Korean history overview and key developments

¶ … Korean social history from the Silla period through the first centuries of the Yi/Choson dynasty.

Shila (or Silla) (668-935 AD) manifested an elite that focused on modernizing its government and strengthening its relations with the recently established Tang dynasty. Defeating both Paekche and Koguryo it combined both regions and established a unified state. Simulating the format of Chinese government, it structured itself into six bureaus each bureau managing a different part of the State and the entire controlled by one ruler. The era was characterized by cultural growth, peace, and prosperity and became one of the most effective and famous eras within Korean general and social history. Eventually, the Shila Kingdom declined and a rebel leader named Wang Kon challenged Shila but peace was established by the last Shila king granting power to Wang Kon, and so the Koryo Dynasty was established.

The Koryo Dynasty (918-1392 AD) extended the bordered of the kingdom into Koguryo from which the name 'Korea' emerged. Following a traditional Chinese pattern of gaining control, Wang Kon took male members of royal families as captives to live in the capital as well as taking 29 consorts. This, ultimately, rebounded since it transferred power to these families who became powerful.

Following Chinese example in its government, the Koryo dynasty expanded and developed its cultural, educational, industrial, and agricultural ways of life. Although the Shila system has been broken by individuals from the lower class who, in turn, became the new powerful elite, hierarchy still reigned and 6 classes (in level of importance) emerged in this Koryo kingdom: 1) the royal caste group, 2) civil and military officials, 3) palace functionaries, 4) lower government officials, 5) tax-paying citizens, 6) inferior people (generally trades people). The upper and middle ranks were predominately those who possessed land.

The ruling caste had a major impact on the transformation of the Koryo kingdom. Peace was made with the Mongols during the time, and Mongol tradition (caught on by the powerful elite) affected much of Korean way of life.

Eventually, the powerful families that had supported the Mongols and with them their religion of Buddhism was diminished and swept form power and the final and longest dynasty emerged: the Yi or Chosun Dynasty.

The Yi or Chosun Dynasty (1392-1910 AD) was founded by General Yi Songgye who, as Koryo disintegrated under shifting alliances and external and internal wars, usurped control and established the Yi dynasty.

New officials were appointed from amongst Yi's followers, and the government simulated the Chinese / Koryo model and extended its realm. The officials, known as yangban, soon became a leisured class with elite tastes who excelled in painting, Chinese calligraphy and writing, and sijo poetry and their interests influenced the contemporary Korean kingdom and way of life. It was they, also, who introduced and promoted Confucianism followed by neo-Confucianism.