Korean History Midterm Review Sheet 10/13/13 8:33 PM

Basic Chronology of Korean History:

???àca. 5,000 BCE Paleolithic culture

Ca. 5,000-500 BCE Neolithic: Chulmun ‘comb-mark’ pottery

Ca. 500 BCE- Bronze culture/Mumun ‘no-mark’ pottery

Ca. 5th c. BCE- Iron culture

Ca. 190-108 BCE Wiman Choson/Weiman Chaoxian

108 BCE Han invades & establishes commanderiesà313 CE

c. 1st BCE-3rd CE ‘THREE HAN’ peoples in southern peninsula

4th c. CE-670 ‘THREE KINGDOMS': Koguryo, Paekche, Silla

660CE Silla-Tang alliance defeats Paekche

668CE Silla-Tang alliance defeats Koguryo

668-935 Unified Silla

918-1392 Koryo kingdom

1392-1910 Choson dynasty

1897-1910 Greater Han Empire

1910-1945 Colonial period

1945-present Korea divided at 38th parallel

PEOPLE

Tan’gun:

2333 BCE

“Old Chosŏn”

Tan’gun Mythà divine origin strengthens/validates leadership

o Shows that Tan-gun served as both a religious and political

ruler and his divine origins enhanced the dignity and authority

of his political leadership

Source of spiritual comfort in times of crisis

*Taejonggyo (Religion of Tan’gun Worshippers) founded in 1909

King Kwanggaet’o of Koguryo:

Koguryŏ’s expansion (5th C, 399-493)

Responsible for conquering Manchuria

o Led to Silla & Paekche alliance to combat growing Koguryo

Legacy: expanding Koguryo territory to include that lost to Paekche

before and Manchuria

Choe Chiwon:

a noted Korean Confucian official, philosopher, and poet of the

late Unified Silla period 

He studied for many years in Tang China, passed the Tang imperial

examination, and rose to high office there before returning to Silla,

where he made ultimately futile attempts to reform the

governmental apparatus of a declining Silla state

He was of "head rank six" class and as a member of head rank six,

Choe was restricted in the level of office he could attain

One outlet advance beyond the traditional confines of the Silla

social-political order was to become a Buddhist monk and another

was to take up the study of Confucianism.

When Choe was twelve years of age, in 869, his father sent him to

study in Tang, seeing him off with the admonition that if he did not

pass the Chinese imperial examination within ten years he would

cease to be his son

In 894 Choe submitted to Silla's Queen Jinseong(r. 887-897) his "Ten

Urgent Points of Reform" for the Silla but it fell upon deaf ears

The bone-rank system prevented him from attaining political

momentum and enacting the reforms he sought for Silla upon his

return from China

Chang Pogo:

Rose to prominence in Korea in the late Unified Silla period as a

powerful maritime figure who for several decades effectively

controlled the West Sea (Yellow Sea) and Korean coast between

southwestern Korea and China's Shandong peninsula

Silla subjects living in Tang had become a favored target of bandits,

who sold their captives into slavery

Commissioned by the king to head a garrison and army to combat

attacks on Koreans

ang proved instrumental in the seizure of power by Silla's King

Sinmu following the overthrow of King Minae. Kim Ujing (later King

Sinmu) approached Jang for help in taking the throne from the

usurper who had killed Ujing‘s father

So influential a figure did Jang become in late Silla politics that he

was granted official office as Maritime Commissioner of

the Cheonghaejin and came near to marrying his daughter into the

Silla Royal House before his assassination in 846. He was

worshipped as a god following his death.

Wang Kon:

was the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled Korea from the

10th to the 14th century

He promoted Buddhism as Goryeo's national religion, and called for

the reconquest of the northern parts of Korea and Manchuria, which

were controlled by Balhae

Unified the later three kingdoms

o Wang Gon's unification in 936 was a more complete

unification the people of the Korean Peninsula thereafter

remained under a single, unified state (even changing

dynasties, to the Joseon Dynasty

Taejo sought to bring even his enemies into his ruling coalition. He

gave titles and land to rulers and nobles from the various countries

he had defeated

Ten Injunctions

King Kwangjong:

The fourth king of Goryeo. He was known for squashing his political

rivals and creating an atmosphere of fear within the political realm

at the time

The focus of his reform was strengthening the power of King. He

started to drive out powerful clans from the Goryeo court.

He brought Ssang Gi and naturalized people from China into his

court and started aggressive reforms.

He made the law of emancipating slaves 958, and the national civil

service examination in 958

o the national civil service examination helped the Goryeo court

furnish new faces and expel people of powerful clans.

Powerful clans were unhappy because of his aggressive attitude and

reforms. They perceived that they would be purged by him

intuitively. Finally, some of them had the intention to revolt.

However, they were killed by him before the revolt. Typical

examples of the executed were Prince Heunghwa and Prince

Gyeongchunwon

Choe Sungno 927-989:

Detailed reform proposal

Centralized bureaucracy

Confucian kingly rule

o An anti-Buddhist?

o Separation of religion from government

Slavery?? Sumptuary regulations?

o only a partial modification

Yi Che-hyon:

Korean painter, connoisseur, scholar and statesman.

