HISTORY

The Flow of the Korea

History From Pre-history

to Joseon Dynasty  

  As from the diagram we know that the history of  Korea started from the pre-history which is about 700,000 years ago. We can separate pre-history into two period that are Jeulmun Pottery Period and Mumun Pottery Period. In the Jeulmun Pottery Period, the earliest known Korean pottery was at about 8000 B.C.E. or before. At Mumun Pottery Period (150-300 B.C.E), the earliest agricultural societies and the earliest form of social political society complexity.

  

  According to the legend, the first Korean kingdom is at Gojoseon Period which is called Dangun (2333 B.C.E), that is located in the southern part of Manchuria and the northern part of Korea peninsula. Furthermore, the bronze culture and iron culture will also found in Gojoseon period. 

  

  At 57 B.C.E to 668 AD, the three kingdom Baekje, Silla and Goguryeo presented in the three kingdom periods. After the fall of the Gojoseon numerous state sprang up, this include Bukbuyeo, Dongbuyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, Nangnang Joseon and Samhan. This state from in the Proto-Three Kingdoms which is the period before the rise of the Three Kingdoms Period.

  

  After the Three Kingdom Period, started the North-South States Period which contain of two kingdoms which is Silla (668-935) and Balhae (698-926). After this period, existed the Later Three Kingdom Period (892-936) which consist of Silla, Hubaekje (later called Baekje), and Taebong (Hugoguryeo, later called Goguyeo).

Goryeo Pargoda

  Goryeo founded in 913 until year 139. At this period the courts codified laws and civil service system is introduced by the government.  Buddhism spread through the peninsula of Korea. The celadon industry which celadon is a type of ceramic was flourished, the world’s first metal printing technology and the publication of Tripitaka Koreana were achieve in this period. In 1231, the Mongola started its campaigns against Korea and after 25 years of resistant the royal family surrended. Goryeo dynasty had under the influenced of Mongola for 80 years. In 1340s, the Mongola decline and King Gongmin found the freedom to reform Goryeo government but it faced various problems. Moreover, “Japanese” pirates organized raid deep into the country and is repelling by the engagement formed with General Lee Songgye.  

White Porcelain Jar with Plum, Bamboo,
Bird Design (Joseon; 15th Century).
 This vase made in the early Joseon Period. 

  

  In year 1392, Joseon dynastry was established. In this period Neo-Confucianism was the country’ s official religion and advanced in science and culture which created the Hangul written alphabet. The economy was stable during peaceful period but suffered after Janpanese invasion. The social hierarchy system in this period is shown in the diagram below.

Social Hierarchy system in Joseon Dynasty

 Korea had suffered from a pair of invasion from 1592 to 1598. Subsequently Korea was invaded twice in 1627 and 1636 by Manchus which conquer China and establish the Qing dynasty after Korea recognized controlled. During 19^th century, Korea closed their borders to all nation except China to control the foreign invasion. The Joseon court noted with concern the foreign invasions and treaties involving Qing China, as well as the Opium Wars and followed by a slow exchange of policy with the west. “General Sherman” incident in 1866 causes Korea and United States into a confrontational relationship. In 1871, United States conducted a limited punitive expedition which is Sinmiyangyo. Japan forced Korea to open its port in 1876 and successfully challenges Qing in Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). In 1895, Empress Myeongseong was murdered which was involved Japanese who had Russian help and Russian was forced to leave from Korea.   

The Korea History Flow from Korean Empire to the Division of  Korea

Portrait of King Gojong

  In 1897, Joseon was renamed to Korean Empire and King Gojong became Emperor Gojong. In this period the government implied domestic reform, strengthening military forces, developing commerce and industry and surveying land ownership. Organizations like Independent Club to assert the rights of the Joseon people. Russian influence was strong in the Empire until it was defeated by Japan in Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). Korea was becoming a protectorate of Japan in 17 November 1905 but the 1905 Protectorate Treaty was promulgated without the seal or commission by the Emperor Gojong. Following that many intellectuals and scholars set up various organization and association for the movement of independent. In 1909, independent activist An Jung-Geun assassinated Ito Hirobumwhich is a former Resident-General of Korea. This incident lead to the banning of all political organization and started the plan of enlarging its colonization.

 

Gyeongbokgong Palace

 In 1910, Japan effectively annexed Korea by the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty. This treaty is not accepted in Korea because it was not signed by the Emperor of Korea as required while Japan claim that the treaty is legal. Korea was controlled by Japan under the Governor-General of Korea until Japan was unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces on 15 August 1945 with de jure sovereignty passing from Joseon Dynasty to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. Korea constructed European-styled transport and communication network across the nation that is facilitated by Japan to extract the resources and labor. The Japanese removed Joseon hierarchy, destroyed Gyeongbokgung palace and established a punitive series of measures which include the murdering of those who refused to pay taxes in the provinces.

