History of Korea I, Week 5, Founding of Koryo (October 2024) PDF

HISTORY OF KOREA I: PRE-MODERN KOREAN HISTORY UP TO 1860S Koryŏ Founding, Its Political and Economic Structure, and Its Relations with China (Week 5, October 7, 2024) Prof. Jong-Chol An ([email protected]) © 2024-25 Università Ca‘ Foscari Venezia Koryŏ Dyansty in Korean Media...

HISTORY OF KOREA I: PRE-MODERN KOREAN HISTORY UP TO 1860S Koryŏ Founding, Its Political and Economic Structure, and Its Relations with China (Week 5, October 7, 2024) Prof. Jong-Chol An ([email protected]) © 2024-25 Università Ca‘ Foscari Venezia Koryŏ Dyansty in Korean Media Taejo Wangkŏn (KBS drama, 2000-2002): http://program.kbs.co.kr/1tv/drama/king /pc/index.html Struggle among Taejo, Kungye, and Kyŏnhwŏn from the Later Three Kingdoms Period to the founding of Koryŏ. War and hero in ancient Korean history (https://namu.wiki/w/%ED%83%9C%EC% A1%B0%20%EC%99%95%EA%B1%B4). 2  Korean History Chronology Period Dynasty King or Ruler Dominant Thoughts Ancient Old Chosŏn and Han Commanderies Tan’gun, Kija Shamanism & Hongik In’gan Con’t Three Kingdoms(?-668): Koguryŏ, Different Kings Shamanism, Geomancy, and Paekje, Silla Buddhism Con’t, Unified Silla (668-935) and Parhae Kim and T’ae family Buddhism, Medieval (698-926) Confucianism, Taoism Medieval Koryŏ (918-1392) Wang family Buddhism and Confucianism Late Medieval Chosŏn (1392-1897) Yi family and Yangban Indigenous and Confucian Ideas Early-Modern Late Chosŏn and Taehan Empire Yi family and Yangban Confucianism and Western Thoughts (1897-1910) (Christianity: Catholic and Protestantism) Modern Colonial Korea (1910-1945) Governor-General Japanese & Western (US and Europe) Contemporary USA Military Regime (1945-1948) Military Commander Japanese and US System Con’t South Korea (ROK , 1948-) and President and People US, Europe, and Korea tradition North (DPRK, 1948-) 3 Koryŏ Dynasty and Its Territory: Debates? http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/geography.htm 4 https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20170522107800065  Koryŏ Dynasty (918-1392): Unified by Wang Kŏn Wang Kŏn first conquered Paekche around Andong in 930 and then defeated Kyŏnhwon of the Kingdom of Taebong by 935. Unified the Later Three Kingdoms Accepting Parhae and Silla remnants as Koryŏ subjects or people The first true unification of the Korean peninsula with the central government. Progress in terms of meritorious aspects compared to the previous Unified or Later Shilla However, Regionalism was going on as the Myo-ch’ŏng revolt shows in the middle of Koryŏ. 5  Mountains and Nomadic People (1) 6 https://journals.openedition.org/rga/1454 (Left Slide); https://mystudentvoices.com/western-liao-periodization-from-northern-china-to-central-asia-5670e16d0b8d (Right) Mountains and Nomadic People (2) 7 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mongolia_XVII.png  T’aejo’s Ten Injunctions (943) 1. The success of every great undertaking of our state depends upon the favor and protection of Buddha. 2. Temples and monasteries were newly opened and built upon the sites chosen by the monk Tosǒn according to the principles of geomancy. 3. In matters of royal succession, succession by the eldest legitimate royal issue [descendant] should be the rule. However,…. 4. In the past, we have always had a deep attachment to the ways of China, and all of our institutions have been modeled upon those of T’ang. 5. I achieved the extraordinary task of founding the dynasty with the help of the elements of the mountains and rivers of our country. 6. I deemed the two festivals of Yǒndǔng and P’algwan of great spiritual value and importance. 7. It is very difficult for the king to win over the people. 8. The topographic features of the territory south of Kongju and beyond the Kongju River are treacherous and disharmonious. 9. The salaries and allowances for the aristocracy and the bureaucracy have been set according to the needs of the state. 10. In preserving a household or a state, one should always be on guard to avert mistakes. 8  P’ungsu (風水, Geomancy): Definition P’ungsu (geomancy): ” a pseudoscience originating from ancient China, which claims to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment…The feng shui practice discusses architecture in terms of "invisible forces" that bind the universe, earth, and humanity together, known as qi.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_s hui). 