So in the last thread, most of you (the 3 people who voted) said they wanted to learn about the history of Korea, so I'm gonna deliver that to you in the most concise package possible.
Click one spoiler to get learning!
I hope you enjoyed this thread as it took a long time for me to put together!
bAi
Click one spoiler to get learning!
People have been living in Korea since at least 8,000 BC, but they were not Korean people.
The first ever supposed humans were made from a 단군 (legend, or dān-gûn). The legend was that there was a tiger and a bear who wanted to become human, and God's son told them to live in a cave and eat garlic for a hundred days.
While the tiger gave up, the bear kept going and as the legend says, became the first ever human. The bear-transformed human and God's son married each-other and lived happily in 평양 (Pyongyang) in North Korea.
Their son, 단군 왕검 (Dāngūn Wānggōm) is told to be the father of all Koreans today.
Obviously, this is just a legend, so chances are that it PROBABLY isn't true.
The first ever supposed humans were made from a 단군 (legend, or dān-gûn). The legend was that there was a tiger and a bear who wanted to become human, and God's son told them to live in a cave and eat garlic for a hundred days.
While the tiger gave up, the bear kept going and as the legend says, became the first ever human. The bear-transformed human and God's son married each-other and lived happily in 평양 (Pyongyang) in North Korea.
Their son, 단군 왕검 (Dāngūn Wānggōm) is told to be the father of all Koreans today.
Obviously, this is just a legend, so chances are that it PROBABLY isn't true.
The first kingdom of Korea that we know of is called 고조선 (Gôjôseōn), from the 7th Century BC.
However, in about the 2nd Century BC, the Chinese Han Dynasty invaded 고조선 which started the '삼국 시대' (sām-gūk shi-dē), also known as the Three Kingdoms Period.
However, in about the 2nd Century BC, the Chinese Han Dynasty invaded 고조선 which started the '삼국 시대' (sām-gūk shi-dē), also known as the Three Kingdoms Period.
After the Han Dynasty invaded Gojoseon, there were three major kingdoms in Korea, which formed in 108BC. They were:
고구려 (Gôgûryō)
신라 (Shīllā)
백제(Bēkjē)
There was a smaller 4th kingdom called 가야 (Gaya), but that's not important.
The kingdoms often fought with each other as they didn't really have good relations.
Goguryeo was famous for it military, and seeing how it had a lot of Korea and the other two kingdoms were cornered, you would assume that anyways. They also invaded the Liaodong Peninsula in Manchuria, which is now China. Since their military is so good, they constantly have to defend themselves from the Tang Dynasty of China. The kingdom was lead by King Jumong, who was the father of the leader of Baekje.
Baekje boasted its great rice farms, and it also had good international relations with China and Japan, who they often did trade deals with. Japan's Buddhism was influenced by Baekje. This kingdom was led by King Ônjô (온조) who was the son of the King of Goguryeo.
Shilla was ruled by a queen named Queen Seondeok (선덕) and this kingdom was famous for its golden crafts and jewellery, which was rather impressive. They also had very intelligent 화랑 (Hwārāng) who were boys which were very highly military trained. 화랑 actually translates to 'Flower Boys' in English.
They also had a ranking system, called the 'Bone Ranking'. There were two ranks; Sacred Bone and True Bone. If you wanted to become King, you had to be Sacred Bone, but if you wanted to be Sacred Bone, your parents had to be Sacred Bone. Considering how it was very easy to be demoted from Sacred to the True bone ranking, this system was abolished.
고구려 (Gôgûryō)
신라 (Shīllā)
백제(Bēkjē)
There was a smaller 4th kingdom called 가야 (Gaya), but that's not important.
The kingdoms often fought with each other as they didn't really have good relations.
Goguryeo was famous for it military, and seeing how it had a lot of Korea and the other two kingdoms were cornered, you would assume that anyways. They also invaded the Liaodong Peninsula in Manchuria, which is now China. Since their military is so good, they constantly have to defend themselves from the Tang Dynasty of China. The kingdom was lead by King Jumong, who was the father of the leader of Baekje.
Baekje boasted its great rice farms, and it also had good international relations with China and Japan, who they often did trade deals with. Japan's Buddhism was influenced by Baekje. This kingdom was led by King Ônjô (온조) who was the son of the King of Goguryeo.
Shilla was ruled by a queen named Queen Seondeok (선덕) and this kingdom was famous for its golden crafts and jewellery, which was rather impressive. They also had very intelligent 화랑 (Hwārāng) who were boys which were very highly military trained. 화랑 actually translates to 'Flower Boys' in English.
