Chapter 9, Lesson 1
Korea: History & Culture
It Matters Because:
Located between two powerful civilizations - Japan &
China - Korea has forged its own cultural identity over
the centuries.
I. Korean Geography
A. Korea slightly smaller than Tennessee
1. On a peninsula
2. Mountainous terrain
3. Between China & Japan
B. Affected by cultures of China & Japan
1. Seen as bridge between China & Japan
2. Blended Chinese, Japanese elements with own traditions
II. Early Korean Cultures
A. Myth tells that Tangun, son of a bear & a god, founded
1st Korean kingdom
B. Historians believe 1st Koreans were tribal nomads
1. Lived in scattered villages
2. No central government
3. Made tools & weapons from bronze, later iron
C. Believed in shamanism
1. Shamanism - belief that certain people, known as shamans,
can communicate with spirits
2. Shaman carried out rituals to convince spirits to help people
III. The Three Kingdoms
A. Earliest Korean kingdom formed in 2333 BC
1. Chinese controlled northern region, 109 BC - AD 200s
2. Korea drove China out, Three Kingdoms eventually emerged
B. Years AD 300-700 known as Three Kingdoms Period
1. Chinese culture spread to Korea kingdoms
a. writing, Buddhism, Confucianism, government
2. Japanese culture also spread
3. Korea also developed unique culture
a. cave paintings
b. first space observatory in Asia
III. The Three Kingdoms
C. Korea’s three kingdoms constantly at war
D. In 660s, Silla kingdom conquered peninsula
1. Silla rule was time of peace
2. Buddhism spread
3. Irrigation improved agriculture
4. Trade, economy thrived
5. Emperors supported arts, architecture
IV. Korean Civilization
A. Nobles in Silla kingdom fought for power
B. In 935, General Wang Kon united peninsula
1. Founded Koryo Dynasty (“Korea” comes from this term)
2. Used Chinese government model
C. Culture thrived under Koryo rulers
1. Buddhism spread throughout peninsula
2. Movable metal type led to oldest printed book in history
3. Developed own style of pottery
IV. Korean Civilization
D. Mongols under Kublai Khan conquered Korea
1. Allowed Koryo to keep power
2. Forced peasants & artisans to build ships
E. In 1392, General Yi Song-gye overthrew Koryo, founded
Yi Dynasty
1. Yi ruled Korea for 500 years
2. Confucianism was state philosophy
3. Refused to support Buddhism
IV. Korean Civilization
F. Greatest Yi emperor was Sejong
1. Supported science, technology
2. Invented first rain gauge
3. Produced water clock, sundial, globe
4. Promoted literacy among people
5. Invented Korean alphabet similar to English alphabet
a. based on symbols to represent sounds
b. Chinese, Japanese languages use thousands of characters to
represent words
c. still used in Korea today
IV. Korean Civilization
G. In 1592, Japan attacked Korea
1. Wanted to cross Korea and conquer China
2. China helped defeat Japan on Korean peninsula
3. Korean invention, iron-clad warships, led to Japanese defeat at sea
a. iron-clad - covered in armored iron plates
b. known as turtle ships
H. Korea suffered after victory over Japan
1. Fighting on land had devastated farms
2. In early 1600s, Chinese Manchus defeated Yi Dynasty