Korea and Its Traditions
Setting the Scene – For centuries, Korea survived in the shadow of powerful neighbors, China
and Japan. Koreans thus came to see their land as a “shrimp among whales”. Yet Korea had another
name, “Land of the Morning Calm.” Whether tossed in turbulent seas or at rest in a calm land,
Koreans had their own identity.
As early as Han times, China extended its influence to Korea. Although Koreans absorbed
many Chinese traditions, they maintained a separate and distinct culture.
Geography of the Korean Peninsula
Korea is located on a peninsula that juts south from the Asian mainland with its tip pointing toward
Japan. At the northern end of the peninsula, mountains and the Yalu River separate Korea from
China.
Mountains and Seas – An early visitor once compared Korea’s landscape to “a sea in the heavy
gale.” Low but steep mountains cover nearly seventy percent of the Korean peninsula. The most
important range is the T’aebaek (TEH BEHK). It runs from the north to the south along the eastern
coast, with smaller chains branching off to form hilly areas. Because farming is difficult on the
mountains, most people live along the western coastal plains, Korea’s major farming region.
Korea has a 5,400-mile coastline with hundreds of good harbors. In addition, the offshore
waters feature thousands of islands. Since earliest times, Koreans have depended upon seafood for
most of the protein in their diet. Today, South Korea is the third largest fishing industry in the
world.
Impact of Location – Korea’s location on China’s doorstep has played a key role in its
development. From its powerful mainland neighbor, Korea received many cultural and
technological influences. At various times in history, China extended political control over the
Korean peninsula. Throughout its history, Korea has also served as a cultural bridge linking China
and Japan. From early times, Koreans adapted and transformed Chinese traditions before passing
them on to the Japanese.
Despite these strong ties, the Korean language is not related to Chinese. The earliest
Koreans probably migrated eastward from Siberia and northern Manchuria during the Stone Age.
They evolved their own ways of life before the first wave of Chinese influence reached the
peninsula during the Han dynasty. In 108 BCE, the Han emperor Wudi invaded Korea and set up a
military colony there. From this outpost, Confucian traditions and Chinese ideas about government,
as well as Chinese writing and farming methods spread to Korea.
Korea United
Between about CE 300 and 600, powerful local rulers forged three separate kingdoms: Koguryo
(KOH GUH REE OH) in the north, Paekche (PEHK CHEH) in the southwest, and Shilla (SHIL LAH) in the
southeast. Although they shared the same language and cultural background, the three kingdoms
often warred with one another or with China. Still, Chinese influences continued to arrive.
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Missionaries spread Mahayana Buddhism, which took root among the rulers and nobles. Korean
monks then traveled to China and India to learn more about Buddhism. They brought home the arts
and learning of China.
In 668, with the support of the Tang empress Wu Zhao, the Shilla kingdom united the
Korean peninsula. Unlike China, Korea had only three dynasties in its history. The Shilla ruled from
668 to 918, the Koryo (KOR EE OH) ruled from 918 to 1392, and the Choson (CHOH SUHN), or Yi, ruled
from 1392 to 1910.
Chinese Influence – Under the Shilla dynasty, Korea became a tributary state, acknowledging
Chinese overlordship but preserving its independence. Over the centuries, Korea came to see its
relationship to China in Confucian terms, as that of a younger brother who owed respect and loyalty
to an older brother. Koreans also adopted the Confucian emphasis on the family as a foundation of
the state.
Confucian ideas affected the rights of woman. Early on, Korean women had the right to
inherit property. Some upper-class women held public roles. Over time, as Confucian views took
root women’s rights became restricted. Women could no longer inherit property, and a women’s
position within the family became more subordinate.
At the same time, Koreans adapted and modified Chinese ideas. For example, they adapted
the Chinese civil service examination to reflect their own system of inherited ranks. In China, even
a peasant could win political influence by passing the exam. In Korea, only aristocrats were
permitted to take the test.
Buddhist Influence During the Koryo age, Buddhism reached its greatest influence in Korea.
Korean scholars wrote histories and poems based on Chinese models, and artists created landscape
paintings following Chinese principles. The Koryo dynasty built their capital, at Kaesong (KEH SUNG)
following the plan of the Tang capital at Chang’an.
Koreans used woodblock printing from China to produce a flood of Buddhist texts. Later,
Korean inventors made moveable metal type to print large numbers of books. Koreans improved on
other Chinese inventions. They learned to make porcelain from China, but then perfected techniques
of making celadon, a porcelain with an unusual blue-green glaze. Korean celadon vases and jars
were prized throughout Asia. In the 1200s, when the Mongols overran Korea and destroyed many
industries, the secret of making celadon was lost forever.
Choson: The Longest Dynasty
The Mongols occupied Korea until the 1350s. In 1392, the brilliant Korean general Yi-Song-gye (EE
SUNG KEH) set up the Chonson dynasty. In Songs of the Flying Dragons, Korea’s leading poets held
Yi up as a model of virtue and wisdom for future rulers:
“When you have men at your beck and call,
When you punish men and sentence them,
Remember, my Lord, His mercy and temperance.
If you are unaware of people’s sorrow,
Heaven will abandon you.
Remember, my Lord, His labor and love.”
- Songs of the Flying Dragons
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Yi reduced Buddhist influence and set up a government based upon Confucian principles. Within a
few generations, Confucianism had made a deep impact on Korean life.
A Korean Alphabet – Despite Chinese influence, Korea preserved its distinct identity. In 1443,
Korea’s most celebrated ruler, King Sejong decided to replace the complex Chinese system of
writing. “The language of this land,” he noted, “is different from China’s.” Sejong had experts
develop hangul, an alphabet using symbols to represent the sounds of spoken Korean.
Although Confucian scholars rejected hangul at the outset, its use quickly spread. Hangul
was easier for Koreans to use than the thousands of characters of written Chinese. Its use led to an
extremely high literacy rate, or percentage of people who can read and write.
Japanese Invasions – In the 1590s, an ambitious Japanese ruler decided to invade China by way of
Korea. Japanese armies landed and for years looted and burned across the peninsula. To stop the
invaders at sea, the Korean admiral Yi Sun-shin used metal-plated “turtle boats.” After six years,
the Japanese armies withdrew from Korea. As they left, however, they carried off many Korean
artisans to introduce their skills to Japan.
Questions
1. Identify:
(a) Shilla - ______________________________________________________________________________
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(b) Koryo - _____________________________________________________________________________
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(c) Choson - ____________________________________________________________________________
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(d) Yi Song-gye - ________________________________________________________________________
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(e) Sejong - _____________________________________________________________________________
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2. Define:
(a) celadon - ____________________________________________________________________________
(b) hangul - _____________________________________________________________________________
(c) literacy rate - _________________________________________________________________________
3. Describe the geographical features of Korea.
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4. How did the relative location of the Korean peninsula influence the development of Korean civilization?
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5. Give two examples of how Koreans adapted or modified Chinese ideas under the Shilla and Koryo
dynasty.
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6. How did Confucianism influence Korea during the Choson dynasty?
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7. How did Korea make sure to preserve their own identity and culture?
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8. What was the significance of the development of hangul? Why was this so important for Korea?
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9. Reread the excerpt from Song of the Flying Dragons. How does this poem reflect Confucian influences?
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10. Describe the relationship between Korea and Japan in the later 1500s.
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