In 1301 he won first place in the state examination and thereafter

his official career took him steadily to the post, in 1356, of Chief

Minister of the Chancellery for State Affairs

Active in the Koryo period (918-1392), he served five sovereigns

during his years in office and made many trips to Yanjing and to

Dadu, the capital of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), on behalf of his

country.

After King Ch'ungson (reg 1308-13), who spent more time in Yanjing

than in the Koryo capital of Songdo, had built the Man'gwondang

(Hall of Ten Thousand Volumes) in Yanjing, Yi Che-hyon was called

to China in 1314.

Yi Che-hyon is credited with having brought Zhao Mengfu's

calligraphic style to Korea, where it remained popular until the 16th

century

Neo-Confucian reformer

Reform proposal –restoring civilian rule

Criticizing Buddhism

Transferred authority to civil agencies

Kim Pusik:

Wrote Samguk Sagi which is also known as “The History of the

Three Kingdoms of Korea”

o played a very important role in providing information of early

life of Koreans and also the norm of the society, in the ancient

period of the three divided countries of Chosun

Yi Songgye:

Pro-Yuan vs. anti-Yuan

Founding of Ming dynasty (1368): stick with Mongols, or go with

Ming?

Japanese WAKO pirates

The rise of YI Sŏnggye:

successful campaigns against Wako raids

Return of Yi’s troop in 1388 [Wihwa Island]

Establishment of Choson dynasty in 1392

Capital at Hanyang (Seoul) in 1395

Chong To-jon:

First meeting between General YI Sŏnggye and CHŎNG Tojŏn in

1383: an alliance of mutual convenience

General Yi’s overthrow of the Koryŏ ruling order in 1388

Establishment of Chosŏn dynasty in 1392

The most influential figure in establishing the fundamental contours

of early Chosŏn government and society

Death of CHŎNG and YI Pangwŏn (King Taejong, r. 1400-18)

King Sejong:

the fourth king of Joseon

Sejong reinforced Confucian policies and executed major legal

amendments

He also oversaw the creation of Hangul, encouraged advancements of

scientific technology, and instituted many other efforts to stabilize and

improve prosperity

He dispatched military campaigns to the north and installed Samin

Policy to attract new settlers to the region.

To the south, he subjugated Japanese raiders and captured Tsushima

Island

Taejong’s consolidating of power of the monarchy by eliminating

political opponents such as government ministers who had contributed

to the founding of Joseon provided Sejong with unchallenged political

authority during his reign.

revolutionized government by appointing people throughout different

social classes to civil servants. Furthermore, he performed official

government events according to Confucianism, and he encouraged

people to behave according to Confucianism. As a result, Confucianism

became social norm. He also published some books about

Confucianism.

At first, he suppressed Buddhism, but he alleviated his action by

building temples and accepting Buddhism by making a test to become

a monk 

Supported the advancement of Korean military technology,

including cannon development, gunpowder use, etc.

 Gihae Eastern Expedition: the ultimate goal of this military expedition

to remove the nuisance of Japanese pirates who had been operating

out of Tsushima Island.

During the expedition, 245 Japanese were killed, and another

110 were captured in combat, while 180 Korean soldiers were

killed. 146 Chinese and 8 Korean kidnapped were liberated by

this expedition.

In September 1419 a truce was made and the Korean army

returned to Korea, but the Treaty of Gyehae was signed in 1443,

in which the Daimyo of Tsushima promised to pay tribute to the

King of Joseon; in return, the Joseon court rewarded the Sō clan

with preferential rights regarding trade between Japan and

Korea.

In 1433, Sejong sent Kim Jongseo , a prominent general, north to

destroy the Manchu. Kim's military campaign captured several castles,

pushed north, and restored Korean territory, to the Songhua River

helped farmers so he decided to create a farmer's handbook: Nongsa

jikseol 

contained information about the different farming techniques

that he told scientists to gather in different regions of Korea.

These techniques were needed in order to maintain the newly-

adopted methods of intensive, continuous cultivation in Korean

agriculture

Jang Yeong-sil became known as a prominent inventor but was at

the bottom of the social class.

Sejong instead believed Jang merited support because of his ability.

Jang created new significant designs for water clocks, armillary

spheres, sundials, and rain gauge

Had his astronomers create a calendar with the Korean capital

of Seoul as the primary meridian and this new system allowed

Korean astronomers to accurately predict the timing of solar and

lunar eclipses

Two important treatises were written during the reign of Sejong.

o Hyangyak jipseongbang and Euibang yuchwi,

o Historian Kim Yongsik says they represent 'Koreans' efforts to

develop their own system of medical knowledge, distinct from

that of China.