1^{st March Movement}

Emperor Gojong died in January 1919 with a rumor of poisoning lead to an independence rallies against Japanese invaders took place nationwide on March 1, this movement is suppressed by the Japan by killing 7000 peaceful demonstrator. Japan also burnt alive many Korean Christians. Korean independent fighters establish the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai, China.This Provisional Government constituted the de jure government of the Korean people in year 1919-1948. After the Sino-Japanese War in 1937 and World War II, Japan attempted to eliminate Korea as a nation by eliminating Korean culture. Japan prohibited the use of Korean language and the Korean is forced to change their name into Japanese name.  Some Korean left the peninsula of Korea to Manchuria and Primorsky Krai. Korean in Manchuria formed resistance group named Dongnipgun (Independence Army). During World War II, Japan forced Korean to support their war effort and conscripted girls and women as “comfort women” or sex slave.

Officials of the Provisional Government of the
Republic of Korea pose for a photo in Shanghai, China

  At the Cairo Conference on 22 November 1943, Russia, Britain and the United State of Kingdom (USA) agree that Korean shall become free and independent. In February 1945, at Yalta the allies agreed to establish a four-power trusteeship over Korea. In 9 August 1945, Soviet entered northern Korea from Siberia and take over the area north of the 38^th parallel while in 8 September 1945 US administering the southern Korea.This had leaded to the division of Korea. 

The 38th Parellel divided North and
South Korea till the Korean War

  A conference convened in Moscow to discuss the future of Korea on December 1945. In September 1947, United Nations General Assembly mandated called for democratic national election but Soviet Union ignored it and USA went ahead with the elections in the South. This result in a communist dictatorship in North Korea and in the South is the democratic Republic of Korea. In 12 December 1948, the United Nations recognized Republic of Korea as the sole of legal government of Korea by its resolution 195 in the Third General Assembly. Korean War broke out on June 1950 when North Korea invaded massively at the South over the 38^th parallel which lead to the ending of hope of peaceful reunification at that time. After the war, the 1945 Geneva conference failed to adopt a solution to unified Korea.

Korean War Veterans Memorial

These are the video about Korean History and Korea War

[Korean Culture Series] A brief history of Korea

The Battles of The Korean War-Best History Documentary

To know more about Korean History and Korean War can refer to these links below:-

• http://koreanhistory.info/
• http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/History_of_Korea
• http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war

By : Rui Rui Tan Sze Yin

Religions in South Korea

Religion is a major component of Korean Society. The religious in South Korea influence daily thoughts, customs and behaviours. South Koreans practice a variety of religions, even though some of the religious are very different from each other. Nowadays, most of the South Koreans think that religion is an important part of their everyday lives. 

Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity and Shamanism are the main religions in South Korea. However, Islam and Hinduism are consider as other religions that found in South Korea. 

1. Buddhism(Bulgyo)

A Buddhist Temple in South Korea's Pukhan Mountains.

During the Three Kingdoms period (4th Century),the traditional religions of China: Buddhism (Bulgyo) entered Korea Peninsula. Buddhism was the dominant religious and cultural influence during the Silla (668-935) and subsequent Goryeo (918-1392) dynasties. Buddhism in the contemporary state of South Korea is stronger in the east of the country, which namely Yeongnam and Gangwon regions as well as in Jeju. 

  A Stone Statue of Buddha.

   

Lotus Lantern Festival. This festival celebrates the birth of 

Shakyamuni Buddha on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month.

                                                                                                              

Beomeosa Temple in Cheongnyong-dong, Geumjeong-gu,
Busan, South Korea.

Bulguksa Temple in Jinheon-dong, Gyeongju city, North
Gyeongsang province, South Korea. 

There are a number of different schools in Korean Buddhism, including the Seon (Korean Zen). The majority of Buddhist temples in South Korea belong to Jogye Order that is related to the Seon school. Most of the country's old and famous temple such as Bulguksa and Beomeosa Temple are operated by the Jogye Order. Beomeosa Temple and Bulguksa Temple are the head temple of  the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Buddhist temple are smaller buildings dedicated to the local mountain god or other spirits whose intercession on behalf of the faithful is believed to bring good fortune.

2. Confucianism(Yugyo)

Confucianism was received in Korea at about the same time as Buddhism. Although Confucianism is not technically a religion, but the teachings of Confucius permeate throughout Korean Society. Confucianism is primarily concerned with the fulfillment of responsibilities. Adopted as the state ideology of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Confucianism was more based on a system of ethics than religion. The legacy of Confucianism remains a fundamental part of Korea Society, shaping the moral system, the everyday life, social relations between old and young. The spiritual vacuum was filled by Confucianism.

