Koryŏ III

Koryŏ under Mongol Domination

• Mongol Invasions– 7 times from 1231 to 1270– Subjugate Khitans and demanded tribute from Koryŏ

=> Koryŏ refused and killed the mongol envoys => invaded in 1231

– In 1232, the military government declared all –out resistance => moved to Kanghwa Island

– Land destruction was devastating– Kim Chun overthrew Ch’oe government seeking the

peace with Mongol in 1258– In 1270, moved back to Kaegyŏng and surrendered– Sambŏlch’o (Three Elite Patrols: Ch’oe clan controlled

military forces) resisted until 1273

• From 1270 to 1356– Koryŏ became the Son–in– law state of Mongol– King Ch’ungnyŏl (r. 1274-1308) married a daughter of the Yuan

Emperor– Koryŏ kings had princesses of the Yuan imperial house as their

primary consorts => sons of these queens usually succeeded to the throne

– Crown princes resided in Beijing as hostages until they ascending to the throne

– Koryŏ kings did not take the exalted suffixes cho (progenitor) and chong (ancestor) as part of their posthumous title => took ch’ung (loyal) as the first character of their title => loyalty to the Yuan => indicative of subordinate status

– The organs of government were renamed => less prestige

– Koryŏ became a member of one of the world’s most cosmopolitan societies

• Opportunities of travelling• Opportunity for social advancement => marriage alliance with Mongols• Many Korean adopted Mongol clothing and hairstyles• Number of foreigners to Koryŏ => government officials, merchants

– Base of two efforts to conquer Japan• Koryŏ shipbuilders, sailors, soldiers, fleets wee used to invade Japan in

1274 => typhoon season => failed => kamikaze (divine wind)• Second invasion in 1281 => failed again (typhoon)

– Mongol was indirect => the court and bureaucracy in Kaegyŏng continued to function

Policy of Accommodation• T’amna Commandery

(Cheju-do Island): supply post for horses in preparation for attack on Japan

• The legacy of the Mongol Period– Few literary and artistic works have survived– Growing consciousness of Korean cultural identity

• Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms): Buddhist tales and legends

• Chewang ungi (Songs of Emperors and Kings) Yi Sŭnghyu => rulers of Korea from Tangun

• Tongmyŏngwand p’yŏn (The Saga of King Tongmyŏng) by Yi Kyubo => let the world that our country always has been a land of hero-sages (folk tradition)

• Compiled Tripitaka Koreana (Buddhist Canon)• Number of other works on Korean history => Korea is a society with

its own traditions and history distinct from that of its neighbors– Koreans more cautious of outsiders => policy of limiting foreign

contact => the hermit Kingdom

Tripitaka Koreana (Koryŏ Tripitaka)• Buddhist scriptural canon• 1087: first carving in response to

Khitan invasions– destroyed in 13th C. Mongol

invasions• 1251: new edition completed

– Currently located at Haeinsa temple

– Considered finest of twenty versions originating in East Asia for accuracy, beauty, and carving

– KON, 80

Additional info @• http://www.ocp.go.kr/english/treasure/dom_hae.html

Koryŏ CeladonCeladon• Delicate jade-green color• Made in various shapes• Varied decorations of

clouds, cranes, willows, grapes, chrysanthemums– Slip-inlay technique

• Considered by some as world’s finest ceramic art

““Thousand Crane Vase”Thousand Crane Vase”MaebyŏngMaebyŏng [baluster] shape [baluster] shapeKoryŏ, 12th centuryKoryŏ, 12th century

The Tripitaka in storage

– Cotton and cotton clothing making• Cotton seeds: Mun Ikchŏm in 1363• Gunpowder and cannons: Ch’oe Musŏn learned the formula from

Chinese– Papermaking and printing: the world’s first moveable metal type– Medicine texts

– Emergence of new families => few ones appeared, the old aristocracy largely survived

– Gradual penetration of the central government into the countryside

– King Kongmin’s (r. 1351-1374) Reform• In 1368, the Ming China established => drove out Yuan from Beijing• Taking advantage of Yuan weakness

– Destroyed pro-Mongol faction

Yi Munsun’s Works 1241 CEmetal moveable type

– Pursued an anti-Mongol and Pro-Ming policy– Abolished the Eastern Expedition Headquarters (Mongol

kept eye on Koryŏ)– Abolished Yuan commandery– Abolished Chŏngbang (Personnel Authority): military rule– The Ming recognized Kongmin as king => adopted the

Ming calendar, re-establish tributary relationship– Select a slave monk, Sin Ton, as his chief officer =>

redistribution of lands and slaves– Sin Ton was exiled and killed– Kongmin was assassinated

– Pro-Yuan vs. Pro-Ming– The Ming were suspicious of the new

administration• General Ch’oe Yŏng became a military

commander => mobilize the country for an attack on the Ming => Sent Yi Sŏnggye – Yi Sŏnggye opposed => turned back his army

at Wihwa island => took power– End of Koryŏ => Yi Sŏnggye: founder of

Chosŏn in 1392

The U-turn that Founded a Dynasty

• Yi stops at Wihwa Island – Submits 4-point memorial against the campaign – Memorial ignored

• Yi turns back and strikes Kaesông

• Yi declares the new dynasty of Chosôn in 1392

Kaesông

Wihwa-do

Mongol Origins of Bridal Headdress