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| − | ! colspan="2" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | Korea
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| − | | colspan="2" align="center" | [[Image:Locationmap Korea.png|250px|Location of Korea]]
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| − | | colspan="2" align="center" | [[Image:Korean royal palace entrance.jpg|250px|Entrance to [[Gyeongbokgung]]]]
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| − | | colspan="2" align="center" | [[Image:Seoul Gyeongbokgung Throne.jpg|250px|[[Joseon dynasty]] royal throne]]
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| − | '''Korea''' has one of the longest continuous histories of any kingdom or nation in the world, if the 3000 B.C.E. to 2333 B.C.E. founding date for [[Gojoseon]], the birth kingdom of Korea, is correct. Even if that date is in error, we know [[Gojoseon]] existed as a powerful kingdom around 400 B.C.E., still making Korea's continuous history one of the longest in the world. [[China]]'s relationship with Korea throughout that time has been intimate, [[Culture of Korea|Korean culture]] to a large extent inherited from [[China]]. [[Korean Buddhism|Buddhism]], [[Korean Confucianism|Confucianism]], [[Daoism]], and [[Christianity in Korea|Christianity]] came from [[China]] and developed, at least initially, with Chinese help. Korea developed a unique culture, though, through the cycles of dynasties beginning with [[Gojoseon]] and ending with [[Joseon Dynasty|Joseon]]. The [[Reunification of Korea|Reunification]] of [[North Korea|North]] and [[South Korea]] may bring a rebirth of Korea and a new golden age experienced in each of the earlier dynasties.
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| − | Korea ([[Korean language|Korean]]: [[Hangul|한국]] in [[South Korea]] or 조선 in [[North Korea]], see below), a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the [[Korean Peninsula]] in [[East Asia]], currently exists divided into North Korea and South Korea. The borders of Korea have fluctuated throughout history with the rise and fall of dynasties. Although Korea exists divided into North Korea and South Korea today, Korea historical embraces north and south. [[People's Republic of China|China]] shares Korea's northwest border while The [[Russia]] shares the northeast. [[Japan]] sits to the southeast across the [[Korea Strait]].
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| − | ==Overview==
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| − | The history of Korea began with the mythical kingdom of [[Gojoseon]] founded by [[Dangun]] in 2333 B.C.E. Linguistic studies suggest that, if indeed the kingdom of Gojoseon actually existed, the people would have had [[Altaic peoples|Altaic]] origins, whose northern [[Mongolia]]n Steppe culture absorbed immigrants and invaders from northern [[Manchuria]], Mongolia and [[China]].
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| − | The adoption of the [[Chinese written language|Chinese writing system]] ("[[hanja]]" in Korean) in the 2nd century B.C.E., and [[Buddhism]] in the 4th century AD, profoundly impacted the culture of the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]]. Evidence exists that Korea, during the Three Kingdom Period, profoundly impacted the development of [[Japanese Buddhism]] and [[Japan]]'s culture.<ref>"[http://www.bookrags.com/history/worldhistory/yayoi-period-ema-06/ Yayoi Period History Summary]," BookRags.com; Jared Diamond, "[http://www2.gol.com/users/hsmr/Content/East%20Asia/Japan/History/roots.html Japanese Roots]," ''Discover'' 19:6 (June 1998); Thayer Watkins, "[http://www2.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/japanorigin.htm The Genetic Origins of the Japanese]"; "[http://cache.britannica.com/eb/article-8481 Shinto - History to 1900]," ''Encyclopædia Britannica''; "[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-23121?query=Yayoi&ct=%20 The Yayoi period (c. 250 B.C.E.–c. AD 250)]," ''Encyclopædia Britannica''.</ref><ref>"[http://theseoultimes.com/ST/?url=/ST/db/read.php?idx=580 Korean Buddhism Basis of Japanese Buddhism]," ''Seoul Times'', June 18, 2006; "[http://www.asiasocietymuseum.org/buddhist_trade/koreajapan.html Buddhist Art of Korea & Japan]," Asia Society Museum; "[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2046.html Kanji]," JapanGuide.com; "[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761568150_4/Pottery.html Pottery]," MSN Encarta; "[http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=359&pID=334&cName=Japanese History of Japan]," JapanVisitor.com.</ref><ref>{{cite book | editor = Delmer M. Brown (ed.) | year = 1993 | title = The Cambridge History of Japan | publisher = Cambridge University Press | pages = 140-149 | url = http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0521223520&id=x5mwgfPXK1kC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&vq=buddhism&dq=Paekche+hostage+japan&sig=dwsfsmf80GCVdVXe90a5s9Tkq34}}; George Sansom, ''A History of Japan to 1334'', Stanford University Press, 1958. p. 47. ISBN 0-8047-0523-2</ref><ref>[http://gias.snu.ac.kr/wthong/publication/paekche/eng/paekch_e.html From Paekche to Origin of Yamato]</ref>
