Download doc Yi-Choson Dynasty class notes

Yi Dynasty – Choson Period 1392-1910 - Longest dynasty so far
Yi Songgye (King T’aejo r. 1392-1398)
 Established long-lasting dynasty without great disturbances
 Relatively peaceful transition – claimed Mandate of Heaven
 In previous dynasties, rulers had favorite that became exempt from
taxes – Yi changed this by making sure that as many people as
possible paid taxes  avoided fiscal problems
 Carried out land reforms = confiscated lands of Buddhist temples (not
anti-Buddhist himself)
- these lands had also been tax-exempt so created a great
source of income by doing this
- his advisors were largely responsible for this
 Decided to move Chinese capital from Kaesong to Hanyang (Seoul) –
the city was constructed under his successor  believed in geomantic
power, Kaesong no longer had this power
Quote = Mandate of Heaven
- public wants it
- Heaven wants it  cannot resist
- clearly means that previous dynasty has lost moral authority to rule
so must now humbly accept to become new ruler of Korea
King Sejong (r.1418-1450)
 Remember as one of Korea’s sage kings (sound fiscal base for state;
removed rough edges of penal system)
- made life of ordinary people better
 Expanded borders towards Yalu and Tumen rivers; colonization
- to stabilize the expanded areas, recognized that he needed not
only to send military but also people in order to colonize
 Improved agricultural practices (wet rice cultivation), allowed for
huge increases in population
 Had a commission develop an alphabet for Korean: “Correct sounds
to instruct the people” (1440s) – took until 20th century for it to be
generally adopted  named Han’gul in the 20th century
- not relying on Chinese anymore by developing own system
- useful for ordinary people because much simpler than very
complicated Chinese characters – became way of transmitting
moral values of elite in society by trickling down moral tracts to
the masses  turn towards neo-Confucianism
Quote postscript = Korean is phonetically very different from Chinese so no
point in writing it in the Chinese script
Koreans continued to write in Chinese even after the new system was
introduced, not an instant change
BUT inclined to learn it because it was an easy language so didn’t want to
seem dumb by not being able to read it; Chinese remained a very prestigious
language
Foreign Policy until 1592
 Relations with Ming China – increasing tribute missions, ties became
very close
- neo-Confucianism that was adopted by state came from
China; it’s adoption increased the prestige of China, wanted
close relationship
 Relations with Jurchen tribes: carrot and stick approach
- initially only suppressed them military BUT realizes that
Jurchen would be less likely to attack if invested in trade
together
- began a trading relationship
 Managing Japanese pirates through diplomacy, trade, military raids
- Shogun Japan at this time, emperors did not have lots of
power so could not help Korea; daimyos profited from the
pirates looting Korea so diplomacy was useless
- same tactic as with Jurchen, allowed Japanese to trade in
certain places, great relief
Japanese Invasions 1592-1598
 Toyotomi Hideyoshi out to conquer China (why? Perhaps because of
economic pressures due to pirates)
 1592: Landing at Pusan, fall of Seoul and P’yongyang
- Choson King fled capital
 1593: stalemate due to Ming interventions, native “righteous armies”,
Admiral Yi Sunsin’s efforts at sea; followed by negotiations
- knew that Japanese were coming so had quickly build up army
to fight Japanese
 1597: second invasion; resisted by Ming, Admiral Yi Susin; ended
with Hideyoshi’s death in 1598
 long-term effect on international relations in East Asia?
Picture: boat – mock of a ship used by Admiral Yi Sunsin
+ first ever ironclad ship, meant protection of men underneath the iron
shield; demonstrates innovation, intimidation
Picture: state of warrior holding huge sword – this person receives very
important place in Korean memory, became hero
+ demoted at one point but this seems to make no difference for his
heralded image
+ hero strengthened the Korean consciousness of cultural identity, of
being neither Chinese nor Japanese but something altogether different
 PRIDE
Dynastic Trends
 Neo-Confucian orientation, state and Buddhism go separate ways
(confiscations of land; no more tax privileges; yangban discouraged
from patronizing Buddhism
- most people were not anti-Buddhist but there were more and
more Neo-Confucian advisors
- their enormous holdings were taken away as a tax measure,
not an act against Buddhism
 Importance of the examination system and system of public schools;
turn toward civil values
- examination system was sine qua non for positions in
government
- system of public schools  turn toward civil values because
they were propagated through education, away from military
values
 Tree-tiered society: Yangban, commoners, slaves and outcastes (cfr.
Caste system)
- very strong hierarchy in society
- slave = 30% of population
- odd to have such social stratification as this contradicts
practices of Neo-Confucianism
 Neo-Confucian values slowly trickled down societal ranks
 Strong factionalism (passed through generations)
- families remembered across generations
- alienation
Society and Family
 Compilation of genealogies
 Women cloistered in their husbands’ homes; gradually lost right to
inheritance; widow remarriage forbidden
- originally had some power, liberty
- were sometimes heads of household but power eroded
 Strict distinction between first fives and concubines (secondary sons
not allowed to participate in exams)
- also, distinction came from what family you came from 
this was used by women as social capital
- some were entitled to a level of education because, in turn,
had to educate children
 Ancestral rites a uniquely male affair – women were supposed to
sacrifice to the house gods)
- in China and Japan, women were also involved in ancestral
rites of her husband’s family
**from textbook, focus only on up to 1600, not 1800
Final Questions
1. Common features of China, Japan, and Korea that make them East
Asia as a whole?
- Buddhism = almost always driving force of culture; used as
way to legitimatize regimes of leader who believed that by
building temples, etc. the gods would be with their rule
- Mandate of Heaven: transitions, change
- trade/tribute among them
- Mongol invasions
+ or other in ner Asian cultures
+ Mongols were the most influential (ex. Shogun)
+ demonstrates that peoples of inner Asia were also
significant
- examination system: began in China
- Confucianism: around family structure
+ difference between Confucianism and NeoConfucianism
2. What changed post-900 BCE?
- Buddhism changed over time, different emphasis were placed;
eventually stopped believing that building things would bring
the support of the gods
 antagonism grew between Buddhism and NeoConfucianism
- curriculum of examination system changed (esp. with Jhu Xi)
- economy, trade  economic trade
- before 900, wealth came from land, agriculture
- after 900, increases in international trade, population growth
as a result