In Korea, modern physical education in schools began with the Elementary School Ordinance, compose dof 29 artivles, announced in July 1895. On the 12th August in the same year the Outline of Elementary School Regulations was published in the 3rd issue of the Ordinance of theMinistry of Edcation, and based on the outline, elementary school education was expanded. The present study examined military gymnastics, which was the pivot of school gymnastics during the period since the first educational system was announced in 1985 and until the recised School Ordinance was announced in 1909, by dividing the period into the aged of the General School Ordinance. The conclusions drawn frop the results of this study are as follows. First, Physical education in schools during the age of the Elementary School Ordinance emphasized military gymnastics. At that time, the school policy of Japanese imperialism aimed at drafting Korean youth for military sercies and training them to have the collective behavioral manner of unconditional obedience to orders. In response to such a militaristic and incasice ambition of Japan, Korea emphasized military gymnastics in schoo. Second, physical education in schools during the age of the General School Ordinance sought the diversification of the contents of hymnastics education for the purpose od purging nationalism from Korean people, and crushing the spirit of national resistance promoted by military gymnastics through atandardizing and diversifying the contents of hymnastics education.