Sejong depended on the agricultural produce of Joseon's farmers, so

he allowed them to pay more or less tax according to fluctuations of

economic prosperity or hard times

Once the palace had a significant surplus of food, King Sejong then

distributed food to poor peasants or farmers who needed it

He composed the famous Yongbi Eocheon Ga ("Songs of Flying

Dragons", 1445), Seokbo Sangjeol ("Episodes from the Life of

Buddha", July 1447), Worin Cheon-gang Jigok ("Songs of the Moon

Shining on a Thousand Rivers", July 1447), and the

reference Dongguk Jeong-un ("Dictionary of Proper Sino-Korean

Pronunciation", September 1447).

established the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon) at

the Gyeongbokgung Palace. It consisted of scholars selected by the

king.

HISTORY

Old Choson:

2333 BC-108 BC

Tangun origin Myth/Legend

Old Joseon combined with other town-states to form a single large

confederation

Coincided with the Iron Age

o Iron culture led to increased food production

o Emergence of stratified societyà rich vs. poor

o Increased outputs were monopolized by the ruling class which

increased the gap between the rich and the poor

o Introduction of sophisticated iron tools

o Indication of a separate elite ruling class

Wiman Choson:

190-108 BCE

Old Joseon entered decline after pressure from Yen China and was

made into a commandery under the Yen

Ensuing century it fell under domain of various Chinese dynasties

Resulting confusion and instability led to refugee populations to

migrate

Wiman, a Chinese refugee emerged as a leader and took control of

Old Joseon in a coup, usurping King Jun

Bore heavy Chinese influence politically, economically, and socially

Still maintained heavy Old Joseon influences

Expanded territory due to economic/military strength

Sought to play intermediary role in trade b/w Han China

Wiman’s growth in power provoked invasion by Han Dynasty

Internal dissension/defections led to weakening/defeat of Wiman

Joseon

Led to formation of Chinese Commandaries

Han Commendaries:

After fall of Wiman Joseon Chinese established 4 commandaries on

the Korean peninsula:

o Lelang (Nangnang) - based at P’yongyang

o Lintun (Imdun) – abolished in 82BC

o Zhenfan (Chinbon) – abolished in 82BC

o Xuantu (Hyondo) –moved to NW of Koguryo in 75BC

Lelang:

o Core area in which Chinese colonial policy in Korea was

carried out

o Chinese exercised a certain degree of control wile permitting

political freedom to people they ruled

o Old Joseon society became eroded

o Chinese culture was absorbed while maintaining political

independence which allowed native societies to thrive and

survive

o Colonial interpretation

o North Korean denial

o Native states’ resistances

o Emphasis on native ability to embrace advanced culture

The Three Kingdoms

Developmental Stages:

o Incorporating/conquering small states

o Aristocratic central officials—subjugating local lords to central

authority

o Strong Kingship via marriage system

Father-son succession

o Formal diplomatic relationship with states in China

Military confrontation

Taking advantage of the conflict within China

Ardent adoption of Chinese culture and institution

o Territory expansion through conquest and compilation of

history

o Bureaucratic institutions, writing system, literary culture, laws

o Territory expansion through conquest and compilation of

history

o Buddhism: political purpose through spiritual unification

Koguryo State Formation (37 BC-668 CE):

o Interaction with the Han commandery Xuantu

Tax and corvee system

o Social arrangement: top-down, centralized leadership,

hierarchical

o Koguryŏ’s seizure of Xuantu commandery

o Right to throne was secured by a single royal house

o Many measures taken to strengthen kingly authority and

centralized governmental structure

o Succession to throne was father to son, queens came from

one aristocratic house

o Invasion from Paekchae led Koguryo to reshape the pattern of

institutions

o King Sosurim (371-384) adopted Buddhism and established a

National Confucian Academy in 372 and instituted a code of

administrative law in 373

o These reforms made external expansion possible

o King Kwanggaet’o (391-413) claimed the Liao-tung region,

Manchuria, parts of Paekchae, and crushed Wa forces

o Kwanggaet’o succeeded by son Chansu (413-491)

o Held china in check by maintaining ties with oth the

northern/southern dynasties

o Moved Koguryo capital to P’yongyang

o In 475 Koguryo seized Paekche capital at Hansong and

beheaded the king

o Supremacy battle with China

Paekche

o Developed out of a walled town state in Mahan Area

o Led my King Koi to consolidate centralized authority

o King Kun Cho’go (346-375)

“warrior king”

Killsed the Koguryo King, Kogugwon, and seized large

portion of Korean peninsula

Father to son succession, kings could choose their wives

from a single aristocratic house

o King Ch’ogo commanded Kohung to compile the Sogi, a

historical compilation to legitimize and chronicle his newly

expanded authority and territory

o Ch’ogo’s grandson adopted Buddhism as the state religion in

384

Silla:

o Evolved out of the walled town state of Saro

o Royal house monopolized by King Naemul’s Kim house

o Enlisted help of Koguryo to combat Paekche/Wa forces

o Difficulties with outside enemies hindered internal

developments

o Later on post stations were developed, markets, etc.