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| − | After the unification of the Three Kingdoms by [[Unified Silla|Silla]] in 676 C.E., a single government ruled Korea, preserving political and cultural independence, until the late nineteenth century<!--{{Fact|date=June 2007}}—>, despite the [[Mongol invasions of Korea|Mongol invasions]] of the [[Goryeo]] Dynasty in the 13th century and [[Japan's Korea War: First Invasion (1592-1596)|Japanese invasions]] of the [[Joseon Dynasty]] in the 16th century. In 1377, Korea produced the [[Jikji]], the world's oldest movable metal print document.<ref>[http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=3946&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html World's oldest printed Doc]</ref> In the 15th century, the Korean navy deployed the [[turtle ship]]s, possibly the world's first ironclad warships, and during the reign of [[King Sejong]], scholars created the Korean alphabet [[hangul|han-geul]].
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| − | During the latter part of the [[Joseon Dynasty]], Korea's isolationist policy earned the Western nickname the "Hermit Kingdom." By the late 19th century, the country became the object of colonial designs by the imperial designs of [[Japan]] and [[Russia]]. In 1910, Japan succeeded in [[Korea under Japanese rule|annexing Korea]], maintaining tight control of Korean political and cultural life until August 1945 and the end of [[World War II]].
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| − | In August 1945, the forces of the [[Soviet Union]] and the [[United States]] agreed on a plan for conducting the surrender and disarming of Japanese troops in Korea. The Soviet Union accepted the surrender of Japanese forces north of the 38th parallel and the United States accepted surrender south of the 38th parallel. When the Soviet Union refused to conduct democratic elections in the north, a permanent division of Korea resulted. The Soviet Union installed a communist government under the dictatorship of [[Kim Il-sung]] while the United States supported a pro-democratic, pro-USA government. The [[Cold War]] became colder with that development. Korea's current division into [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]] traces back to that division.
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| − | ==Names of Korea==
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| − | {{main|Names of Korea}}
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| − | {{see also|Korean romanization}}
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| − | The name "Korea(한국)" derives from the [[Goryeo]](고려) period of [[Korean History|Korean history]], which in turn referred to the ancient kingdom of [[Goguryeo]]. Merchants of the [[Middle East]] called it [[Goryeo]], Koryo, which then came to be spelled Corea and Korea. Both North and South Korea commonly use Korea in English contexts. The [[Korean language]] refers to Korea to as ''Chosŏn'' ({{ko-chmr|hangul=조선|hanja=朝鮮|mr=Chosǒn|rr=Joseon}}) by North Korea and ''Han-guk'' ({{ko-hhrm|hangul=한국|hanja=韓國|rr=Hanguk|mr=Han'guk}}) by South Korea. "The Land of the Morning Calm," a Western nickname, loosely derives from the [[hanja]] characters for Joseon. (Chosŏn and Joseon represent two Romanized spellings of the same name.)
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| − | ==History==
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| − | {{main|History of Korea}}
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| − | :See Also [[History of North Korea]], [[History of South Korea]]
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| − | <!--Note: this is a short summary. Do not add details here: please expand content in the main article (History of Korea)—>
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| − | {{History of Korea|left}}
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| − | === Prehistory and Gojoseon ===
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| − | {{main|Prehistoric Korea|Gojoseon}}
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| − | Archaeological evidence that people lived on the [[Korean Peninsula]] around 700,000 years ago, during the [[Lower Paleolithic]], exists. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 B.C.E., and the [[Neolithic]] period begins around 6000 B.C.E.
