Geography of Korea
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Peninsula just south/east of China
70%= Low, steep mountains
Western coastal regions = major farming
Coastline- 5400 miles, hundreds of good
harbors = port cities
• Location near China = Korea is influenced by
China
Invasions
• Han emperor (China) Wudi- 108 BC
• Mongols in 1231
• Japanese – 1590s
The 3 Dynasties of Korea
• Silla Dynasty (668-935)
• Koryo (935-1392)
• Choson or Yi ( 1392-1910)
Silla Dynasty
– Korea prospered & the arts flourished;
– Buddhism grew to be a powerful forcehundreds of temples were built;
– Chinese culture, language & politics- important
influences on this dynasty;
– Medicine, astronomy, metal casting sculpture &
textile manufacturing reached high levels
– Set up National Confucian Academy to train high
officials
Bulguksa Temple, at Kyongju, was built about AD 540.
It houses many historic treasures of the Silla Dynasty.
Koryo Dynasty
• The modern name Korea comes from this
dynasty’s name
• Confucianism & Buddhism both influential
• Woodblock printing = many Buddhist texts
• Took the Chinese invention & had moveable
type
• Learned to make porcelain from China =
Celadon ( porcelain w. an unusual blue-green
glaze)
Choson or Yi Dynasty
• Last & longest-lived of the 3 dynasties lasting
more than 500 years
• Yi Song-gye overthrows the Koroyo in 1392
• Reduced Buddhist influence
• Set up govt. based on Confucian principles
King SejongReplaced complicated Chinese system of writing
w. Hangul (Korean phonetic alphabet) = led to
extremely high literacy rate
Japanese under Hideyoshi invaded in the late
1500’s- stole Korean artisans- took them back to
Japan to learn Korean art in Japan.
Then the Manchu invaded.
This led Korea to a policy of isolationism (staying
away from other nations) giving Korea the
nickname :The Hermit Kingdom.
Yi Soon Shin
Achievements in Arts & Learning
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Arts & Learning from China
Woodblock printing & moveable type
Celadon porcelain
Complex Chinese writing replaced by Hangul
High literacy rate
Government & the Impact of China
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United w. help of Tang China
Tributary state
Confucian principles of gov’t modified
Restricted role of women
Civil service exams for aristocrats only