After Silla unified the peninsula, Goryeo was established in the 10th century and was succeeded by the Joseon Dynasty (Yi Dynasty) at the end of the 14th century. Each developed its own distinctive culture.
Goryeo (918–1392)
In 918, Wang Geon (Emperor Taejo) founded Goryeo, and in 935 it absorbed Silla and unified the peninsula. The capital was Gaeseong (Kaesong).
- Introduction of the civil service examination: In 958, China-style civil service examinations were adopted and a Confucian bureaucratic system was established
- Goryeo celadon: Beautiful jade-colored ceramics. A unique inlaid celadon technique developed
- Tripitaka Koreana: The world's largest collection of Buddhist scriptures printed from woodblocks (13th century)
- Under Mongol submission (1270–1356): Goryeo was ruled by the Yuan, but the dynasty continued to exist
The Joseon Dynasty (Yi Dynasty, 1392–1897)
In 1392, Yi Seong-gye destroyed Goryeo and founded the dynasty. Capital: Hanyang (present-day Seoul).
・Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism) was adopted as the state's fundamental principle. A policy of “honoring Confucianism and suppressing Buddhism” was implemented
・Creation of Hangul (Hunminjeongeum): The fourth king, Sejong (reigned 1418–1450), devised it in 1443. It was a phonetic writing system that even ordinary people could learn
・The court was dominated by the yangban (the aristocratic bureaucratic class of civil and military officials). Passing the civil service examination was a condition for status
・Participated in the Ming and Qing tributary system (Little China ideology)
In 1392, Yi Seong-gye destroyed Goryeo and founded the dynasty. Capital: Hanyang (present-day Seoul).
・Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism) was adopted as the state's fundamental principle. A policy of “honoring Confucianism and suppressing Buddhism” was implemented
・Creation of Hangul (Hunminjeongeum): The fourth king, Sejong (reigned 1418–1450), devised it in 1443. It was a phonetic writing system that even ordinary people could learn
・The court was dominated by the yangban (the aristocratic bureaucratic class of civil and military officials). Passing the civil service examination was a condition for status
・Participated in the Ming and Qing tributary system (Little China ideology)
The Significance of Hangul as a Writing System
As an independent phonetic writing system not dependent on Chinese characters, Hangul became a symbol of Korean national identity. However, the yangban class continued to use Classical Chinese, and Hangul did not become widespread until the modern period.
Practice
- What was the name of the jade-colored ceramics created in Goryeo?
- State the name of the person who founded the Joseon Dynasty and the name of its capital, including the present-day city name.
- State the name of the independent Korean writing system devised by Sejong in 1443.