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| − | [[Image:Pressapochista9.jpg|100px|left|thumb|[[Goguryeo]] roof tile]]
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| − | [[Gojoseon]]'s founding legend describes [[Dangun]], a descendant of heaven, as establishing the kingdom in 2333 B.C.E. <ref>[http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm Go-Choson]</ref> [[Archaeological]] and contemporary written records indicate it developed from a federation of walled cities into a centralized kingdom sometime between the 7th and 4th centuries B.C.E. The original capital may have been at the [[Manchuria]]-Korea border, but later moved to the location of [[Pyongyang]], [[North Korea]]. In 108 B.C.E., the Chinese [[Han Dynasty]] defeated [[Wiman Joseon]] and installed four commanderies in the area of Liaoning and the northern Korean peninsula. Subsequent Chinese immigrations from [[State of Yan|Yan]] and [[State of Qi|Qi]] brought elements of Chinese culture to the peninsula. By 75 B.C.E., three of those commanderies had fallen, but the [[Lelang Commandery]] remained under successive Chinese control until 313 C.E.<!--Note: this is a short summary. Do not add details here: please expand content on the main article (History of Korea)—>
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| − | === Three Kingdoms ===
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| − | {{main|Three Kingdoms of Korea}}
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| − | [[Image:Three Kingdoms of Korea Map.png|thumb|left|150px|The Three Kingdoms of Korea in the 5th century.]]
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| − | The [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]] ([[Goguryeo]], [[Silla]], and [[Baekje]]) dominated [[Korean Peninsula|the peninsula]] and parts of [[Manchuria]] during the early [[Common Era]]. They competed with each other both economically and militarily. Goguryeo united [[Buyeo (state)|Buyeo]], [[Okjeo]], [[Dongye]] and other states in the former Gojoseon territory, in addition to destroying the last Chinese commandery.<ref>[http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm Koguryo]</ref>
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| − | Goguryeo, the dominant power, constantly fought with the [[Sui Dynasty|Sui]] and [[Tang Dynasty|Tang]] dynasties of China. Founded around today's [[Seoul]], the southwestern kingdom [[Baekje]] expanded far beyond [[Pyongyang]] during the peak of its powers in the 4th century. Although later records claim [[Silla]], in the southeast, as the oldest of the three kingdoms, historians believe Silla to have been the last kingdom to develop.<!--Note: this is a short summary. Do not add details here: please expand content on the main article (History of Korea)—>
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| − | === Unified Silla and Balhae ===
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| − | {{main|Unified Silla|Balhae}}
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| − | [[Image:Sillacrown.jpg|100px|left|thumb|[[Silla]] crown]]
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| − | In the 5th, 6th, and 7th centuries, Silla's power gradually extended across the Korean Peninsula. Silla first annexed the adjacent [[Gaya confederacy]]. By the 660s, Silla formed an alliance with the [[Tang Dynasty]] of [[China]] to conquer [[Baekje]] and later [[Goguryeo]]. After repelling Chinese forces, Silla unified most of the [[Korean Peninsula|Peninsula]], beginning a period often called [[Unified Silla]].
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| − | In the north, former [[Goguryeo]] General [[Dae Joyeong]] led a group of Goguryeo refugees to the [[Jilin]] area in Manchuria and founded [[Balhae]] (698 C.E. - 926 C.E.) as the successor to Goguryeo. At its height, Balhae's territory extended from northern Manchuria down to the northern provinces of modern-day Korea. The [[Khitan people|Khitan]]s destroyed Balhae by in 926.
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| − | [[Unified Silla]] fell apart in the late 9th century, giving way to the tumultuous [[Later Three Kingdoms of Korea|Later Three Kingdoms period]] (892-935). [[Goryeo]] unified the Later Three Kingdoms and absorbed [[Balhae]] refugees.
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| − | === Goryeo ===
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| − | {{main|Goryeo}}
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| − | The [[Goryeo]] Dynasty, established in 918, united the [[Later Three Kingdoms]] in 935. Goryeo pottery — the famous Korean [[Korean pottery|celadon]] pottery — and the ''[[Tripitaka Koreana]]'' — the [[Buddhist]] scriptures represent two of Goryeo's greatest contributions. ''(Tripitaka Koreana)'' carved onto roughly 80,000 wooden blocks which have been perfectly preserved. Goryeo also created the world's first metal-based movable type [[printing press]] in 1234.