o Pressure exerted on frontiers by Koguryo so Silla formed

alliance with Paekche in 433à carried out joint military

excursions

o Under King Chijun (500-514) development of agricultural

technology led to increase in food production

o King Pophung promulgated a code of administrative law (17

grade office rank structure and instituted bone rank system

o Adoption of Buddhism as the state religion in 535 provided an

ideological underpinning for national unity and solidarity in

the newly centralized state

o Silla pursued territorial conquests and succeeded in gaining

Han river area and the Naktong river basin under king

Chinhung

o Paekche was betrayed by Silla when Silla claimed the Han

river basin for themselves

Bone Rank System:

Tightly defined aristocracy

o Holy Bones: dominating the throne until the early 7th century

o True Bones

Hwarang:

An elite group of male youth in Silla, an ancient Korean kingdom

that lasted until the 10th century

Mainly focused on Buddhist teachings

The establishment of Hwarang took place in the context of

tightening central state control, a complement to

the golpum system and a symbol of harmony and compromise

between the king and the aristocracy

Silla’s Unification:

Centralized bureaucracy

o General Bureau of Administration (Chipsabu)

o Ministries of personnel, revenue, rites, royal household affairs,

the left ministry of justice , and the right, and ministry of

public works

o Local Administration

o Land: “national” ownership of land

o Village level administration: Census register (755)

o Promoting Confucian and Buddhist teachings

o Ch’oe Ch’iwŏn (857-?) and rigidity of the Silla Social

hierarchy

Head Rank Six

o Distinct Silla culture

Royal marriage system

Silla Kings from Kim family; Queen’s from Pak family

The cross-cousin marriage

o Powerful aristocrats

strict sumptuary regulations

Silla’s Decline:

o Political instability

o Reemergence of Sangdaedŭng power

o Dissatisfaction among the Head Rank Six group

o Growth of independent economic/military power

o Draining of state revenue

o The rise of local power

Chang Pogo (d. 846)’s Wan Island

o Local rebellions

The fall of Tang in 907

Heavy tax burden

Limited centralization and growth of local power-holders

Parhae:

Founder: Tae Choyŏng

Expanding territory

in à Parhae (in 706)

Parhae’s status Korean historiography

Research on Parhae history

Nationalists in 20th C

North Korea

South Korea

Continuation of Koguryŏ? Or multiethinc dynasty?

Later Three Kingdoms Period

900: Later Paekche Dynasty (Kyǒn Hwǒn)

901: Later Koguryǒ Dynasty (Kyungye)

918: Koryo Dynasty (WANG Kǒn) capital at Kaes ǒ ng

935: End of Silla

936: WANG Kǒn destroys ‘Later Paekche’

Leads to the formation of Koryo

Koryo:

Early Koryo Society:

o The pon’gwan aristocracy

e.g. Kyǒngju KIM

o Hereditary slavery

reached 30 % of the population by the 12th century

Koryǒ a slave society?

Social hierarchy

o The royal clan

o The elite -> yangban (two orders: the civil officials and

military officials)

o Lower officials & regional clerks

o The commoners

o Slaves

King Kwangjong’s Reforms:

o Slave Investigation Act 956

o Military Reforms

o Civil service examination system (958)

local aristocrats to enter central bureaucracy

broader elite structure

o Central government: three departments and six boards

o Local administration –Prefecture/County system

o Centralized school system - King Sŏngjong (992)

Family, kinship groups & the role of women

o Uxorilocal marriage <-> patrilocal

o Inheritance rights -> OK!

o Divorce -> OK!

o Wife’s family Co Cross marriage between cousins

Aristocratic politics, 11th and 12th Centuries

o Powerful clans and lineages

o Kyǒngju CH’OE, Haeju CH’OE, Kyǒngwǒn YI

o The Myoch’ŏng Rebellion in 1135

o Myoch’ŏng? A Buddhist monk, anti-Confucianist

o Western Capital ßà Capital Kaegyŏng

o Myoch’ŏng challenged:

o 1)Aristocratic power in the capital

o 2)Tributary relationship with foreign power

o 3)Politics of Confucians

o Geomancy and the Western capital

o The Rebellion

o Kim Pusik and the end of the rebellion in 1136

Mongol Conquest of Koryo:

o Northern expansion policy

o Constant conflict with northern tribes

Khitan’s Liao dynasty (907-1119)

First expedition in 993—SŎ Hui’s diplomatic

victory

Second invasion in1010; Third invasion in 1018—

The Great Victory by KANG Kamch’an

Long walls (1033-44)

o Jurchen’s Chin dynasty (1115-1234)

Special military force

YUN Kwan and nine fortifications in NE region

Koryŏ’s relation with Sung China

o Koryŏ diplomacy: Balance of power and shifting allegiance

Military Coup d’etat in 1170

King Ŭijong (r. 1146-70): bureaucratic corruption, domestic

rebellions, piracy, neglect of business

The Decline and fall of Civilian Rule

o Civil contempt for military officials

o Military Coup d’état in 1170

Military Rule 1170-1259

o military take over of the civil government

o turning point in Koryǒ history

o New military leadership/ new order

The Myochong Rebellion

The Choe family regime (1196)

