Joseon
| Joseon Dynasty | |
|---|---|
| Korean Name | |
| Revised Romanization | Joseon Sidae |
| McCune-Reischauer | Chosŏn Shidae |
| Hangul | 조선 시대 |
| Hanja | 朝鮮時代 |
The Joseon Dynasty was founded in 1392 by Korean general Yi Seonggye (Taejo), who overthrew the former kingdom of Goryeo and established the kingdom of Joseon in a coup d'etat, simultaneously ending the period of Mongol domination that had begun in 1259. It is sometimes referred to as Yi Dynasty or Lee Dynasty after its founder. This name, however, is not popular in Korea.
During the Joseon Dynasty, a centralized administrative system was installed and Confucianism adopted. With Confucianism there was a new moral system established in Korea. The Joseon Dynasty also presided over two periods of great cultural growth, during which it developed the Goryeo culture into a unique, yet graceful culture of a standard higher than any other known civilization. Many Korean inventions were created during this period, such as the first Oriental sun dial and the world's first water-powered clock. The metal printing press invented during the Goryeo dynasty was spread to Japan and China (China previously used the wood-block printing press) during the Joseon Dynasty. In addition, the royal dynasty built several new fortresses, trading harbors, beautiful palaces.
In 1592 and 1597 Korea was invaded by Japanese troops in the Seven-Year War. These invasions were eventually resisted in 1598 with Chinese help. During the war, Koreans developed powerful firearms, high-quality gunpowder, and the first cannon-bearing ironclad warships in world history. Following these events the kingdom became increasingly isolationist. The rulers sought to cut off all contact to foreign countries. This is why Korea is sometimes known as the hermit kingdom.
More than a century later, in the 17th century, the Manchus defeated the Ming dynasty, and the Korean rulers were forced to pay tribute to the Chinese rulers. By the middle of the 19th century, Japan and China disputed over the Korean peninsula. After defeating China in 1894-1895 Japan increased its influence on Korea. The country became a protectorate, and after forcing King Gojong to abdicate his throne and assassinating his wife, Queen Min of Joseon, Japan annexed the country as a colony in 1910. This ended the Joseon Dynasty and began a 35 year period of Japanese atrocities, including millions of Koreans subjected to slave labor, forced prostitution, murder, torture, and "Japanization".
When the Japanese took over the Korean Peninsula in 1910, they forcibly reorganized the last reigning dynasty as part of the larger Japanese royal family. When King KGjong abdicated the throne, the Japanese moved his son the Crown Prince Sunjong, and the other Crown Prince Yongchin, to Japan, to learn the Japanese aristocratic way of life. All the primary heirs to the Korean throne were married into the Japanese royal family. In 1947, the Korean royal family lost their Japanese titles by order of General Douglas MacArthur. The Korean royal family, including the Crown Princes, moved to the United States to raise their families. Yongchin's son, Lee Ku, studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to become an architect. Relatives of the Joseon Dynasty are American citizens today, living and working in the United States in the private sectors.
The Joseon Dynasty recorded its history as Annals of Joseon Dynasty.