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| − | === Joseon dynasty ===
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| − | :Main Article: [[Joseon Dynasty]]
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| − | [[Image:Paldochongdo dokdo.jpg|150px|right|thumb|[[Paldochongdo]], a 1531 map of Korea]]
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| − | In 1392, the general [[Taejo of Joseon|Yi Seong-gye]] established the [[Joseon Dynasty]] (1392-1910) in a largely bloodless coup. Many argue that the Joseon Dynasty had the longest-lived actively ruling dynasty in East Asia. King [[Sejong the Great of Joseon|Sejong the Great]] (1418-1450) promulgated [[Hangul]], the Korean written alphabet, and this period saw various other cultural and technological advances, as well as the dominance of [[Neo-Confucianism]] over the entire peninsula. Between 1592 and 1598, [[Japan's Korea War: First Invasion (1592-1596)|Japan invaded]] Korea causing enormous destruction before retreating in defeat. That war also saw the brilliant career of Admiral [[Yi Sunsin]] and his "[[Turtle ship]]" or [[kobukson|gobukseon]]. In the 1620s and 1630s Joseon suffered invasions by the [[Manchu]] [[Qing Dynasty]], who eventually also conquered the Chinese [[Ming Dynasty]]. During the Joseon dynasty, Koreans brought [[Christianity in Korea|Roman Catholicism]] (and other forms of Christianity followed shortly thereafter) into Korea.
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| − | <!--Note: this is a short summary. Do not add details here: please expand content on the main article (History of Korea)—>
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| − | === Japanese occupation ===
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| − | [[Image:China Japan Russia Coree.png|250px|right|thumb|''Go Fishing'', [[Georges Ferdinand Bigot]], ''Tobae'', February 1887.]]
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| − | {{main|Korea under Japanese rule}}
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| − | Beginning in the 1870s, Japan began to pressure Korea to move out of China's sphere of influence into its own. Japan forced Korea to engage in foreign trade through the [[Treaty of Ganghwa]] in 1876. In 1895, Japanese under [[Miura Gorō|Miura Gorō's]] directive (Kim et al. 1976) [[Eulmi Incident|assassinated]] [[Empress Myeongseong]].<ref>[http://www.kimsoft.com/2002/jp-rape.htm Murder of Empress Myeongseong]</ref> [[An Jung-geun]] assassinated the former [[Governor-General of Korea|Resident-General of Korea]], [[Itō Hirobumi]] on 26 October 1909, which sealed Korea's fate as a colony of Japan. In 1910, Japan forced Korea to sign the [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty]], executed by Korean ministers and advisors as full-powered attorney assigned by [[Sunjong of Korean Empire]].<ref>"서울대이태진교수의동경대생들에게들려준한국사 : 메이지일본의한국침략사," Yi Tae-jin (2005) ISBN 89-7626-999-3</ref> The Korean Emperor never ratified the treaty, refusing to apply the Korean Imperial seal.