CH’OE Ch’unghǒn -> U -> Hang -> Ŭi

o Endless turmoil:

Slave uprisings, popular rebellions

Mongol invasions

o Reform efforts

The Supreme Agency -> military headquarter

Tax-collecting agents

Civil service examinations/ supports for scholars &

literary activities

The Mongol invasion:

Mongol invasion, 1231

o Chinggis Khan (1167-1127)—Yuan dynasty (1206-1368)

o Surrender or resist??

o Evacuation of capital to Kanghwa Island

Second invasion, 1234

o Collapse of the Ch’OE family

o The end of the invasion,1259

o Return to the capital, 1270

Mongol Rule over Koryo:

o Indirect government administration

o Marriage tie to Yuan imperial family

The Mongol Invasions to Japan

o First attempt, 1274

o Second attempt, 1281

o “Kamikaze (divine winds)”

o A third attempt?

King Kongmin (r. 1351-74)’s reform

o NO pro-Mongol aristocrats, military officials

o Land reform

o Introduction of the Neo-Confucianism by AN Hyang (1286)

o Zhu Xi’s teaching as a subject for study

o King Kongmin’s support—National Academy

YI Chehyǒn (1287-1367)

o Neo-Confucian reformer

o Reform proposal –restoring civilian rule

o Criticizing Buddhism

o Transferred authority to civil agencies

Koryo-Joseon Dynastic Change: Social Revolution?

YI Sŏnggye (1335-1408): Dynastic Founder

o A military leader in the Koryŏ dynasty, he rose through the

ranks by battling invading forces.

o He defeated his rivals and drove out the last king of the Koryŏ

dynasty, taking the throne in 1392.

o He established his capital at Hanyang (now Seoul).

o He and his successors redistributed land, which had been

concentrated in the hands of a few high-ranking bureaucrats,

throughout the various levels of officialdom.

o In a break with the past, he made Neo-Confucianism the

state religion, replacing Buddhism.

o Farming was made the center of the economy.

o In foreign relations, he maintained a close relationship with

China’s Ming dynasty

Chong Tojon (1337-98)

o Instrumental in establishing early Joseon government/society

o Korean Neo-Confucian scholar who helped to overthrow the

Koryŏ kingdom (918–1392 ce) and establish the Chosŏn

kingdom (1392–1910).

o He was of a nonaristocratic family and promoted Confucian

learning and the rise of the bureaucratic class.

o With the fall of the Koryo patronage of Buddhism and the rise

of the Chosŏn kingdom, he championed a sweeping reform of

education and government along Neo-Confucian lines.

o Related to these reforms were his polemical writings

against Buddhism, Daoism, and other traditional shamanistic

practices.

o Adhering to an exclusive Neo-Confucian political ideology and

philosophical metaphysics, he condemned Buddhism and

Daoism as being inherently antithetical to public-spirited

service.

Yi SonggyeàTaejo

o Sons/Succession

Chŏngjong (r. 1398-1400)—2nd son of Queen Han;

voluntary abdication

T’aejong (YI Pangwŏn; r. 1400-18)—5th son of Queen

Han

Prince Pangsok –2nd son of Lady Kang; killed by Pangwŏn

o The First Strife of Princes

o “Hamhŭgch’asa”: he came in - he never come back

Dynastic Change a Social Revolution or Renaissance?

o Confucianism’s impact on Korean history; location of

“legitimate” Korean tradition; flow of premodern Korean

history

o Confucian renaissance – the primacy of ideology in driving the

events

o A revolutionary moment –driven by material changes and

socioeconomic imperatives

Duncan’s argument

Neither a social nor an ideological revolution—a historical moment

limited in significance to the realm of politics

OTHERS

Three B’s:

Brush: Writing system, literary culture, territory expansion through

conquest and compilation of history

Buddhism: Political purpose through spiritual unification

Bureaucracy: Bureaucratic institutions, Laws

Buddhism:

Buddhism: political purpose through spiritual unification

Cohesive, legitimating, and integrating forces

Syncretism

Charismatic individuals: growth and development

Spiritual protection

State’s control of Buddhist religious community

o State’s control its populace via Buddhism

Economically powerful monasteries

Monks’ engagement in various businesses

Amicably coexistied with Confucianism

Mahayana Buddhism:

o GREATER VEHICLE (Mahayana)

o Based on texts (SUTRAS) recounting the preaching of the

historical Buddha

o Originally in Sanskrit & other Indian or Central Asian

languages; ‘TRANSLATION‘

o Infinite number of Buddhas & universes

o Prior condition or phenomenon

o KARMA

o Corporeal existence and countless previous lives

o Seeking escape from the endless cycle of rebirth and re-death

o Attaining 'enlightenment’: 'Zen'

Being 'saved' by a buddha or other enlightened being:

'Pure Land

Koguryo mural painting:

The tombs, many with beautiful wall paintings, are almost the only

remains of this culture.

