Order and Subversion in Choson Korea Flashcards
Give a presumption often credited to chosen Korea
Choson Korea represents the longest continuous reign of the early moderne world
A regime that lasted for 5 centuries must have been stable?
Give two ways to approach Confucianism in early modern Korea
- A model for political and social order
- A tool for justifying, adapting, and even subverting, the inequalities and hierarchies inherent in sedentary civilisations
Give 3 strands of Confucianism
- A moral philosophy – what is the right thing to do?
- An ethical system – how should I treat others? (Based on gender and social role) – creating a hierarchical order whereby people are treated differently
- A political philopsphy – how shuld a ruler rule
How does Confucianism link to religion
In the Confucian worldview, there is no covenant between an impersonal god and a broader populace – strong secular streak.
Morality is not divinely inspired, but the burden is on humans to find and enforce the correct norms and virtues (not heaven)
- Burden of transforming the world falls on the ruler and those who assist him
- Saw the rise of a male political elite, engaged in ruling effectively. (In korea – Yangban class)
What was key to achieving Yangbang status in Chosen Korea
The claim of descent from a government official/prominent scholar
Differs to China where they prize service in the civil bureaucracy over descent
How did Confucianism tie into an ethical system in Chosen Korea (how to treat others)
Filial piety - central to the Confucian ideology
Filial daughter of Kwaksan likely has no links to Confucianism, yet it was retold and manipulated by the political elites force the Confucian narrative
How did Confucianism tie in as a model for social and political order in chosen Korea
Could be broadly applied to establish a political hierarchy in society.
Respect parents and elders, can be applied to repsect supperiors in society
How did Confucianism tie in as a model for political philosophy in Chosen Korea
Shouldn’t govern through bloodshed and terror
If the Confucian general serves as the moral exemplar and treats people according to their station with respect and authority – the people will reflect such behaviour
Confucianism is an elitist philosophy. Elites believed the burden was on them to ensure the maintenance of a stable society
How did Confucian examinations differ in Korea and China
Candidates do the examination in examination cells (China)
In Korea, examinations took place ion the open
How did Confucianism serve in the interest of the state
Able to employ the east and brightest from the Confucian exams
Also they were study g a philosophy which demanded respect for social order and hierarchy
Give the social hierarchy of Chosen Korea
Created an extremely stratified sociery
- Top 5-10% = the yangban
- Middling starta of various groups: Military officlas, clerks etc
- Bottom 10-30% slaves (Koreans themselves) – enslaved people of their same ethnic group. Justified this in Confucian terms, they were uneducated and didn’t know the way
Explain regional discrimination in Chosen Korea
People passing the examinations were monopolising the best schools, causing an accumulation of power within the capital region.
However, in the northern part of Korea, they still strived to gain higher government posts
The southerners discriminated against these northerners in order for the capital-based yang bang to further solidify their own power. Northerners would pass examinations at top marks – but wouldn’t get top posts.
Rebellion by North in 1811 – divides between north and south
Why did the marginalisation of women occur during the period of economic instability in the 17th- 18thC
Initially, daughters received an inheritance before the 17thC. However, with the economic instability, this practice shifted towards primogeniture
More local yangban stopped taking examinations and began giving all their inheritance to the eldest son (in order to retain the family wealth in the face of economic decline).
Siblings became reliant upon the older brother. Allowed the eldest son to pursue expensive rituals, purchase a large estate, and solidify the families claim to yangban status.
Guaranteed an economic and social place in society.
This meant women who had independent assets began losing them, now increasingly dependent upon fathers and brothers, and husbands to receive income and land
How was Confucianism used as a tool for subverting social order (slavery)
More yangban began criticising hereditary slavery using Confucianism
As the Korean population grew there became a lack of reclaimable land
Slave labour is useful for land reclamation and other extensive margins were ‘how many people work’ is key. However, it is less useful for rice paddy agriculture and other tasks where ‘how much a given number of people work’ is key
Tenancy became more profitable and so slavery was slowly abolished (due to economic fears)
What percentage of the Korean population were slaves in the 17thC and 19thC
As much as 30%
Only 5% by late 19thC
