Asia

100

!Overview:

Joseon Korea, November 27th

Yi Seonggye and the founding the Joseon dynasty

Rise of Confucian learning
Hereditary yangban aristocrats in politics
Confucian influence primary theme
Japanese and Manchu invasionsv
Economic and social changes
Cultural developments (Hangul)

!Yi Seonggye (King Taejo):

- Founding 1392 to 1910

- Context: after Mongol domination, Goryeo Dynasty
revived in mid-14th century

- General Yi Seonggye allied with Confucian reformers

- He declared a new dynastic line in 1392

!Joseon Kings:

- After King Taejo (r. 13921398) came three important kings

King Taejongbuilt new capital at Hanyang (Seoul)
King Sejong (r. 14181450)extended territory northward, advanced agriculture, grain loans to
peasantry, legal reforms for just punishment, book publishing, vernacular script
King Sejostudied military strategy, patronized Buddhism and struggle with Confucian yang ban

!Confucian Learning and Yangban:

-

Buddhist institutions suggested under Taejo and Taejong rise of (Neo) Confucianism
Kings wanted to centralize power, instated civil service exam based on Confucian learning
For high office, candidates had to demonstrate knowledge of Confucianism
Yangban aristocrats found ways to maintain their social advantage (Ebrey, 249-250)

Joseon Confucians did not see Confucianism as uniquely Chinese

Ming China seen as mature Confucian society, but not perfect expression.
Wanted a civil service exam in Korea, but not a Chinese civil service exam
Saw Confucianism as beneficial for society
They strove to mainfest a more perfect Confucian society
Confucian ideas (filial piety and loyalty to ruler) benefited kings
But civil officials also helped check power of kings

!Confucian as Model:

!What Changed?

- Gender roles. Goryeo family structure similar to that of Kamakura Japan, women had economic
independence, men often lived with wives families.

- Joseon Confucians pushed a patrilineal and patrilineal family model

!Zhu Xi and Wang Yangming:

-

Neo-Confucian ideas important in Joseon Korea, but promoted debates

Zhu Xi: emphasized textual study (of Confucian classics, especially his annotated Four Books)
Wang Yangming: everyone has innate moral capacity
Prominent scholar Yi Toegye adopted Zhu Xi as orthodox, condemned Wang Yangming position
Joseon Korea followed Yi Toegye

Toyotomi Hideyoshi wanted to attack Ming China via Korea!

Invaded in 1592, quickly overwhelming weak Joseon military
Only Koreas navy proved strong, under Admiral Yi Sunsin and his iron-clad ships
Ming forces helped Joseon, but Japanese withdrew only upon Hideyoshis death in 1598

!Japanese Invasion:

- 2 million Koreans died! Agriculture was disrupted

!Manchu Invasion:
-

(Jurchen>Manchu !)
Manchu and Ming China both requested Joseon loyalty
A Joseon king eventually sided with the Ming...Manchus invaded (1620s and 1630s) and forced
Joseon Korea to join as a vassal state
Manchus soon conquered the Ming and established the Qing dynasty

!Economy and Society:

- Many slaves, due to peasants defaulting on payments to Yangban landowners, or escaping military service
(p.251)

- Early Joseon kings tried and failed to institute cash economies (...until 18th c.)
- Commercialization in the 18th century coincided with a decline in the slave population (30%-10%)

!Cultural Developments:

-
- Hall of Worthies (like a ministry of education)!
King Sejong established it in 1420
Asked scholars for an alphabet in 1443

!Hangul Alphabet:

- Intended as complement to Chinese

- ...to expand literacy beyond Yangban Confucians, who opposed hangul because it threatened their power
and monopoly on literacy/education.
(Not used exclusively until after Japanese occupation ended in 20th c.)
- It did stimulate literacy, especially for women
- Vernacular literature took off (esp. 17th, 18th c.)

!Western Learning:

- Christianity and Western forms of learning (astronomy, other sciences) entered from China
- Joseon Koreans studied these as Western Learning
- No Europeans were allowed in at this time