Almost half of these tombs are located on this site and they are

thought to have been made for the burial of kings, members of the

royal family and the aristocracy. These paintings offer a unique

testimony to daily life of this period.

The Complex of Koguryo Tombs represents an exceptional

testimony to the Koguryo culture, its burial customs, daily life and

beliefs. The special burial customs of this culture had an important

influence on other cultures in the region, including those of Japan.

Ten injunctions (934 CE):

powerful influence throughout the dynasty

Injection 1:

o The success of every great undertaking of our state depends

upon the favor and protection of Buddha. Therefore, the

temples of both Meditation and Doctrinal schools should be

built and monks should be sent out to those temples to

minister to Buddha…

Injection 2:

o Temples and monasteries were newly opened and built upon

the sites chose by the monk Tosǒn according to the principles

of geomancy. He said: “If temples and monasteries are

indiscriminately built at locations not chosen by me, the

terrestrial force and energy will be sapped and damaged,

hastening the decline of the dynasty...”

Injunction 4:

o In the past, we have always had a deep attachment for the

ways of China and all of our institutions have been modeled

upon those of T’ang. But out country occupies a different

geographical location and our people’s character is different

from that of the Chinese. Hence, there is no reason to strain

ourselves unreasonably to occupy the Chinese way…

Injunction 8:

o The topographical features of the territory south of Kongju

and beyond the Kongju River are all treacherous and

disharmonious; its inhabitants are treacherous and

disharmonious as well. For that reason, if they are allowed to

participate in the affairs of state, to intermarry with the royal

family, aristocracy, and royal relatives, and to take the power

of the state, they might imperil the state or injure the royal

safety—grudging the loss of their own state [which used to be

the kingdom of Paekche] and being resentful of the

unification….

Historical Records of the Three Kingdoms (Samguk Sagi)

by KIM Pusik (1075-1151)

priority of Silla over Paekche and Koguryǒ

Confucian, didactic

a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of

Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The Samguk Sagi is written

in Classical Chinese (the written language of the literati in

traditional Korea) and its compilation was ordered by Goryeo's King

Injong

undertaken by the government official and historian Kim Busik and

completed in 1145

motives:

o One was to fill the vast gap in knowledge concerning Korea's

Three Kingdom Era. Though each of the three kingdoms

ofGoguryeo, Baekje, and Silla had apparently produced their

own histories, these were largely lost in the continual wars,

the fall of Goguryeo and Baekje, and the dispersal of their

records.

o The other motive was to produce a history that would serve to

educate native Korean literati in native history, and provide

them with Korean exemplars of Confucian virtues. This was

especially important in mid-Goryeo as that dynasty became

increasingly Confucianized

Some Korean historians are critical of the records provided in

the Samguk Sagi, citing a bias towards China and the Silla-centered

view of the Three Kingdoms period

Kim Busik's history is critical to the study of Korean history during

the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla periods.

recent archaeological evidence provides verification of astronomical

events, and comparison with Chinese and Japanese records have

shown the Samguk Sagi to be surprisingly accurate

Written for Goryeo’s quest, through the writing of the Samguk Sagi,

to secure its legitimacy and establish its continuation of the

Mandate of Heaven from the Three Kingdoms, meant as a

necessary consequence that the compilers of the Samguk Sagi,

emphasized United Silla, the last survivor among the Three

Kingdoms, and ignored Balhae.

Memorabilla of the Three Kingdoms (Samguk yusa):

• by Buddhist monk, Iryǒn (1206-89)

• tradition & tales/ Buddhist themes

• Tangun myth

• a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to

the Three Kingdoms of Korea, as well as to other periods and states

before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period

• Many of the founding legends of the various kingdoms in Korean

history are recorded in the book.

Uxorilocal Marriage:

During the Koryo Dynasty women enjoyed nearly equal status with

men

o due to equal inheritance laws that gave both daughters and

sons a share in family property.

o Brothers and sisters (siblings) enjoyed equal status within the

family, and the bond between siblings functioned alongside

marriage ties.

o The relatively equal status of women was also due in part to

the uxorilocal marriage system under which the

bridegroom moved into the household of his wife's family for a

time.

During Choson Era:

o Marriage customs and patterns of inheritance also changed

under the Confucian model.

o In place of the old Korean custom of the bridegroom living for

a time with his wife's family, Confucian practice required the

bride to move into the home of her husband's family.

o There, she was defined by her role in his family as wife,

daughter-in-law, mother, or widow. Under the Confucian

inheritance system, property passed to male heirs.

o Thus Korean women lost the inheritance rights that they had

enjoyed in earlier times.

o During the Choson Dynasty, therefore, the status of women in

society and their economic independence declined.

