In reading my South Korean History and Culture book, I am getting through a few more early centuries before I start reading on the country as a unified peninsula very soon. However, when I left off before, I explained a few shipping ports named mainly after Chinese culture, since they were the ones beginning trade and influence on those cities. Soon thereafter, the people of Korea regained control of the ports and formed three Kingdoms; Koguryo, Paekche, and Shilla. Sooooo much happens over a few centuries, wars and overall social unrest and unhappiness. I will explain....
Koguryo was in the north and certainly fought for many years for control over Manchuria. (will become a big player over time)
Paekche is certainly the weakest of all three kingdoms and plays a good hand when in war and choosing sides. However it is the first city to really combine with one of the other two (depending on the century).
Shilla is the first large and most documented city at the time (53-668 AD). The information that this book is based on is that from this city. It describes the social rank system. A man's position in society is fixed at birth and rarely is changed. The "bone" rank system was prevalent in deciding who would take the kingdom's throne.
Hallowed bone rank (the only rank able to inherit the throne)
True bone rank (ranks 6, 5 & 4.... aristocracy level)
Commoner (ranks 3, 2 & 1 .... little to no power)
Slaves
What determines these ranks are: size of residence, color of dress, the nature or function of the vehicles they traveled in, and utensils.
NO MARRIAGE BETWEEN RANKS!
Interestingly enough, Shilla resembles modern day family authority set-ups. For example, the women of Shilla were able to work and support their families, and were also allowed to be the head of the family. In Koguryo this is very different, women are not allowed to head the family. The book speaks of the importance of Buddhism and Confucianism. -- Through these religions, the authority was able to keep control over the commoner population for many of the religious rules required the people to respect and follow the rule of the kings.
Economy and trade flourished well considering each of the kingdoms had taken over one or more of the trading posts originally established by Chinese travelers. Ships frequently use the waterways and to and from the peninsula to mainland China.
In 342 AD The three Kingdoms had grown too close to one another and came to the conclusion that each was a threat to each. Alliances between the three kingdoms and outside countries like Japan and China, but these shifted so frequently that it was difficult to know who was stronger than who.
In the end, Shilla came out on top for having the best Navy. They conquered the entire southern peninsula, and a good portion of Koguryo. The rest of the northern part of the peninsula became Parhae.
Three Kingdoms then became two somewhat peaceful for a short amount of time. Shilla continued to have problems with many leaders in their rank system, including 80 YEARS of unrest in their highest government positions. Schisms, take-overs, confucian monks taking power -- all of it contributed to ever-changing power. Frequent peasant uprisings occurred as well... WHAT HAPPENS NEXT in Korean history?
Stay tuned.... :)
Korea; Its History and Culture. Seoul: Korean Overseas Information Service, 1994.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
South Korea! We feel you....
So, South Korea has had some trouble as of late with massive amounts of snow on their east coast that they actually deployed military soldiers to help with the citizens. They even took helicoptors! Does any of this look familiar? Click here to watch the video from BBC.
Yep. I thought so. Here in Wisconsin, S.K. we know how you feel. We hope you all get out safe and sound and can resume your happy lives!
Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak pushed through the snow to get to the Pyeongchang, the Asian hopeful of the 2018 Olympics games. This article describes Asia as only having held two winter Olympics, both in Japan (1972, 1998). HEY IOC! It's time to take it elsewhere than Europe and the U.S.... now give it up for S.K.! See full article in LA Times; Sports.
Remember those Pirate stories of old? Well, a few years ago we had heard quite a few about some Somalian Pirates who just wouldn't believe that the 7 seas are pretty much unconquerable. They finally let go a South Korean ship after holding it captive for 4 MONTHS. Poor guys were just trying to catch some crab at an island off of the Kenyan coast. Most of the passengers were Kenyan actually. But the boat and two men are South Korean. They have returned safely from Somalia, but as you can see here from ABC news, the ship looks in pretty rough shape. ARRRGGHHH!
South Korea Christians are hemming and hawing about a new regulation about traveling overseas to Islamic countries. They are trying to make sure that no illegal activity is occurring within the countries once South Koreans arrive. However, South Koreans Christians are not the only ones who go overseas to Islamic countries to bring the Word of God to the people. What could this mean for American missionaries? Well I am hoping they would put up a stink too. But it looks like they have already gone far to give ransom for other trapped missionaries. Christians are unsure of the S.K. promise to free speech. Although they don't necessarily have the United States policy of purposely imposing on countries that don't have it. Read full article here at this amazing new source: The Korean Herald.
Well. That's just a little news from South Korea. I will update you on my reading later this weekend! Have a good one!
Yep. I thought so. Here in Wisconsin, S.K. we know how you feel. We hope you all get out safe and sound and can resume your happy lives!
Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak pushed through the snow to get to the Pyeongchang, the Asian hopeful of the 2018 Olympics games. This article describes Asia as only having held two winter Olympics, both in Japan (1972, 1998). HEY IOC! It's time to take it elsewhere than Europe and the U.S.... now give it up for S.K.! See full article in LA Times; Sports.
Remember those Pirate stories of old? Well, a few years ago we had heard quite a few about some Somalian Pirates who just wouldn't believe that the 7 seas are pretty much unconquerable. They finally let go a South Korean ship after holding it captive for 4 MONTHS. Poor guys were just trying to catch some crab at an island off of the Kenyan coast. Most of the passengers were Kenyan actually. But the boat and two men are South Korean. They have returned safely from Somalia, but as you can see here from ABC news, the ship looks in pretty rough shape. ARRRGGHHH!
