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In pre-modern Korea, Gija represented the authenticating presence of Chinese civilization, and until the 12th century, Koreans commonly believed that Dangun bestowed upon Korea its people and basic culture, while Gija gave Korea its high culture—and presumably, standing as a legitimate civilization.
- Prehistoric Korea
- Gojoseon
- Three Kingdoms Period
- Unified Silla Kingdom
- Goryeo
- Relations with China & Japan
- Korean Religion
- Korean Art
- Korean Architecture
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from 10,000 BCE (or even earlier) by people who subsisted on hunting, fishing, and gathering. The earliest known settlements date to c. 6,000 BCE. Megalithic structures from the 2nd millennium BCE still dot the landscape of Korea and number over 200,000. Dolmens were constructed of huge single stones and were like...
Gojoseon, according to Korean mythology as recounted in the 13th-century CE Samguk yusa ('Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms'), was founded in 2333 BCE by Dangun Wanggeom (aka Tangun) who was the offspring of the god Hwanung and a female bear transformed into a woman. Archaeological evidence suggests that the state was formed from the alliance of sm...
The four states of the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BCE – 668 CE) were in constant rivalry and so they formed ever-changing alliances, one with another and with the two dominant regional powers of China and Japan. According to a tradition based on the 12th-century CE Samguk sagi('Historical Records of the Three States') this happened from the 1st cent...
The Unified Silla Kingdom (668- 935 CE) was the first dynasty to rule over the whole of the Korean peninsula. There was a state in the north at this time, Balhae (Parhae), but most of its territory was in Manchuria and so the majority of historians do not consider it a Korean state proper. The whole state was now divided into nine provinces (three ...
Goryeo (Koryo) would rule Korea from 918 CE to 1392 CE, and it is the name of this kingdom which is the origin of the English name for the peninsula, Korea. Wang Geon selected the northern city of Songdo (Modern Gaeseong) as his new capital and declared himself king. For his contribution to creating the new state he was given the posthumous title K...
Relations between Korea and China go back to mythology when the sage Gija (Jizi to the Chinese) and 5,000 followers left China and settled in Dangun's kingdom. When the latter decided to retreat to meditation on a mountaintop, Gija was made king of Gojoseon in 1122 BCE. This myth may represent the arrival of Iron Age culture to Korea. Trade between...
The Korean states, traditionally practitioners of shamanism, adopted first Confucianism, then Taoism and Buddhism from China, with Korea making the latter the official state religion from the 4th century CE. Confucian principles were followed in the state administration and were an essential part of entrance exams to positions within that system. B...
High-fired grey stoneware was produced in great quantities from the Three Kingdoms Period. Ceramics were decorated with incisions, applying additional clay pieces, and cutting away the clay to create a latticework effect. The most famous Korean ceramics from any period, though, are the pale green celadons produced in the Goryeo kingdom. Also known ...
The best surviving remains of Korean architecturefrom the period prior to recorded history are megalithic structures, fortification walls, and stone-lined tombs. Outstanding examples of ancient Korean dolmens are the table-type structures on Ganghwa Island which date to c. 1000 BCE in the Korean Bronze Age. Single standing stones (menhirs), unrelat...
- Mark Cartwright
Overview. Some of the most outstanding achievements in Korean art and culture date to the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392), which rules the peninsula for nearly 500 years.
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Korean potters adapted and refined celadon technology from China to create distinctively Korean ceramics revered by elites in Korea, China, and Japan alike. Many of the Korean celadons in museum collections, such as jars, bowls, and cups, were archaeological artifacts excavated from tombs and royal palaces.
Oct 17, 2016 · A new threat to Korea emerged in the early 13th century when the Mongol tribes, united by Genghis Khan (Chinggis), swept through China and conquered Beijing in 1215. The crisis came in 1231 when the Mongols, now led by Ogedei Khan , invaded Korea, forcing Goryeo to move its capital to Kanghwa Island the following year.
- Mark Cartwright
Timeline. 2333 BCE. Traditional founding of Gojoseon by Dangun Wanggeom (Tangun). c. 1200 BCE. The thatched village of Hunam-ri near the Han River of Korea is built. 1122 BCE. Traditional date that Gija (Jizi) becomes king of Gojoseon . 194 BCE - 180 BCE. Wiman Joseon (Wiman Choson) takes control of Gojoseon, declaring himself king. 57 BCE - 918 CE
A series of significant changes in Korea began in the mid-17th century and made a great impact on virtually every sector of Korean society in the 18th century. In agriculture, rice transplantation became popular, and irrigation systems were improved.
