If you haven't read any of my previous posts you may not understand the title of this post, but here it goes anyway. In my Korean History and Culture book it describes a dominating kingdom that rose from all of the in-fighting between kingdoms and other invaders into the Korean Peninsula.
Later in Korean history, Koryo finally unites all three kingdoms after many, many, MANY years of constant turmoil. The many Kingdoms/Castle Lords throughout the peninsula have their power taken away by one man, Wang Kon (T'aejo: 918-943). He has a very tumultuous rule that includes an up and down cycle of complete aristocracy and limited aristocracy. He abolishes the bone ranks that I described before and calls himself KING of the entire peninsula. He takes 29 wives and begins a royal blood line for future ascendence to the throne. Class is now determined at birth if your family is part of the civil official order, the military officer order, the court functionary order or the soldiering order.
Kwangjong (949-975) : Established the system of coming to a particular order or rank. During the time he made his decision on this matter, he wiped out anyone and everyone who may have disagreed about his hereditary line and ranking process preference.
Songjong (981-997) : Made it possible for everyone, even slaves, to be able to climb the social ranks dependent on the merit or worth/intelligence of the person.
The new unified Korean peninsula was called Koryo under these leaders and their biggest focus was on their agriculture. However they did trade some (but not to their full potential) with China and the Jurchens of Manchuria. Exports included gold and silver utensils, raw copper, ginseng, hemp, cloth, paper, inkstones, felt while Imports included tea, lacquerware, books, dyestuffs and medicines. They traded very rarely with any Japanese or Arabs.
The religion, at this point, is still getting along. Buddhism and Confuscianism make a combined effort to teach the people about the spiritual well being of a good citizen as well as hope for the afterlife. They are starting to get a little different in their methods of teaching. Confuscianism at this stage is concentrating more on the academic portion of learning, while Buddhism is concentrated on training their monks in military discipline and skill. The "getting along" portion was initiated by Uich'on (1055-1101) who believed that the two need to be reconciled in both the study of scriptures and the method of religious meditation.
Koryo comes out on top of the large dynasties and smaller tribal invasions of its country... but not until after a few defeats as well. Its defeat over the Khitans (Mongol tribe) strengthened its power and ownership over the northern part of the peninsula.
A strong Koryo monarchy was established through
1. Marriage ties
2. The examination system: Lineage, heredity, ownership, pedigree (academia)
3. The Stipend Land Law
Through this same system. the aristocracy became very strong. One military minded man gave his first daughter in marriage to the king. And his other two daughters to the seceding king. The father of these three queens seemed to just get fed up with the kings and imprisoned the latter one, killing a great many of the supporters and burning the royal palace to the ground (and I think dad shining his gun for when my date comes over is bad!)
Dear ol' pops is then betrayed and the previous king returns to his throne.. go figure. This king, Injong decides to move the capitol to Pyongyang instead of Kaesong.
TO BE CONTINUED....
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