History
Main article: History of Korea
There exists archaeological evidence that people were living in Korea 18,000 to 12,000 years ago. According to a few ancient transcripts a kingdom called Gija Joseon was established in 1122 BC.
Korean and Chinese historian have different views on when Korea exactly became a state country as many historic books were burnt by the Japanese during their occupation of Korea which took place during the previous century. The exact relationship, size and influence between territories which are included in today's China and ancient Korean ancestry is not clear - and highly disputed between historians. Specifically, the history of Buyo and Barhae are in dispute. However, one thing is for sure by looking at the Great Wall of China - there existed a force, or groups of forces, north of China that compelled the Chinese to build this perpetual wall.
In the period 57 BC to AD 668, the Three Kingdoms of Silla (or Shilla), Goguryeo, and Baekje existed, as well as the minor confederacy of chiefdoms called Gaya. Gaya was conquered by Silla in 562. All three major kingdoms were influenced by China. Buddhism was introduced in 372. In 660 the Silla kingdom allied with China's (Tang Dynasty) to overthrow the other kingdoms. While Silla was forging diplomatic ties with China, Baekje had sustained a close relationship to Japan before it completely fell to the Silla-Tang alliance. During the Unified Silla period (681 to 935) Buddhism expanded, and culture developed substantially.
The kingdom of Goryeo was founded in 918 and replaced Silla as the dominant power in Korea in the years 935-936. The kingdom lasted until 1392. During this period laws were codified, and a civil service system was introduced. Buddhism flourished, and spread throughout the peninsula. In 1231 the Mongols invaded Korea. For the following 150 years the Goryeo ruled, but under the control of the Mongols.
In 1392 a Korean general, Yi Seonggye allied himself with the Chinese, overthrew the Goryeo king and established a new dynasty: the Joseon Dynasty. The Joseon Dynasty moved the capital to Hanseong (now Seoul) and adopted Confucianism as the state ideology. During this period, the Hangul alphabet was introduced by King Sejong in 1443.
During the mid- to late- 19th century, Korea tried to prevent the opening of the country to foreign trade by closing the borders to all nations but China, resulting in it being called the Hermit Kingdom by many. In 1871, the United States first met Korea militarily, in what the Koreans call the Shinmiyangyo. Beginning in 1876 the Japanese forced trade agreements on Korea, won influence over Korea following the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). In 1897, Joseon was renamed Daehan Jeguk (Korean Empire). A period of Russian influence followed, until Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). The Japanese attempted to exert direct influence on Korea but their failure to coerce led to the assassination of Queen Myongsong Hwanghu (1895) by Japanese mercenaries and the forced abdication of King Gojong(1907) in favour of his mentally handicapped son Sunjong. Korea became a protectorate of Japan in 1905. In 1910 the country was officially annexed by Japan, thus establishing the Japanese Colonial Period in Korea.
Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945) is taught differently in Korea and Japan. In Korea, this period is viewed as a terrible period where basic human rights were seriouly violated by invasion. For instance, everyone was given a Japanese name and Korean, as a language, was not taught in schools. In addition, brothers and sisters were separated and forced into hard labor. On the other hand, the Japanese view this period as being greatly legitmate as modern industrial ways were introduced to Korea by the Japanese. Controversy and gaps over writing down this period historical events still exist today between the two countries.
The surrender of Hirohito's Japan to Democratic Allied Nations, the earlier collapse of Hitler's Germany, combined with fundamental shifts in geopolitics and ideology, led to the division of Korea into two occupation zones effectively starting on September 8, 1945, with the United States administering the southern half of the peninsula and the Soviet Union taking over the area north of the 38th parallel. This division was meant to be temporary and was first intended to return a unified Korea back to its people until the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and Republic of China could arrange a trusteeship administration.
Initial hopes for a unified, independent Korea quickly evaporated as the politics of the Cold War and domestic opposition to the trusteeship plan resulted in the 1948 establishment of two separate nations with diametrically opposed political, economic, and social systems. In June 1950 the Korean War broke out, ending any hope of a peaceful reunification for the mean time. See History of South Korea and History of North Korea for the post-war period.
See also: Rulers of Korea
Further Readings
- Chun, Tuk Chu. "Korea in the Pacific Community." SOCIAL EDUCATION 52 (March 1988), 182. EJ 368 177.
- Cumings, Bruce. THE TWO KOREAS. New York: Foreign Policy Association, 1984.
- FOCUS ON ASIAN STUDIES. Special Issue: "Korea: A Teacher's Guide." No. 1, Fall 1986.
- Lee Ki-baik. A NEW HISTORY OF KOREA. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1984.
- Lee Sang-sup. "The Arts and Literature of Korea." THE SOCIAL STUDIES 79 (July-August 1988): 153-60. EJ 376 894.
See also
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