Reenactment of a traditional Confucian Tea Ceremony.

A Confucian ritual ( Bowing to the ancestors as part of a Jesa).

      

Shrine of a Confucian school in

Gangneung.

Confucian rituals are still practiced at various times of the year. South Korea emphasis on education and respect for the ancestors also came from the teaching of Confucius.

The main plaza of the Seonggyungwan, 

the National Confucian Academy of the Joseon Dynasty in Seoul.

3. Christianity(Gidoggyo)
Christianity in South Korea is constituted by two communities, which are Protestantism (Gaesingyo) and Catholicism (Cheonjugyo). Koreans were the first introduced to Christianity through Jesuits in China. A decade after the return of Yi Sung-hun, who was the first baptized Korean in Beijing, the Roman Catholic just arrived in Korea in 1794. However, Protestant missionaries were brought to South Korea during the late 19th century along with Catholic priests. Protestantism established numerous schools, universities, medical centers and orphanages throughout the country. 

This is the largest Christian Congregation in the country. 
The entrance to Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, the country's capital. 
This church reputed to be the world's largest with a congregation of 700,000 members. 

The most prominent of Confucian rituals are the annual rites held at the Shrine of Confucius in Seoul. The National Academy as the beginning of Confucian studies produced a quite important number of Confucian scholars.  

 

Protestant Church in Seoul.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints of South Korea.

Myungsung Church in Gongdong-gu, Seoul.

On the average, Christian families are better educated and have a higher standard of living. Christians also tend to be concentrated in urban areas. Their personal influence on social, economic and political issues are significant. Today, there are approximately 13.7 million Christians in South Korea.

4. Shamanism(Muism/Sinism)

This is some of the traditional gods that revered by
Korean Shamas. 

Korea Shamanism also known as "Muism" (Mugyo) or "Sinism" (Singyo). This is  the ethnic religion of Korea and Koreans. Shamanism revolves around a mudang (Hangul), which is priest or priestess who acts as an intermediary between the spirits or gods and living worlds. 

This is the large-scale shaman kut that found at the
Korean Folk Village.

Shamanism is the basic belief that all the happiness are came from the harmony with nature. It is the belief that everything has spirit rather than the idea of a transcendent God.

Shamanism can take the form of simple rituals such as a ceremony to clear the evil spirits from a new residence.                                                    

This is one of the representation of a shaman
kut ceremony. 

Most of the shamans are women, who want the help of the spirit world. However, there are still some of the male shamans. Female shamans hold kut or services to gain a good fortune and to guide the spirit of a deceased person to heaven. Shamanism believed that all of the spirits have power to affect the life of people and changes the fortune of men and women.                                                                                          

5. Islam(Iseullamgyo)                                                                                             

There are a few of Koreans that embraced to the Islamic beliefs in South Korea during the Korean War. The Islamic Society of Korea and the first Korean Imam was developed in 1955. There are about 40,000 Muslims that present in South Korea. Islam currently has about 60 places of worship across Korea. 

The Seoul Central Mosque in Itaewon, Seoul.  

This is the largest mosque that located at the Itaewon district of Seoul. However, there are some smaller mosques that can be found in South Korea's major cities. 

6. Hinduism(Hindugyo)

Hinduism is practiced among South Korea's small Nepali immigrant and Indian community. There are two main Hindu temples that can be found in the Seoul region. 

This is the Sri Radha Shyamasundar Mandir that
located in Seoul. 

This is the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple that
located on Seoul's outskirts.

These temples are the most important temples that can be found in Seoul by Hinduism. Most of the younger South Koreans are attracted by the Hindu traditions such as Yoga and Vedanta. 

As a result, religions will change people behaviours as they spread throughout the world. But that's what makes it interesting and awesome. According to Martin Luther King Jr, "Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the entire staircase."

By : Voon Nyet Teng

Korean Language

Korean language is the national language of South Korea (Republic of Korea) and North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). It is known as Hanguk-eo (한국어) in South Korea or Chosŏnmal (조선말) in North Korea. Korean language is not only spoken by people in North Korea and South Korea, but it is also used in Japan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia. Grammatically Korean is very similar to Japanese and about 70% of its vocabulary comes from Chinese.