They also had a ranking system, called the 'Bone Ranking'. There were two ranks; Sacred Bone and True Bone. If you wanted to become King, you had to be Sacred Bone, but if you wanted to be Sacred Bone, your parents had to be Sacred Bone. Considering how it was very easy to be demoted from Sacred to the True bone ranking, this system was abolished.
In 562AD, the 신라 kingdom (Shilla) wanted to take over Korea, so they first took over Gaya (remember that smaller kingdom?)
In 660AD, they conquered Baekje, meaning there were now 2 major kingdoms of Korea. They later got Goguryeo in 668AD, unifying Korea as one state, called Shilla.
However, in 918AD, a new kingdom was emerging called 고려 (gôryō), ruled by 태조 왕검 (Taejo Wanggeom) and this kingdom was in many ways better than Shilla. Because of this, Goryo took over Shilla in 935AD, and expanded its borders to the Yalu river, also known as the Amnok river. This river is where a lot of North Korean defectors pass over to get into China.
In 660AD, they conquered Baekje, meaning there were now 2 major kingdoms of Korea. They later got Goguryeo in 668AD, unifying Korea as one state, called Shilla.
However, in 918AD, a new kingdom was emerging called 고려 (gôryō), ruled by 태조 왕검 (Taejo Wanggeom) and this kingdom was in many ways better than Shilla. Because of this, Goryo took over Shilla in 935AD, and expanded its borders to the Yalu river, also known as the Amnok river. This river is where a lot of North Korean defectors pass over to get into China.
Goryo was a great movement in Korea's history, like a golden age.
All of the following happened:
- Literacy
- Immigration with China
- Many people became employed
- Buddhism grew popular
But not EVERYTHING was great for the Kingdom.
The Chinese Yuan Dynasty had been invaded by the Mongols, and they wanted to invade Goryeo in the 1200s, and so, they did; multiple times.
Many of the invasions were bad for Goryeo, as they were outnumbered by the Mongol's large military. Many Koreans were taken as slaves for the Mongols.
One day, though, the Mongols decided to take over Japan as if their empire wasn't already large enough. To get to Japan, the Mongols had to go through Korea, so the Korean slaves were forced to build ships in order to sail to Japan, but this happened twice and both times, typhoons killed the Mongols and the Japanese Navy sunk the ships that remained.
Thankfully, 1356AD was the year in which the Yuan Dynasty dissolved, and the Mongols let go of Goryeo.
All of the following happened:
- Literacy
- Immigration with China
- Many people became employed
- Buddhism grew popular
But not EVERYTHING was great for the Kingdom.
The Chinese Yuan Dynasty had been invaded by the Mongols, and they wanted to invade Goryeo in the 1200s, and so, they did; multiple times.
Many of the invasions were bad for Goryeo, as they were outnumbered by the Mongol's large military. Many Koreans were taken as slaves for the Mongols.
One day, though, the Mongols decided to take over Japan as if their empire wasn't already large enough. To get to Japan, the Mongols had to go through Korea, so the Korean slaves were forced to build ships in order to sail to Japan, but this happened twice and both times, typhoons killed the Mongols and the Japanese Navy sunk the ships that remained.
Thankfully, 1356AD was the year in which the Yuan Dynasty dissolved, and the Mongols let go of Goryeo.
After the Yuan Dynasty had dissolved, the Ming Dynasty came about.
Some people of Korea were loyal to the now-declined Yuan Dynasty, yet some were loyal to the Ming Dynasty.
A military general named 최영 (Choi Yeong) said he had heard that the Ming Dynasty was going to take a piece of land owned by the old Yuan Dynasty, and he wanted that land.
He ordered another soldier named 이성계 (Lee Seong-Gye) to attack this piece of land before the Ming Dynasty got to it, but what happened was that since Seong-Gye was loyal to the Yuan Dynasty, he killed Choi-Young as well as his supporters, and he founded the kingdom of 조선 (Jô-sōn), which took over all of Korea.
He changed his name to 태조 because his name 성계 sounds like the Korean word for 'sea urchin'.
Some people of Korea were loyal to the now-declined Yuan Dynasty, yet some were loyal to the Ming Dynasty.
A military general named 최영 (Choi Yeong) said he had heard that the Ming Dynasty was going to take a piece of land owned by the old Yuan Dynasty, and he wanted that land.
He ordered another soldier named 이성계 (Lee Seong-Gye) to attack this piece of land before the Ming Dynasty got to it, but what happened was that since Seong-Gye was loyal to the Yuan Dynasty, he killed Choi-Young as well as his supporters, and he founded the kingdom of 조선 (Jô-sōn), which took over all of Korea.
He changed his name to 태조 because his name 성계 sounds like the Korean word for 'sea urchin'.
