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General Information - History |
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Pre-20th Century
??- 57 B.C.: Evidence of inhabitants in Korea
from as early as 4000 BC exists in Korea. Legend has that the man-god
Tan Gun founded the Joseon (meaning Land of the
Morning Calm) Kingdom in 2333 BC. Almost no centralized communities existed from
then until three kingdoms emerged in the 1st century BC.
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57 B.C. - 668 A.D.: The Three Kingdoms
of Silla, Goguryeo, and Baekje had similar ethnic and linguistic
backgrounds. Koguryo occupied the northern part of the peninsula from the Chinese border
to the Han River, while Silla and Baekche dominated the southern regions. All three
kingdoms were heavily influenced by China, and Buddhism was introduced to Koguryo in
372. Various alliances were formed either with or against the Chinese until 660 when Silla
allied with China to overthrow Baekje. Goguryeo fell shortly afterwards in 668.
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668 - 935: The Silla Kingdom
period marked the start of Korea's cultural development. Buddhism expanded and furled the
construction of numerous temples and art works. However, despite Chinese influences, Silla
remained largely tribal in culture. Society divided into distinct classes with a large
semi-slave population supporting an aristocratic minority. Warlords began amassing power
bases to the north and eventually took over Silla and founded a new kingdom-
Goryeo.
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918 - 1392: Korea's English name was
derived during the Goryeo period. At this time the government codified the laws and
introduced a civil service system. During this time Buddhism flourished and spread
throughout the peninsula. Like other kingdoms before it, Koryo was also subject to internal
strife and external threats, most notably from the Mongols who had taken over China. In 1231
the Mongols invaded Korea, forcing the royal family to flee to Kanghwa Island near Seoul.
After 25 years of struggle, the royal family finally surrendered. The following 150 years
saw continued Goryeo rule, but under the control of the Mongols. As the Mongols declined in
power, so too did Goryeo. In 1392 a Korean general, Yi, Song-gye, was sent to China
to campaign against the Ming rulers. Instead, he allied himself with the Chinese, returned
to overthrow the Korean king, and setup his own dynasty. During this time, Korea also
perfected the art of celadon pottery.
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1392 - 1910 The ruler of the Yi
Dynasty (also known as the Joseon Dynasty) moved the capital to Hanyang-gun
(today's Seoul) in 1394 and adopted Confucianism as the country's official religion. As a result,
Buddhists lost much of their wealth and power. It was during this period that the Korean alphabet,
Hangeul, was invented by King Sejong the Great. This period also had its share
of external problems, suffering invasions by the Japanese (1592-1598) and the Manchus
(1627-1636). With the arrival of Japanese and Western traders in the 19th century, the
Korean rulers tried to prevent the opening of the country to foreign trade by closing the
borders, earning Korea its nickname of the Hermit Kingdom. Beginning in 1876, the Japanese
forced a series of Western-style trade agreements on Korea, leading to Japan's eventual
annexation of the country in 1910. Due to growing anti-Japanese sentiment, in 1897 King
Kojong declared himself to be emperor of the Taehan Empire, an independent Korea.
However, during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Japanese forces moved onto the
peninsula, despite Korean declarations of neutrality. The signing of the Japan-Korea
Protection Treaty in 1905 gave Japan virtual control over Korea, and in 1910 a Korean royal
proclamation announced the annexation by Japan.
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