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| − | Korean resisted Japan's brutal occupation <ref>http://www.bartleby.com/67/2488.html</ref><ref>http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761557519_2/Korea.html</ref><ref>http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/GC10Dh01.html</ref> in the nonviolent [[March 1st Movement]] of 1919, where Japanese police and military killed 7,000 demonstrators.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9050797?query=march%20first%20movement&ct= March 1st Movement]</ref> Thereafter the [[Korean independence movement]] restricted activities in neighboring [[Manchuria]] and [[Siberia]]. Beginning in 1939, Japan conscripted over five million Koreans for labor and Japan's military while<ref>http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/SOD.CHAP3.HTM</ref> and tens of thousands of men<ref>山脇 啓造 Yamawaki, Keizo. 近代日本と外国人労働者―1890年代後半と1920年代前半における中国人・朝鮮人労働者問題 ''Modern Japan and Foreign Laborers: Chinese and Korean Laborers in the late 1890s and early 1920s'', 明石書店 Akashi-shorten, 1994, et al. ISBN 9784750305684 </ref>. impressing approximately 200,000 girls and women,<ref>Yoshimi Yoshiaki, ''Comfort Women. Sexual Slavery in the Japanese Military During World War II''. Translated by Suzanne O'Brien. Columbia University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-231-12032-X, originally published by 岩波書店, 1995. ISBN 978-4004303848 </ref> mostly from Korea and China, into work as sex slaves,<ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/03/29/japan.comfort.women.02/</ref> euphemistically called "[[comfort women]]".<ref>[http://www.comfort-women.org/ Comfort-Women.org]</ref>
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| − | The Japanese colonial government banned the Korean language in official documents and obligated Koreans to [[Sōshi-kaimei|adopt Japanese names]].<ref>宮田 節子 Miyata, Setsuko. "創氏改名" ''(Creating Surnames and Changing Given Names)'', 明石書店 Akashi-shoten, 1992, al. ISBN 4-7503-0406-9 </ref> Traditional [[Korean culture]] suffered heavy loses, as Japan destroyed numerous Korean cultural artifacts<ref>http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/66</ref> or took them to Japan.<ref>Newsweek.com. [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6919593/site/newsweek/ Who rightfully owns Korean artifacts looted by Japan?]</ref> To this day, valuable Korean artifacts are in Japanese museums or with private collectors.<ref>Newsweek.com. [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6919593/site/newsweek/ Who rightfully owns Korean artifacts looted by Japan?]</ref> One investigation by the South Korea government identified 75,311 cultural assets taken from Korea, with 34,369 in Japan, and 17,803 in the [[United States]].<ref>[http://news.naver.com/news/read.php?mode=LSD&office_id=001&article_id=0001429084]</ref>
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| − | === Korean War ===
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| − | {{main|Korean War}}
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| − | [[Image:Flag of old Korea.jpg|250px|right|thumb|early versions of the [[Korean flag]]]]
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| − | With the defeat of [[Japan]] in 1945, the [[United Nations]] developed plans for a trusteeship administration, the Soviet Union administering the peninsula north of the [[38th parallel north|38th parallel]] and the United States [[USAMGIK|administering the south]]. The politics of the [[Cold War]] resulted in the 1948 establishment of two separate governments, [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]].
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| − | During the [[Korean War]] (1950-1953), millions of civilians died and the United States waged a bombing campaign over North Korea that effectively destroyed most cities.<ref>(Cumings 1997: 298)</ref> The war ended in a ceasefire agreement at approximately the [[Military Demarcation Line (Korea)|same boundary]]. Both Korean states proclaim eventual [[Korean reunification|reunification]] as a goal.
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| − | ==Geography==
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| − | {{main|Korean Peninsula}}
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| − | :See Also: [[Geography of North Korea]], [[Geography of South Korea]], [[Provinces of Korea]], [[National parks of South Korea]]
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| − | [[Image:Korean peninsula.PNG|thumb|right|Satellite image of the Korean peninsula.]]
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| − | Korea occupies the [[Korean Peninsula]] in [[North-East Asia]]. To the northwest, the Amnok River ([[Yalu River]]) separates Korea from China and to the northeast, the Duman River ([[Tumen River]]) separates Korea from China and Russia. The [[Yellow Sea]] lies to the west, the [[East China Sea]] to the south, and the [[Sea of Japan]] (East Sea) to the east of Korea.<ref>[http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/064th_issue/98100708.htm Korean Map], The People's Korea, 1998.</ref> Notable islands include [[Jeju|Jeju-do]], [[Ulleung-do]], and [[Liancourt Rocks]] (''Dokdo'' in Korean).
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| − | The southern and western parts of the peninsula have well-developed plains, while the eastern and northern boast abundant mountains. [[Baekdu Mountain|Mt. Baekdusan]] (2744 m.) stands as the highest mountain in Korea running the border with China. A highland called [[Gaema Gowon]], the southern extension of Mt. Baekdusan, mainly raised during the [[Cenozoic]] orogeny and partly covered by volcanic matter. To the south of Gaema Gowon, successive high mountains populate the eastern coast of the peninsula. That mountain range, named [[Baekdudaegan]], includes some significant mountains among them [[Sobaeksan]] (2,184 m), [[Baeksan]] (1,724 m), [[Geumgangsan]] (1,638 m), [[Seoraksan]] (1,708 m), [[Taebaeksan]] (1,567 m), and [[Jirisan]] (1,915 m). Several lower, secondary mountain series lie almost perpendicular to that of Baekdudaegan, developed along the tectonic line of Mesozoic orogeny laying basically to the northwest.
