In 37 B.C., Jumong (朱蒙, 주몽), the greatest hero in Korean history, led a branch of ancient Korean people to extricate themselves from the control of the Han Empire, and founded a country named “Koguryo” (written as "高句骊" or "高句丽" in Chinese) in the Northeast Asia. The new country continually expanded its territory, and later occupied the northern part of modern-day North Korea and a part of modern-day Jilin and Liaoning Provinces of China.

Since the Southern Dynasties of ancient China, Japanese eagerly studied the advanced culture and technology from the Chinese nation. Japanese was called “Wo” (倭) by Chinese. Japanese kings paid tributes to the emperors of China every year, and the emperors conferred titles on them. The Japanese nation was a clever people, and they were eager to excel other nations. When they comprehended the culture of the Chinese nation, they found the name and status of their nation were not well. So Japanese wanted to show their self-respect to the Central Nation.