The Joseon Kingdom of 1392 AD, ruled by 양반 (Yangban) was the kingdom to bring Confucianism from China over to Korea and Buddhism started to decline.
In fact, it got so strict that some people would've executed their own family members for not obeying their husband or not be respecting their elders, known as 'honour killings'.
In 1418 AD, King Sejong started to rule Korea. Let's just say that he was one of the most important people in Korean history.
Sejong strengthened the borders of his military, allied with Japan and he also invented new weapons, but that's not why he's famous.
King Sejong was one of the few people to be literate in Korea, and so when he found out that a lot of his kingdom couldn't read, he was rather shocked.
Before this time, Korean did not have a writing system, so to be one of the few literate people, you had to learn to write with Chinese characters. King Sejong developed a Korean writing system known as 한글 (Hangul) in 1443 AD and the point of it is to be able to revise within a couple of hours, and today, it is still one of the easiest writing systems to master.
The King died in 1450 AD.
In fact, it got so strict that some people would've executed their own family members for not obeying their husband or not be respecting their elders, known as 'honour killings'.
In 1418 AD, King Sejong started to rule Korea. Let's just say that he was one of the most important people in Korean history.
Sejong strengthened the borders of his military, allied with Japan and he also invented new weapons, but that's not why he's famous.
King Sejong was one of the few people to be literate in Korea, and so when he found out that a lot of his kingdom couldn't read, he was rather shocked.
Before this time, Korean did not have a writing system, so to be one of the few literate people, you had to learn to write with Chinese characters. King Sejong developed a Korean writing system known as 한글 (Hangul) in 1443 AD and the point of it is to be able to revise within a couple of hours, and today, it is still one of the easiest writing systems to master.
The King died in 1450 AD.
In Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi wanted to invade China, but in order to do that, he had to go through Joseon. Because of this, Japan invaded Joseon in 1592.
In 1597, an admiral named 이순신 (Lee Sun-Shin) was rather famous even though he lacked in any sort of naval training. In this year, there was the battle of 멸량 (Myeongryang) and Korea SHOULD'VE lost because they didn't have as many ships as Japan did.
On the day of the battle, the waves were rather rough, and Japan came on this date because they thought it would've been an advantage. But since Sun-Shin was familiar with these waves, he was able to sink more than 30 Japanese ships and only lost 2 men of his own in the process.
Although the battle of the navy was successful, Japan still managed to get onto the land, and that is where problems struck.
Japan was pushing through Korea with weapons that the Koreans couldn't defend themselves against, and so a lot of buildings were ruined and the Japanese took the citizen's ears as trophies.
Korea was almost dead, but then the citizens grouped up and tried to fight back, and it was easier since the Chinese Ming Dynasty helped Korea to get Japan back, and they were successful.
The Ming Dynasty warned Japan not to invade again, but they did. Korea won again.
Thankfully, Hideyoshi died in 1598 and Japanese invasions stopped.
In 1597, an admiral named 이순신 (Lee Sun-Shin) was rather famous even though he lacked in any sort of naval training. In this year, there was the battle of 멸량 (Myeongryang) and Korea SHOULD'VE lost because they didn't have as many ships as Japan did.
On the day of the battle, the waves were rather rough, and Japan came on this date because they thought it would've been an advantage. But since Sun-Shin was familiar with these waves, he was able to sink more than 30 Japanese ships and only lost 2 men of his own in the process.
Although the battle of the navy was successful, Japan still managed to get onto the land, and that is where problems struck.
Japan was pushing through Korea with weapons that the Koreans couldn't defend themselves against, and so a lot of buildings were ruined and the Japanese took the citizen's ears as trophies.
Korea was almost dead, but then the citizens grouped up and tried to fight back, and it was easier since the Chinese Ming Dynasty helped Korea to get Japan back, and they were successful.
The Ming Dynasty warned Japan not to invade again, but they did. Korea won again.
Thankfully, Hideyoshi died in 1598 and Japanese invasions stopped.
The Chinese Qing Dynasty invaded Korea in 1627 and considering how Korea was now vulnerable from the Japanese invasions, this invasion was NOT great for Joseon!
This invasion was for two reasons: Power, and King 인조 (Īn-jô).
King Injo who ruled Korea at the time tried to help the Ming Dynasty to invade the Qing Dynasty, so the Qing Dynasty wanted to get back and capture King Injo.
However, King Injo ran away before they could do anything to him. Because of this, the Qing Dynasty made an agreement with Joseon to not attack each other and to trade with each other.
But, Joseon did not sign that agreement, and therefore, the Qing Dynasty invaded again in 1636.
This time, the Qing Dynasty was successful in capturing the King, and they made Joseon a tribute state to the Qing Dynasty.
