Topics In Korean History

 

Korean History

People often ask me, “Why are you interested in Korean history? Isn’t it just so sad?”

Well, they are partially right. Much of Korean history -ancient and modern- is a tragic story of suffering and wasted lives, but throughout it rings a beautiful story of a people who have managed to maintain a unique culture in the face of enormous difficulties.

The Rose of Sharon - The Flower of Eternity. South Korea's National Flower.

The Rose of Sharon/The Flower of Eternity. South Korea's National Flower.

Modern humans have lived on the Korean peninsula since at least 100,000BCE. Around 3000BCE, large groups of sun and bear worshipping tribesmen from Manchuria, Mongolia and Siberia began to cross the Yalu river, heading south into the Korean peninsula. Popular Korean mythology dates the foundation of “Korea” to 2333BCE, when a legendary king named Dangun descended from heaven to give laws to these tribes, forming them into the loose kingdom of Gojoseon. All was well for a thousand years. Dangun’s descendent’s ruled the majority of the peninsula with justice and wisdom until – something which will become a constant in Korean history – a foreign power invaded. In 108BCE, the Han Dynasty of China toppled Gojoseon.

Martial law was imposed in many areas of the Korean peninsula while in others, the tribes that had been part of the Kingdom of Gojoseon were allowed to exist as tributary states. The Han Dynasty played these tribes off against each other for several generations, keeping them weak and preventing them from organizing any real resistance.

Eventually, however, local resistance toppled the Han outposts on the peninsula. With room to breath, the many tribes of the Korean peninsula began to coalesce into confederated Kingdoms, their growth fueled by the rich iron deposits of the Nakdong River Basin. Eventually, these Kingdoms coalesced consolidated into Silla in the southeast, Goguryeo in the north and Baekje in the southwest – The Three Kingdoms of Korea.

During the Three Kingdoms Period, which lasted until roughly 700CE, the Three Kingdoms jostled for domination over the Korean kingdoms through a series of rapidly shifting alliances that saw Chinese and Japanese forces drawn into the conflict. The Three Kingdoms Period is the source of many of Koreas proudest moments and greatest legends. Bloodiest battles and greatest cultural works. Million man armies and 16 foot golden images of Buddha. Knowledge and culture flowed between China, Korea and Japan. Buddhism became the dominant religion and technological advances from China were eagerly adopted.

Eventually, the Kingdom of Silla defeated its rivals and established a unified state that controlled most of what is now modern Korea. Its capital city of Gyeongju, was the third largest city in the world after the Christian capital at Constantinople and the Chinese capital at Chang’an. It was a time in which every house in the city had a tiled roof and beautiful gardens. Even low level officials owned many slaves. During this time, Korean society solidified into a rigid caste system known as the Bone Rank. This system shut out commoners from government and prevented low level officials from advancing into the highest ranks of government.

Daily dress of a Silla King.

Daily dress of a Silla King.

Buddhist image from Unified Silla. ~900CE.

Buddhist image from Unified Silla. ~900CE.

Cheomseongdae in Gyeongju. Asia's oldest astronomical observatory. ~7th century.

Cheomseongdae in Gyeongju. Asia's oldest astronomical observatory. ~7th century.

Royal burial mounds in Gyeongju. ~600-900CE.

Royal burial mounds in Gyeongju. ~600-900CE.

The Great Bronze Bell of King Seongdeok. 771CE.

The Great Bronze Bell of King Seongdeok. 771CE.

Great Gold Crown of Silla. ~5th century.

Great Gold Crown of Silla. ~5th century.

But, the luxury and political intrigues of life at court in Gyeongju corrupted the ruling class, and left it unable to respond to revolts led by ambitious warlords stationed in the frontiers. One of these warlords conquered all, re-unifying the Kingdom and beginning what is called the Goryeo Dynasty.

The Goryeo Dynasty, which lasted from 918 to 1392, saw the entrenchment of Confucian philosophy in all levels of society. A civil service exam was set up to make sure that the capable people got government positions. During the Goryeo Dynasty, Korea fought wars with many “barbarian” tribes such as the Khitans and the Jurchens on the northern border. Eventually, the Mongols stormed onto the scene in the 13th century and Korea fell along with China. The Goryeo court fled to the safety of Ganghwa Island – not too far from present day Seoul – and spent the remainder of the war safe and sound while the Mongols pillaged the country. Many Korean conscripts would die in the service of the Mongols during their ill-fated invasions of Japan at the end of the 13th century.

A celadon burner. ~1100CE.

A celadon burner. ~1100CE.

When the Mongol Empire collapsed, the Goryeo Dynasty resumed governing the peninsula. Peace returned. Trade and learning flourished. Gold and silver were exchanged for ivory and mercury from as far away as the Islamic Caliphates. But, like Silla before it, the stability of the Goryeo Dynasty led to stagnation and corruption and discontent in the countryside. In 1392 an ambitious warlord defeated the last Goryeo King and took the throne, establishing the Joseon Dynasty, which lasted for over 500 years.

The Joseon Dynasty continued the “Confucification” of Korean society. Much of “modern” Korea culture is rooted in the Joseon Dynasty. Most of the things you will see at cultural sites around Korea such as the Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing), Spicy Kimchi (non-spicy kinds of Kimchi pre-date the Joseon Dynasty) and the formal changing of the guard all have their roots in the Joseon Dynasty. Modern rituals like bowing and formal table manners can also be definitely dated to the Joseon Dynasty.

