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KOREA
Historical Setting
Korea's first small group societies go back at least between 40 and 50
thousand years. Paleolithic peoples utilized both hunter/gatherer and
fishing techniques for their sustenance. No later than 4000 B.C.E.,
Neolithic communities existed in several locations on the Korean
peninsula. This period was marked by the use of polished stone tools
and three distinct pottery cultures. The peoples of that era held
shamanistic beliefs and, as was typical across the world, grouped
themselves in clans.
Native legend holds that the first Korean kingdom of Choson was
established by the figure "Tangun." What can be demonstrated with
evidence is that Choson was an amalgamation of Walled Town states;
tribal states of agricultural peoples that demonstrated the first glimpses
of political cohesion.
Between 700 and 900 B.C.E. some parts of the Korean peninsula
entered the bronze age.
In 300 B.C.E. the Yen invasion took place, bringing Chinese economic,
political, and military influence into the region of Old Choson. In 109
B.C.E., armies of Han China defeated the Wiman Choson kingdom
and established the Commandery of Lelang, a permanent outpost at
the othern end of the peninsula. Soon, four Commanderies were in
place. Chinese interests rested mainly in Korean natural resources
and in maintaining a secure boundary. While indigenous Koreans were
allowed some political freedoms, most dimensions of their civilization
were influenced by the Han presence.
The Koreans adopted many of the Chinese ways, yet most scholars
hold that they kept their core cultural identity intact.
KOREA
Historical Setting, cont.
The splicing of Korean tribal units in the first century B.C.E. eventually
yielded three confederated kingdoms: Koguryo in the north, Silla in the
south, and Paekche in the southwest.
Beyond Buddhism, Confucianism also became a passion within
Korean elites. Not only were their youth schooled in Confucian
Classics, but the bureaucratic structure was modeled as a combination
of both Buddhist and Confucian thinking.
The social structure throughout the Three Kingdoms was dominated
by a tightly defined aristocracy. Commoners were free peasants and
paid taxes to one of the three central governments. A king rules
through a bureaucracy comprised of members drawn from the leading
clans. Village chiefs were locals but their authority flowed from their
appointment to their post by the central government.
The three ancient Korean Kingdoms were often in conflict for control of
the peninsula. The Silla kingdom ultimately vanquished Koguryo and
Paekche and thus unified Korea.
The United Silla Dynasty reigned from 688 to 935 C.E., when it was
overcome by the Koryo Dynasty.
Both the Silla and Koryo Dynasties saw tremendous growth of both
culture and technology during this time. This period also saw a flourishing of Korea's relationship with China. Not only did Korea trade
extensively with China, Korea also firmly established itself in the
Chinese tribute system; quelling the desire of the Chinese Emperor to
absorb its northern tributary.
KOREA
Historical Setting, cont.
The final dynasty to govern Korea was ruled under a fimiliar name.
The 'Choson' or 'Yi' dynasty ruled from 1392-1910 C.E.. Under the
Choson, a landowning elite called the Yangban were formed. The
Yangban were fervently anti-Buddhist, and contributed to Buddhist
decline in the region. What the Yangban did hold dear was the
Confucian relationship of ruler and subject, of superior and inferior.
The official written language of scholarship was Chinese (as Latin was
in Europe). However, a transition was made in 1446. Under King
Sejong, the Korean alphabet--Hangul--was established. Although
Chinese became the officially recognized script, the Koreans now had
an everyday language to call their own. Hangul removed literacy solely
from the clutches of the Yangban and granted knowledge to the commoner.
The period of 1876 to 1910 was marked by struggle against Japan.
The combination of Japanese and Chinese armies sent to settle the
Tonghak Rebellion yielded a conflict that resulted in the Sino-Japanses
war of 1894. With the Japanese victory, the Chinese influence over
Korea ceased. A decade later, Japan engaged Russia for control of
the Korean peninsula and domination of Korea was the net result.
With the Japanese again victorious, Korea was declared a protectorate and annexed as a Japanese colony, ending the centuries-old
Korean dynastic structure. The Japanese controlled Korea until the
end of World War II in 1945. The Korean political structure reformed
again with the advent of the Republic of Korea.