Problems in Karlgrens Hypothesis on Sino-Korean

Abstract

Karlgren(1926,1940) proposed that the Go-on readings of Sino-Japanese were transmitted directly from Eastern and Southeastern China in the sixth and seventh centuries whereas Kan-on was transmitted from Northern China by the Koreans a century later. However, his claim is contradicted not only from the historical but also from the linguistic point of view. This article claims that Go-on was transmitted by the ancient (Paekche) Koreans whereas Kan-on was transmitted from China directly to Japan.