Sin Chae-ho's Ancient History of Joseon

Sin Chae-ho’s Ancient History of Joseon was serialized in the Chosun Ilbo. It saw history as "the struggle between self and non-self" and stressed the autonomy of Korea’s ancient past.

Sin had begun nation-centred history with "A New Reading of History" (1908) and in exile concentrated on Gojoseon, Buyeo and Goguryeo. In 1931, while he was held in Lüshun Prison, the Chosun Ilbo serialized the work, which opens: "What is history? It is the record of the mental activity of human society’s struggle between self and non-self, developing through time and expanding through space."

In his Studies in Korean History he called Myocheong’s movement to move the capital to Pyongyang "the greatest event in a thousand years of Korean history", praising the nangga tradition. With Park Eun-sik he represents nationalist historiography.