South Korea Christians are hemming and hawing about a new regulation about traveling overseas to Islamic countries. They are trying to make sure that no illegal activity is occurring within the countries once South Koreans arrive. However, South Koreans Christians are not the only ones who go overseas to Islamic countries to bring the Word of God to the people. What could this mean for American missionaries? Well I am hoping they would put up a stink too. But it looks like they have already gone far to give ransom for other trapped missionaries. Christians are unsure of the S.K. promise to free speech. Although they don't necessarily have the United States policy of purposely imposing on countries that don't have it. Read full article here at this amazing new source: The Korean Herald.
Well. That's just a little news from South Korea. I will update you on my reading later this weekend! Have a good one!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Korea - Its History and Culture
My fellow comparatives:
I am very excited to read this book (one of my sources). It seems like a quick read with three columns per page and somewhat newspaper style. I really think I will enjoy this book because it has so much information about each time period, but relates it all to socio-cultural experience. This helps the information to be less muddy and less difficult to work through. Through some brief descriptive words, I really can picture the Korea of the past.
The book starts out with an introduction that quickly summarizes the book's purpose and information. I love this first paragraph: Korean history is an extraordinary mixture of events and trends. Against the backdrop of a strong cultural uniformity which started to emerge in the 7th century and has continued up to the present day, we find a pattern of rich cultural contrast. Buddhist pagodas stand side by side with Confucian shrines. The delightful delicacy of celadon porcelain and court painting provide a foil to the rough, strong colours, sounds and rhythms of folk painting and music. Sounds lovely! All of the book has this kind of flowery description which will make for a more entertaining and interesting/quick read.
Thank goodness for that!
This first chapter is about the Pre-History of Korea through AD 668. Among the first bits of information I have read through include a basic "caveman" perspective of the first human species on the Korean Peninsula. The use of Shamans -priests- and the belief in all things having a spirit was the first strand of religious beginnings of this area. Then the book describes how the Bronze Age people beat out the Shaman believers and took the country into more of an organized civilization. As like other groups of early people, they started as hunter-gatherers and then got more accustomed to agriculture - which meant staying in one place.
Much of what they learned was from the Chinese culture, adaptations and mixture between these two areas helped Korea to become what it is today. The book describes early political developments as the Korean peninsula became a great area to import and export by ship from. There were four command posts at this time, Lo-lang, Chen-fan, Lin-t'un, and Hsuan-t'u. All of these were Chinese controlled for 400 years. Later after taking back control of these posts, the Koreans formed their own three kingdoms with social ranking systems. From here, there would be many wars to see which kingdom would come out on top!
This book is very detailed (in a general way) and organizes chapters by main themes like Social Structure, Social Order, Administration, Military, Economy, Political Development, Political Power, Trade. These will help immensely when putting my project together to find the correct information on all of the 5 areas I need to cover. I can't wait to keep reading!!!
~Jessica
I am very excited to read this book (one of my sources). It seems like a quick read with three columns per page and somewhat newspaper style. I really think I will enjoy this book because it has so much information about each time period, but relates it all to socio-cultural experience. This helps the information to be less muddy and less difficult to work through. Through some brief descriptive words, I really can picture the Korea of the past.
The book starts out with an introduction that quickly summarizes the book's purpose and information. I love this first paragraph: Korean history is an extraordinary mixture of events and trends. Against the backdrop of a strong cultural uniformity which started to emerge in the 7th century and has continued up to the present day, we find a pattern of rich cultural contrast. Buddhist pagodas stand side by side with Confucian shrines. The delightful delicacy of celadon porcelain and court painting provide a foil to the rough, strong colours, sounds and rhythms of folk painting and music. Sounds lovely! All of the book has this kind of flowery description which will make for a more entertaining and interesting/quick read.
Thank goodness for that!
This first chapter is about the Pre-History of Korea through AD 668. Among the first bits of information I have read through include a basic "caveman" perspective of the first human species on the Korean Peninsula. The use of Shamans -priests- and the belief in all things having a spirit was the first strand of religious beginnings of this area. Then the book describes how the Bronze Age people beat out the Shaman believers and took the country into more of an organized civilization. As like other groups of early people, they started as hunter-gatherers and then got more accustomed to agriculture - which meant staying in one place.
Much of what they learned was from the Chinese culture, adaptations and mixture between these two areas helped Korea to become what it is today. The book describes early political developments as the Korean peninsula became a great area to import and export by ship from. There were four command posts at this time, Lo-lang, Chen-fan, Lin-t'un, and Hsuan-t'u. All of these were Chinese controlled for 400 years. Later after taking back control of these posts, the Koreans formed their own three kingdoms with social ranking systems. From here, there would be many wars to see which kingdom would come out on top!
This book is very detailed (in a general way) and organizes chapters by main themes like Social Structure, Social Order, Administration, Military, Economy, Political Development, Political Power, Trade. These will help immensely when putting my project together to find the correct information on all of the 5 areas I need to cover. I can't wait to keep reading!!!
Korea; Its History and Culture. Seoul: Korean Overseas Information Service, 1994.
~Jessica
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