Neo-Confucianism:

Neo-Confucianism was introduced to Korea by An

Hyang during Goryeo dynasty

Buddhism, and organized religion in general was considered

poisonous to the neo-Confucian order. Buddhism was accordingly

restricted and occasionally persecuted by the new dynasty

Neo-Confucianism encouraged education and there were a number

of neo-Confucian schools founded throughout the country that

produced many neo-Confucian scholars

neo-Confucianism in the Joseon Dynasty became so dogmatic in a

relatively rapid time that it prevented much needed socio-economic

development and change, and led to internal divisions and criticism

of many new theories

Yangban:

the highest social class of the Yi dynasty(1392–1910) of Korea.

It consisted of both munban, or civilian officials, and muban, or

military officials.

The term yangban originated in the Koryŏ dynasty (935–1392),

when civil service examinations were held under the two categories

of munkwa (civilian) and mukwa (military).

By the Yi dynasty, the term came to designate the entire

landholding class.

The Yi dynasty had a rigidly hierarchical class system composed

broadly of four classes: yangban, chungin (intermediate

class), sangmin (common people), and ch’ŏnmin (lowborn people).

The yangban were granted many privileges by the state, including

land and stipends, according to their official grade and status.

They alone were entitled to take civil service examinations and

were exempt from military duty and corvée labour.

They were even permitted to have their slaves serve their own

terms of punishment.

The rules to which the yangban were subjected were severe. Unless

at least one of their family members within three successive

generations was admitted to the officialdom, they were deprived of

their yangban status.

They were expected always to exhibit courtesy and righteousness

and to be prepared to sacrifice their lives for a greater cause. No

matter how poor, they were not supposed to show a shred of

meanness in their behavior.

The yangban system, corrupted and deemed pernicious to social

development, was discarded in 1894, when a series of modern

reforms were effected.

Hanyang (Seoul):

New capital of Joseon Dynasty

Moved bt Yi Songgye to legitimize his new dynasty and to curve the

power of the aristocracy former Koryo dynasty

Picked based on geomancy

Western Capital (Pyongyang)

Capital of former Old Choson Kingdom and Koguryo

the city was revived as Seogyŏng during Koryo dynasty or “western

capital”

Serving the greater (sadae)

a descriptive label for bilateral foreign relations between Imperial

China and Joseon dynasty Korea.Sadae is also understood as

relevant in understanding pre-Joseon diplomacy

Sadae describes a foreign policy characterized by the various ways

a small country acknowledges the strength of a greater power like

that of China. 

Sadae is made manifest in the actions of the weaker state as it

conveys goodwill and respect through its envoys.

The Joseon Dynasty made every effort to maintain a friendly

relationship with Beijing for reasons having to do

with realpolitik and with an idealized Confucian worldview

Sadae construes China as the center of a Confucian moral universe

The Joseon foreign policy was organized around maintaining stable

Joseon-Chinese relations in the period from 1392 through 1895

The concept of sadae is contrasted with limited trade relationships

or kyorin diplomacy which marked Joseon-Japanese relations in this

period.

Tributary System

Premised on the belief that China was the cultural center of the

universe and that all non-Chinese were uncivilized "barbarians."

Since the Chinese ruler, “the Son of Heaven,” was considered the

ruler of all humankind, all other “barbarian” rulers were mere local

chieftains owing allegiance to Beijing

Countries wanting to trade with China had to send “tribute”

missions that legitimized China's superiority and suzerainty and in

return they could trade for a specified number of days at border

points designated by Beijing

Asian states wanting to trade with China continued to pay regular

tribute to Beijing

Mutually beneficial for both Korea and China

o Korea was under the protection of the larger more powerful

China

o China received tributary from Korea in the form of trade and

gifts/payments

Korean Alphabet (Hangul)

alphabetic system used for writing the Korean language

consists of 24 letters, including 14 consonant and 10 vowel symbols.

The development of the Hangul alphabet is traditionally ascribed

to Sejong, fourth king of the Yi dynasty

the system was made the official writing system for the Korean

language in the mid-1440s by one of Sejong’s decrees.

Because of the influence of Confucianism and of Chinese culture,

however, Hangul was not used by scholars or Koreans of the upper

classes until after 1945, when Korea ceased to be under Japanese rule.

lower classes embraced it, became literate, and were able to

communicate with one another in writing.

Chungin:

The middle-class of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea

This privileged class of commoners consisted of a small group of

petty bureaucrats and other skilled workers whose technical and

administrative skills enabled the yangban and the royal family to

rule the lower classes

Chungin were the lifeblood of the Confucian agrarian bureaucracy,

for whom the upper classes depended on to maintain their vice-like

hold on the people

the chungin were lower than the yangban aristocracy but above

commoners in social status

Included government-employed technical specialists (e.g.

interpreters, physicians, jurists, astronomers, accountants,

calligraphers, and musicians), military officers from or had marriage

ties to the families producing technical specialists, hereditary

government functionaries (both capital and local), and illegitimate

children of aristocrats.

chungin enjoyed far more privileges and influence than commoners.

o the chungin were not taxed nor subject to military

conscription.

o they were allowed to live in the central part of the city,

o the chungin tended to marry within their own class as well as

into the yangban class.

o they were eligible to enter the palace as royal servants

o it was possible for a chungin girl, if her father had a clean

reputation or good connections and she was able to catch

the king or Queen Dowager's good eye, to become a royal

consort or even a Royal Noble Consort

o To become a chungin, passing the chapkwa examination,

which tested their practical knowledge of certain skills, was

usually required

o

Korean Slaves (nobi):

Nobi is the Korean word for a system of servitude

nobi were considered property

They could be bought, sold, and given as gifts

Their owners were responsible for their care and well-being, and to

a certain extent, legally responsible for their actions. In practice

however, virtually no legal protection was accorded nobi.