This invasion was for two reasons: Power, and King 인조 (Īn-jô).
King Injo who ruled Korea at the time tried to help the Ming Dynasty to invade the Qing Dynasty, so the Qing Dynasty wanted to get back and capture King Injo.
However, King Injo ran away before they could do anything to him. Because of this, the Qing Dynasty made an agreement with Joseon to not attack each other and to trade with each other.
But, Joseon did not sign that agreement, and therefore, the Qing Dynasty invaded again in 1636.
This time, the Qing Dynasty was successful in capturing the King, and they made Joseon a tribute state to the Qing Dynasty.
Korea closed its borders for trading except with China in the 1800s because they didn't want to deal with any excess Opium being imported in from other countries. But since the United States wanted to trade with Korea, they tried to make an agreement which was not honoured by Joseon.
Because of this, a gunboat (yes only one gunboat) was sent to attack Korea, but it was shot down immediately.
However, trade deals were soon opened with Japan in 1876 and the United States in 1882.
Because of this, a gunboat (yes only one gunboat) was sent to attack Korea, but it was shot down immediately.
However, trade deals were soon opened with Japan in 1876 and the United States in 1882.
Japan was fighting a war with Russia, and to do that, Japan had to enter Korea.
Japan did NOT want to originally take over Korea, and did not wish to do any harm to the Koreans... but they did anyway.
So, in 1910, Japan forced Korea into being annexed as part of the Japanese Empire.
Because of this, the Korean citizens had to change their names into Japanese ones, had to learn how to speak Japanese and many women were abused by the Japanese army.
Although I am mentioning bad things that happened to Korea, some good things came out of it.
Railroads were built, people learned how to read, electricity became a thing, there was running water, television, movies, more agriculture, mining and fishing. Lots of things that we take for granted today.
Japan was forced to let Korea become independent in 1945, which was the end of World War II.
Japan did NOT want to originally take over Korea, and did not wish to do any harm to the Koreans... but they did anyway.
So, in 1910, Japan forced Korea into being annexed as part of the Japanese Empire.
Because of this, the Korean citizens had to change their names into Japanese ones, had to learn how to speak Japanese and many women were abused by the Japanese army.
Although I am mentioning bad things that happened to Korea, some good things came out of it.
Railroads were built, people learned how to read, electricity became a thing, there was running water, television, movies, more agriculture, mining and fishing. Lots of things that we take for granted today.
Japan was forced to let Korea become independent in 1945, which was the end of World War II.
However, when Japan left, North Korea wanted to take over South Korea, and this started the Korean War.
North Korean soldiers stepped over the 38th Parallel (the border between the two countries) and invaded South Korea, but since the United States and South Korea were good friends, the U.S helped to push North Korea back up. South Korea took control of Seoul and cut the food line of North Korea, and the U.S helped because they didn't want a communist regime to take over Korea.
However, South Korea was getting too good, and therefore, China stepped in and helped North Korea to push South Korea down.
Then the two Koreas fought around the 38th parallel, and since there was so much fighting, they eventually signed a Crossfire. Let's just say they got bored and stopped.
North Korean soldiers stepped over the 38th Parallel (the border between the two countries) and invaded South Korea, but since the United States and South Korea were good friends, the U.S helped to push North Korea back up. South Korea took control of Seoul and cut the food line of North Korea, and the U.S helped because they didn't want a communist regime to take over Korea.
However, South Korea was getting too good, and therefore, China stepped in and helped North Korea to push South Korea down.
Then the two Koreas fought around the 38th parallel, and since there was so much fighting, they eventually signed a Crossfire. Let's just say they got bored and stopped.
Today, North Korea has communism and South Korea has capitalism.
South Korea, the home of K-Pop, Samsung, LG, the fastest Wi-Fi networking in the world, the imposter Park Geun-Hye and the country below North Korea is one of the most powerful countries in the world.
North Korea, the home of Kim Jong-Un, plenty of freedom, literally no Wi-Fi, Kim Jong-Un and the country above South Korea is still very secretive, and therefore, people keep complaining as to when North Korea will be liberated.
Time will only tell.
South Korea, the home of K-Pop, Samsung, LG, the fastest Wi-Fi networking in the world, the imposter Park Geun-Hye and the country below North Korea is one of the most powerful countries in the world.
North Korea, the home of Kim Jong-Un, plenty of freedom, literally no Wi-Fi, Kim Jong-Un and the country above South Korea is still very secretive, and therefore, people keep complaining as to when North Korea will be liberated.
Time will only tell.
I hope you enjoyed this thread as it took a long time for me to put together!
bAi
Last edited: