made her his queen. She was worthy in conduct and helped him well within the palace, and the people of that time called the two of them sages.

In the eighth year the Wa sent out troops and meant to raid the border. They heard that the founder had a divine virtue, and so they turned back.

In the ninth year, in spring, the third month, a comet appeared at Wangliang (王良).

In the fourteenth year, in summer, the fourth month, a comet appeared at Shen (參).

In the seventeenth year the king toured the six divisions and comforted the people, and Queen Aryeong went with him. They urged and oversaw farming and the raising of silkworms, so that the good of the land might be used to the full.

In the nineteenth year, in spring, the first month, Byeonhan (卞韓) came and surrendered with its whole country. In the twenty-first year a wall was built around the capital and named Geumseong (金城). In that year Dongmyeong, the founder of Goguryeo, ascended the throne.

In the twenty-fourth year, in summer, the sixth month, on the last day imsin, the sun was eclipsed.

In the twenty-sixth year, in spring, the first month, palace halls were built at Geumseong.

In the thirtieth year, in summer, the fourth month, on the last day gihae, the sun was eclipsed. The people of Nangnang led troops and came to invade. They saw that the border people did not bar their doors at night and that the grain lay heaped in the open fields, and they said to one another, "The people of this land do not steal from one another. This may be called a country that has the Way. If we send troops in secret and fall upon them, we are no different from thieves. Would we not be ashamed?" So they led their troops back.

In the thirty-second year, in autumn, the eighth month, on the last day eulmyo, the sun was eclipsed. In the thirty-eighth year, in spring, the second month, Hogong (瓠公) was sent as envoy to Mahan. The king of Mahan rebuked Hogong and said, "Jinhan and Byeonhan, the two Han, are our vassal states, yet for years now they have sent no tribute. Is this how the rite of serving a great state is kept?"

Hogong answered, "Since the two sages first arose in our country, the affairs of men have been set in order, the seasons of heaven have been mild, the granaries are full, and the people are respectful and yielding. From the remaining people of Jinhan to Byeonhan, Nangnang, and the Wa, there is none who does not fear us and turn to us. Yet our king is humble, and he has sent a lesser subject to pay his respects. This may be called more than the rite requires. But the great king is greatly angered and threatens us with troops. What is the meaning of this?"

The king was enraged and wished to kill him, but those about him remonstrated and stopped it, and he let Hogong return.

Before this, many people of China who suffered under the troubles of Qin had come east. Most of them settled east of Mahan and lived mixed among the people of Jinhan. By this time they had gradually grown strong, and so Mahan resented them and found fault.

As for Hogong, his clan and surname are not known. He was a Wa by birth. At the start he crossed the sea with a gourd tied at his waist, and so he was called Hogong.

In the thirty-ninth year the king of Mahan died. Someone spoke to the king and said, "The king of Seohan (西韓) insulted our envoy before. Now, if we attack him while he is in mourning, his country will not be hard to settle." The king said, "To take another's disaster as good fortune is not benevolent." He did not follow the advice, and he sent an envoy to offer condolences.

In the fortieth year Onjo, the founder of Baekje, ascended the throne.

In the forty-third year, in spring, the second month, on the last day eulyu, the sun was eclipsed.

In the fifty-third year an envoy of Eastern Okjeo came and presented twenty fine horses, saying, "Our lord heard that a sage had arisen in Namhan (南韓), and so he sent his servant to bring this offering." In the fifty-fourth year, in spring, the second month, on the day giyu, a comet appeared at Hegu (河鼓).

In the fifty-sixth year, in spring, the first month, on the first day sinchuk, the sun was eclipsed.

In the fifty-ninth year, in autumn, the ninth month, on the last day musin, the sun was eclipsed.

In the sixtieth year, in autumn, the ninth month, two dragons appeared in a well at Geumseong. There was violent thunder and rain, and lightning struck the south gate of the wall.

In the sixty-first year, in spring, the third month, the Geoseogan died. He was buried at Sareung (蛇陵), which lies north of Damamsa (曇巖寺).