The modern Korean writing system, known as Hangeul (한글), was first invented in 1444 and promulgated in 1446 by Sejong the Great, the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty. Before the invention of Hangeul, Chinese characters is used to represent the sounds of Korean in writing scripts. However, the Chinese characters could not adequately denote Korean speech, because the two languages have different pronunciation. Therefore, in order to make the writing process easier, Hunminjeongeum or "Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People" was invented. It is a book that explains the principles and purpose of Hangeul, as well as how to use and pronounce the letters.  It turns the writing system from a complex Chinese characters to the simpler Korean characters so that the common people illiterate in Chinese characters or "Hanja" could accurately and easily read and write the Korean language. By using Hangeul, people can express themselves and communicate by speaking or writing in a more effective way compared to the past.

Hangeul originally had 28 letters, but four letters have dropped out of use, so Hangeul used by the societies now only consists of 24 letters, which are 14 consonants and 10 vowels. Five of the consonants are doubled to form the five "tense" (faucalized) consonants of Korean, while another eleven sequences are formed of two different consonants. The ten vowel letters are combined into eleven sequences for diphthongs. 

A Korean character is combined by consonant sounds and vowel sounds. For example, the character  “한” (Han) in 한국 (Hanguk) is combined by the consonant “ㅎ” (h), vowel “ㅏ” (a), and consonant “ ㄴ” (n).

I've found some videos in learning Hangeul and they are very useful for the beginners like you and me! Although they are a bit lengthy, but they are absolutely worth to watch as I assure you that you will learn the basic knowledge of Korean language by watching these videos. Here's the link. Well, let's learn this beautiful language from today! Remember your oppas are waiting for you~ XD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZhOeA0RD9o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFY1y6jxFcs

Hanja and Hangeul calligraphy. 

A quote in Hangeul.

  The Korean characters.

The Hunminjoengeum.

Consonant sounds and vowel sounds in Korean language.

By : Ang Wan Xin

The Traditional Costume of South Korea - Hanbok

        HANBOK-KOREA
Hanbok is the most representative example of traditional costumes in South Korea. In 1996, the south Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism made "Hanbok Day" to encourage South Korea citizens to wear Hanbok.  Hanbok is made up of various fabrics. It is comprised of five basic colours which is red, blue, yellow, black and white. One of the special parts of Hanbok is it has no pockets and buttons. In a full set of Hanbok consists of a few parts whih is jeogori(shirt), chima(skirt), baji(pants), jipsin(shoes) and so on.

Full sets of Hanbok! 

Jeogori - Jeogori is the basic upper garment of the hanbok. It worn by both man and woman. It cover the arms and upper part of body. The basic form of a Jeogori consists of gil, git, dongjeong, goreum and sleeves somae. Gil (길) is the large section of the garment in both front and back side and git (깃) is a band of fabric that trims the collar. Dongjeong (동정) is a removable white collar placed over the end of the git and is generally squared off. The goreum (고름) are coat strings attached to the breast part to tie the jeogori. Women's jeogori may have kkeutdong (끝동), a different colored cuff placed on the end of the sleeves. 

This is an example of  jeogori for man.

This is an example of jeogori for woman. 

Jeogori composition: 1. hwajang 2. godae 3. kkeutdong (somae buri) 4. somae
                     5. goreum 6. u 7. doryeon 8, 11. jindong 9. gil
10. baerae 12. git 13. dongjeong

Baji - Baji is the bottom part of men's Hanbok. Baji is no tightly compare to western design's pants.The design of Baji is aimed at making the clothing ideal for sitting on the floor.Nowadays, Baji is also known as anytype of pants in korea. 

Baji of Hanbok.

Chima - Chima is the bottom part of women's Hanbok. Chima is known as skirt ,it also called sang or gun in hanja. The underskirt or petticoat layer is called sockchima. 

Example of Chima

Example of  Sockchima. 

Jokki and Magoja - Jokki is a type of vest, while magoja is an outer jacket. Each is additionally worn over jeogori foe warmth and style. Magoja does not have git, the band of fabric that trims the collar or goreum(tying strings) unlike jeogori and durumagi(overcoat). 

Example of jokki .

jokki

Example of magoja.

Jipsin - Jipsin are Korean traditional sandals made of straw. Koreans have worn straw sandals since ancient times. 

Hwa - Hwa are a type of traditional Korean boot, which is a subdivision of Korean shoes. 

 Jipsin

Hwa

Hanbok is still worn for the wedding celebration. Below show the example of wedding Hanbok. 

Groom wear 

Bride wear

Happy Wedding with beautiul Hanbok~

          Last but no least, Hanbok is really the most representative things in Korea. In my opinions, Hanbok is really beautiful and charming . It is not only represent the cultural of Korea, it can also became an attraction for people to visit Korea. And, Korea is really beautiful and special. 

By : Goh Wei Ling