Nobi could own property in many cases, and were allowed to marry

and rear children

Nobi were often made to work as servants, such as in the

households of members of the Yangban class, or as field laborers, or

as public servants in the courts

They were often people being punished for the commission of a

crime or the failure to pay a debt.

However, becoming a nobi voluntarily was possible; this might be

done to escape crushing poverty. Some were tattooed with a

distinguishing mark to denote their status and to dissuade escape.

Female Entertainer (Kiasaeng)

First appeared in the Goryeo Dynasty; kisaeng were legally

entertainers of the government, required to perform various

functions for the state

Many were employed at court, but they were also spread

throughout the country.

They were carefully trained, and frequently accomplished in the fine

arts, poetry, and prose, although their talents were often ignored

due to their inferior social status.

Aside from entertainment, these roles included medical care and

needlework

Troughout the Goryeo and Joseon periods, kisaeng held the status

of cheonmin, the lowest rank of society

Status was hereditary

Kisaeng could only be released from their position if a hefty price

was paid to the government

The kisaeng were regarded as of significantly higher status than the

slaves

All kisaeng, even those who did not work as prostitute or

entertainers, were obliged by law to retire at age 50

In the later period of Joseon, a three-tiered system developed.

The highest tier was occupied by haengsu who sang and danced at

upper-class feasts. Haengsu kisaeng were not permitted to

entertain after they turned thirty. The haengsu kisaeng of each

district also took charge of discipline and training new kisaeng.

Kisaeng of the lowest tier were called samsu (삼수, 三首).

The samsu were forbidden to perform the songs and dances of

the haengsu

On occasion, even women from the yangban aristocracy were made

kisaeng, usually because they had violated the strict sexual mores

of the Joseon period

more specialized training schools were established for kisaeng of

the first tier. The course of study lasted three years and covered

poetry, dance, music, and art

Kisaeng played a number of important political roles, as servants of

the state and in their own right. They were employed to entertain

visiting foreign dignitaries from parts of China, and to accompany

them if they travelled through the country

Thanks to their frequenting the taverns and guest-houses of the

town, kisaeng were often among the most knowledgeable on local

affairs. For this reason, they were at times a key source of

intelligence. It was through information supplied by kisaeng that the

rebel army of Hong Gyeong-rae was able to easily take the fortress

of Jeongju in the early 19th century.

in the late 16th century, kisaeng were often made to entertain the

generals of the victorious army. Some of Korea's most famous

kisaeng, including Non Gae of Jinju, are remembered today for their

bravery in killing or attempting to kill leaders of the imperial

Japanese army

The Gabo Reform of 1895 officially abolished the class system of

Joseon dynasty, and slavery as well. From that year forward, all

kisaeng became nominally free. In practice, many kisaeng, like

many other slaves, continued in servitude for many years. In

addition, many of those who were freed had no alternative career;

they continued as entertainers, now without the protections

afforded by kisaeng status

Civil Service Examination

Called Gwageo, these tests measured candidates' knowledge of

the Chinese classics, and sometimes also of technical subjects.

These were the primary route for most people to achieve positions

in the aristocracy.

Based on the civil service examinations of imperial China,

the gwageo first arose in Unified Silla, gained importance in Goryeo,

and were the centerpiece of most education in the Joseon Dynasty

In Silla:

o Suggested by Choe Chiwon but due to Silla's bone rank

system, which dictated that appointments be made on the

basis of birth, these examinations did not have a strong effect

on the government

In Koryo:

o the national examinations became more systematic and

powerful than they had been under Silla

o any member of the yangin freeborn class was permitted to

take the examination, although the descendants of monks,

criminals and cheonmin were excluded

o The major examinations were literary, and came in two forms:

a composition test (jesul eop), and a test of classical

knowledge (myeonggyeong eop). 

o Military examinations were established 

In Joseon

o the examinations fell under three broad categories: the

literary examinations (mun-gwa), military examinations

(mugwa), and miscellaneous examinations (japgwa) covering

topics such as medicine, geography, astronomy, and

translation

o In theory, anyone other than slaves and chunmin could take

gwageo examinations, but in reality only yangban who had

the luxury of spending much of their childhood and early

adulthood studying could hope to pass the exam

o Gwageo examinations were very important not only for an

individual but for his family because if a yangban family that

did not produce a government official for four generations

they lost their status as yangban

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