9 http://blogs.chosun.com/pichy91/2015/03/10/%EC%82%AC%EB%9E%8C%EB%93%A4%EC%9D%B4-%EC%99%9C-%ED%92%8D%EC%88%98%EC%97%90- %EA%B4%80%EC%8B%AC%EC%9D%84-%EA%B0%80%EC%A7%88%EA%B9%8C-%EC%A4%91%EA%B5%AD%EA%B3%BC-%EC%9D%BC%EB%B3%B8%EC%97%90/ Kaesŏng (City and Wang Kǒn Tomb) 10 Sǒnjuk Bridge 11 Kaesǒng Industrial Complex (2004- 2016) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIbx1ePTRB8 12  Land Management System Fallow (hyukyŏng or 休耕) system: crop year and rest year Little use of money and minimal trade except for port trade with China Prebend (收租權): the right to collect taxes in the place of central government officials (similar to Feudalism in Europe): ownership exists Weak central government and autonomous local power 13 http://m.alnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=4845  Elite and Social Groupings (I) Kaesǒng as capital/ NK’s current second city Aristocratic (land and ranks) v. Bureaucratic (through a higher exam)? Aristocrats (kwijok, hereditary) features: through marriage, control of land, and political office/ Ŭmsŏ (蔭敍) system (recommendation based on the family background) supported the aristocratic features. The origins of Yangban (양반(兩班): Mun (문(文) and Mu(무(武)) elites): concept had changed later. Hyangni (향리, 鄕吏): local elite with powers, similar to feudal society 14  Elite and Social Groupings (II) Commoners and Chŏnmin (slavery) Hereditary features: Yangban and slavery (matrilineal side) with limited meritorious traits. James B. Palais (American scholar): Slave society continued up to the late 18th century Land issue: redistribution of the land became a focal point of Confucian reformers, capitalist modernizers, and communist agitators alike. 15  Elite and Social Groupings (III) Stipend Land Law (chŏnsikwa, 田柴科): tax collection rights to only current government officials (no hereditary). Merit-reward land (Kongŭmjŏn, 功蔭田), same as Stipend Land but hereditary character to meritorious officials. The ruling elites, particularly civil officials monopolized their power in governmental positions and land holdings. In response to the monopoly of power, there were the revolts of Yi Cha-gyǒm and later of Myochǒng Difference b/w Private land vs. public land but there was an ideology that all the lands are King’s land. 16  Peasants’ Rebellion (1198) Manjŏk: “Are generals and ministers born to … glories? Not at all! For when the time is proper, anyone at all can hold these offices. Why then should we only work ourselves to the bone and suffer under the whip [of them]? If each one kills his master and burns the record of his/her slave status, thus bringing slavery to an end in our country, then each of us will be able to become a minister or general.” 17  Early Koryo Culture (I) Song (Sung) and Southern Song dynasty (960- 1279): porcelain with finer type of inlaid celadon pottery Confucianism different from Neo- Confucianism (late Koryǒ): Choe Ch’ung’s private Confucian academy Confucianism as statecrafts such as filial piety toward parents and royalty toward state, not so well among daily lives 18  Early Koryo Culture (II) Buddhism as state religion: merged with political power, exam system for monks. Buddhist Monasteries: land expansion and tax exemption, later Neo-Confucian scholars criticized this. Print culture: woodblock print editions (Tripitaka) first in the world, movable metal type; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpJfy9impx0 19 Tripitaka at Haein Temple 20 Koryŏ Porcelain (I) 21 Koryŏ Porcelain (II) 22  Buddhist Paintings (Amitabha, Amitabha Triad, Amitabha with Eight Great Bodhisattvas) 23 Museo Nazionale d'Arte Orientale, Rome (left); Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco  Koryŏ and China (I): Tributary Relations? Trading ships went from and to the Song dynasty: even with Arabians Small Sinicized ruling class with Chinese as Lingua Franca: not the whole society (it realized only in the late 18th century), formally tributary relationship with China Song envoy Xu Jing (in 1123)’s Gaoli tujing, “Someone asked whether Korean customs were good. I replied, “In the last resort, they include some barbarians’ habits.”(especially talked about burial customs like aerial sepulture) 24 Liao (Khitan, 916-1125) & Jin (Jurchen, 1115 (around)-1234): Diverse Relations 25  Complex Relations with “China” Song Dynasty (宋): 960-1126; Southern Song, 1127-1279 Khitan (Liao, 遼): 916-1125 Jurchen (Jin, 金): 1115-1234 Not one China: Northern Tribes issues (including Mongol) Manchuria and Mongolia: “Reservoir of civilization”(Owen Lattimore) 26  Koryǒ and China (II) Complex relations b/w Song (or Sung) and Northern China Tributary Relations between Song and Khitan and Jurchen (not always) Northeastern Project: One Grand Chinese Nation/ how to explain this tributary relations among East Asian relations? Koryŏ vs. Song & Northern Chinese States: shrewd balance, not simply tributary relations. Koryŏ perceived itself as its own world: emperor! 27 Koryŏ and Song Dynasty: Ceramics and Poetry Song of Green Mountain (Chŏngsan pyŏlkok, 청산별곡) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbDvrDIzm6k (Traditional) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUVaNwJN1aU (Modern) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxEl0P-l7NY (contemporary version) Lyrics: Let’s live, let’s live, Let’s live on the green mountain! With wild grapes and thyme, Let’s live on the green mountain! Yalli yalli yallasyŏng yallari yalla 28 https://nancen.org/735 Ciao Ciao! See You Next Time!