Joseon Dynasty
The Joseon Dynasty was founded on July 17, 1392, by a miliary official named General Yi Seonggye following a coup that had led to the fall of the Goryeo Dynasty earlier that same year. Yi Seonggye went on to be known as King Taejo and he was the first of 26 kings that ruled during the Joseon Dynasty’s five centuries of power. The capital at this time was known as Hanyang, which is present day Seoul. King Taejo was responsible for many changes which affected the lives of ordinary people but there were many other changes and advancements throughout the whole Joseon Dynasty. Neo-Confucianism was adopted as a way of life and this had a significant impact as it requires a person to become the best version of themselves, including the king and government officials. The management of agricultural land also significantly changed. During the previous period land had been controlled by aristocrats and clans, but during the Joseon Dynasty this power was transferred to the government. King Sejong (reigned 1418-1450) invented the Korean alphabet and accomplished a number of other important achievements that helped the lives of his people but throughout this whole period there were various reforms put in place, including changes to taxation and the military. One important feature that has had a major impact on our understanding is that thorough records were kept, providing a detailed view of Joseon history. One of these records is a type of book named Uigwe, which provide detailed reports on major events or protocols. Many of the royal records that survive from this period have been inscribed onto the UNESCO Memory of the World list. In 1592 there was a major Japanese invasion known as the Imjin War. Admiral Yi Sun-sin, whose statue can be seen in Gwanghwamun just a few steps away from the statue of King Sejong, won several sea battles against Japanese forces. They retreated but returned in 1597 only to be defeated again. The war diaries of Admiral Yi Sun-sin are also a UNESCO Memory of the World. However, it was during this period that many of Korea’s cultural assets, such as Seoul’s main palaces, were destroyed. The Joseon Dynasty ceased to exist when in 1897 its final king, King Gojong, renamed it to the Korean Empire and became the new Empire's first king.
References/Further Reading
Korea.net (n.d.) Joseon Dynasty. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Lee, H. (2011) The Life of Ordinary People: Joseon Merchants and Economic Activities. National Museum of Korea Magazine. Volume 17. Autumn 2011. Pages 14-19. National Museum of Korea.
National Library of Korea (n.d.) Documents of the Joseon Royal Family. National Library of Korea.
UNESCO (n.d.) Memory of the World - Documentary Heritage of Korea. Korean National Commission for UNESCO.
Joseon Dynasty Places of Interest