A placenta jar. ~18th century.

A placenta jar. ~18th century.

Joseon Dynasty smoke signal station on Nam Mountain, Seoul. Smoke signal stations were set up on all major mountains, allowing effective communicate up and down the peninsula.

Joseon Dynasty smoke signal station on Nam Mountain, Seoul. Smoke signal stations were set up on all major mountains, allowing effective communicate up and down the peninsula.

Joseon Dynasty fighting exercise.

Joseon Dynasty fighting exercise.

Changing of the guard at Gyeongbuk Palace.

Changing of the guard at Gyeongbuk Palace.

Traditional Joseon Dynasty dancing.

Traditional Joseon Dynasty dancing.

The middle years of the Joseon Dynasty were occupied by war with Japan. In the 16th century, Japanese samurai landed in Busan. The Joseon court and royal army fled, leaving the country undefended and it was quickly occupied by the Japanese. Soon, popular guerilla movements known as the “Righteous Army” sprung up, which harassed the Japanese supply lines. The supply lines snaked all the way from the port at Busan in the southeast to Pyongyang in the northwest. These attacks, combined with a highly effective naval campaign led by Admiral Yi Sun-sin (it is his statue you see in Gwanghwamun Square) caused major troubles for the Japanese. This allowed an allied Chinese army to defeat the Japanese on land.

However, it became apparent that in return for their assistance, the Chinese wanted more and more control over Korea. The Joseon Dynasty responded by walling itself in and trying to shut out the world, becoming the so called “Hermit Kingdom”. In the late 19th century, Korea was unwillingly dragged into the colonial age as Russian, French, American and Japanese expeditions tried to penetrate the Kingdom. Japan got an early lead, with the Treaty of Ganghwa 1876 which opened up Korea to Japanese economic activity and made Japanese merchants immune to Korean laws. Eventually, the Japanese defeated Russia in a series of land and sea battles and declared Korea a protectorate in 1905. Japanese settlers flooded into the peninsula and in 1910 Japan formally annexed Korea as part of the Japanese Empire. From 1910 to 1945 the Japanese government ruled Korea with an iron first. Crushing rebellions and trying to forcibly assimilate Korean people into Japanese culture. Japanese language schools became the norm and people were forced to adopt Japanese names. During this period, many Korean women were hauled away to serve in military brothels.

Early 20th century Korean nationalist art. Korea as the tiger of Asia.

Early 20th century Korean nationalist art. Korea as the tiger of Asia.

At the end of WWII the Japanese were evicted and Korea was divided by American forces in the south and Soviet forces in the north. Unification talks broke down and separate elections were held. War broke out between North and South in 1950. Much of the country was destroyed in the fighting. Seoul changed hands no less than 4 times. The war ended with a cease fire in 1953, but no formal peace treaty. Many people were trapped on the opposite side of the armistice line as their families. Forever separated and unable to communicate. Most went to their graves without ever being reunited with their lost loved ones. This is one of the greatest tragedies of Korean history.

View towards the main North Korean building at the DMZ.

View towards the main North Korean building at the DMZ.

Following the war, North Korea pursued close relations with the communist bloc while the South aligned itself with the USA. Under the rule of the Kim Dynasty, the north focused on agriculture and maintaining a large military. In the South, a series of right wing military strongmen instituted radical modernization programs that resulted in South Korea becoming a trillion dollar economy within in a generation. A bloody series of revolutions finally overthrew the military government in 1987 and South Korea entered the 1990s as a democratic republic. By the 2000s, South Korea was a leading global economy and one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world. Korea faces the 21st century as a divided nation.

Topics in Korean History PodcastIf you are at all interested in history or Korean culture, the Topics In Korean History Podcast is a designed for an English speaking audience with no prior knowledge of Korean or East Asian history. Korea is one of the world’s largest economies, punching far above its weight on a global scale. Korean history goes back more than 4000 years, it is one of the worlds oldest cultures. But, apart from the 1950-53 Korean War, most people don’t know anything about its history.

In producing the Topics In Korean History Podcast I recognize that unlike podcasts that deal with Rome, Britain or the Nazis, nearly every name and event I mention is a total unknown to the audience. The Topics In Korean History Podcast doesn’t get to take advantage of a basic level of cultural knowledge. Although this is a bit of a disadvantage, it’s also very liberating because it allows me to talk about Korean history as I see it, without being stuck following the “tracks” left by other historians and pop culture. I try to lay it all out in a way that is easy to follow, and I support the audio podcast with maps and pictures on the website. I want people to realize that real Korean history is far more interesting than the “soap-opera” Korean history dramas that they might see on TV. Living in Korea is a great learning opportunity, you have such easy access to so many great historical and cultural sites. Everywhere you go you are surrounded by history. Within a 10 minute walk from my apartment I have royal tombs, a Three Kingdoms Era smoke signal station, and the remains of a sandbag trench from the Korean war. That’s just in one tiny and not particularly special neighborhood of a huge city in a country FULL of these kinds of things. Many 1st class museums are completely free to enter and have lots of English signage (though not on every item). So please, if you are living in Korea, immerse yourself in the culture, enjoy the food, and please take the chance to learn the tragically beautiful history of this fascinating nation.


About the author: Alex Hawkins is a recent graduate of the University of Alberta with a B.A. in history. He is currently living and teaching English at a public school in northeast Seoul. You can find his podcast on iTunes or at http://topicsinkoreanhistory.wordpress.com. You can email him here: [email protected]