Korean Dynasties
Said in an acienct Korean Legend, the first state of Korea was disvoered by a hero named Tan'gun, whos mother was a bear and a father who was a God. Another legend, was that it was founded by a royal decscendant of the Chinese Shang Dynasty. Thought part of their culture was influenced by the Chinese, for the most part the Koreans were very strong in their own traditions and cultures.
Geography of Korea
- Korea is mainly a peninsula that comes off the Asian mainland and goes down toward Japan
- Is extremely mountainous and only a limited amount of land can be farmed
- Korea is isolated from neighbors due to mountains
Early History
- Different parts of the country used to be controlled by seperate clans or tribes
- in 108 B.C. the Han dynasty of China had controlled much of Korea, and there they had also began a centralized government
- Through the Chinese and their centralized government the Koreans learned and developed things such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and writing.
- Federations began to form during Han rule, and soon these federations began to disagree and became three rival kingdoms
- In mid- 600's the kingdom of Silla, defeated the other kingdoms, defeated the Chinese, and took back control of the peninsula
- Under Silla rule, Koreans practiced Buddhism and built Buddhist monasteries, and started the sculpting of stone and bronze sculptures. They also developed a new writing system.
The Koryu Dynasty
- In the 10th century, Silla rule began to weaken. Around 935, Wang Kon, a rebel officer, took over the country and announced himself king.
- Koryu Dynasty: lasted four and a half centuries from 935-1392
- The modeled their government off of China's, but added an civil service system, but failed because it did not provide the social mobility for Koreans that it did for the Chinese.
-The Koryu society was divided between a landed aristocracy and the remaining population. Besides the examinination system, the sons of nobles held the best positions ahnd those positions became hereditary.
- In 1231, a major threat was brought on the Koryu Dynasty as the Mongols swept into Korea.
-"They demnaded a crushing tribute including 20,000 horases, clothing for 1 million soldiers, and many children and artisans who were to be taken away as slaves" (Page 347).
- This period lasted until 1360's, but then Mongol Empire collapsed.
- In 1362 a group of scholar-officials and military leaders overthrew the Koryu Dynasty and made land reforms. A new dynasty was established a new dynasty called the Choson (Yi) Dynasty, which continued its reign for 518 years.
Koryu Culture
- This period produced great achievements in Korean history and culture
- Made a lot of pottery
- Had wooden blocks with printings of Buddhist scriptures
- These blocks were later destoryed by the Mongols though
- More then 80,000 blocks still remain is Korea today
Geography of Korea
- Korea is mainly a peninsula that comes off the Asian mainland and goes down toward Japan
- Is extremely mountainous and only a limited amount of land can be farmed
- Korea is isolated from neighbors due to mountains
Early History
- Different parts of the country used to be controlled by seperate clans or tribes
- in 108 B.C. the Han dynasty of China had controlled much of Korea, and there they had also began a centralized government
- Through the Chinese and their centralized government the Koreans learned and developed things such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and writing.
- Federations began to form during Han rule, and soon these federations began to disagree and became three rival kingdoms
- In mid- 600's the kingdom of Silla, defeated the other kingdoms, defeated the Chinese, and took back control of the peninsula
- Under Silla rule, Koreans practiced Buddhism and built Buddhist monasteries, and started the sculpting of stone and bronze sculptures. They also developed a new writing system.
The Koryu Dynasty
- In the 10th century, Silla rule began to weaken. Around 935, Wang Kon, a rebel officer, took over the country and announced himself king.
- Koryu Dynasty: lasted four and a half centuries from 935-1392
- The modeled their government off of China's, but added an civil service system, but failed because it did not provide the social mobility for Koreans that it did for the Chinese.
-The Koryu society was divided between a landed aristocracy and the remaining population. Besides the examinination system, the sons of nobles held the best positions ahnd those positions became hereditary.
- In 1231, a major threat was brought on the Koryu Dynasty as the Mongols swept into Korea.
-"They demnaded a crushing tribute including 20,000 horases, clothing for 1 million soldiers, and many children and artisans who were to be taken away as slaves" (Page 347).
- This period lasted until 1360's, but then Mongol Empire collapsed.
- In 1362 a group of scholar-officials and military leaders overthrew the Koryu Dynasty and made land reforms. A new dynasty was established a new dynasty called the Choson (Yi) Dynasty, which continued its reign for 518 years.
Koryu Culture
- This period produced great achievements in Korean history and culture
- Made a lot of pottery
- Had wooden blocks with printings of Buddhist scriptures
- These blocks were later destoryed by the Mongols though
- More then 80,000 blocks still remain is Korea today