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| − | [[Image:Seoraksan1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A view of [[Seoraksan]] Mountain.]]
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| − | Unlike most older mountains on the mainland, volcanic activity in the Cenozoic orogeny formed many important islands in Korea. [[Jeju-do]], a large volcanic island whose main mountain [[Mt. Halla]] (1950 m) stands as the highest in South Korea situates off the southern coast. [[Ulleung-do]], a volcanic island in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), has a greater felsic composition than Jeju-do. The volcanic islands tend to be younger, the more westward.
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| − | Because the mountainous region sits mostly on the eastern part of the peninsula, the main [[Rivers of Korea|rivers]] tend to flow westwards. The southward-flowing [[Nakdong River]] and [[Seomjin River]] constitute two exceptions. Important rivers running westward include the Amnok River ([[Yalu]]), the [[Cheongcheon River]], the [[Daedong River]], the [[Han River (Korea)|Han River]], the [[Geum River]], and the [[Yeongsan River]]. Those rivers have vast flood plains and provide an ideal environment for wet-rice cultivation.
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| − | The southern and southwestern coastlines of Korea form a well-developed [[Lias|lias]] coastline, known as ''Dadohae-jin'' in Korean. Its convoluted coastline provides mild seas, and the resulting calm environment allows for safe navigation, fishing, and seaweed farming. In addition to the complex coastline, the western coast of the [[Korean Peninsula]] has an extremely high tidal amplitude (at [[Incheon]], around the middle of the western coast, rising as high as 9 m). Vast tidal flats have been developing on the south and west coastlines.
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| − | ==Demographics==
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| − | {{main|Koreans|Demographics of South Korea|Demographics of North Korea}}
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| − | Korean's stand number one on the list of homogeneous peoples, all speaking the [[Korean language]]. The combined population of the Koreas has been estimated at about 72 million. A minority of [[Ethnic Chinese in Korea|ethnic Chinese]] (about 20,000)<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html</ref> live in South Korea and small communities of ethnic Chinese and [[Japanese people in North Korea|Japanese]] live in North Korea.<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html</ref>
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| − | ===Language===
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| − | {{main|Korean language|Hangul}}
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| − | [[Image:Hunmin jeong-eum.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hangul]]Both North and South Korea declare[[Korean language|Korean]] their official language, and Korean communities abroad widely speak Korean such as neighbouring [[Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture|Yanbian]], [[People's Republic of China|China]]. Worldwide, approximately eighty million people speak Korean, including large groups in the former [[Soviet Union]], China, [[Australia]], the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Brazil]], [[Japan]], and more recently, the [[Philippines]].
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| − | The cultural anthropologists and linguists debate Korea's genealogical [[#Classification|classification]] of Korean. Some linguists place Korean in the [[Altaic languages|Altaic]] language family; others consider the [[language isolate]]. In its morphology and [[Subject Object Verb|SOV]] in its [[syntax]], Korean has a [[Agglutinative language|agglutinative]] quality. Like [[Japanese language|Japanese]] and [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], Korean has borrowed much vocabulary from the genetically unrelated [[Chinese language|Chinese]] or created vocabulary on Chinese models.
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| − | Koreans use [[Hangul]] script,invented in the 15th century, almost exclusively when writing. Modern Korean is written almost exclusively. Hangul, a [[phonemic]] alphabet organized into [[syllable|syllabic]] blocks, appears [[logographic]]. Each block consists of at least two of the twenty-four Hangul letters ''([[Hangul#Jamo|jamo]]):'' at least one each of the fourteen [[consonant]]s and ten [[vowel]]s. Historically, the alphabet had several additional letters (see [[Hangul#Obsolete jamo|obsolete jamo]]). For a phonological description of the letters, see [[Korean language#Phonology|Korean phonology]]. Hangul texts sometimes include [[Hanja]] (Chinese characters) and [[romaja|Roman characters]], particularly in South Korea.
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| − | ==Culture and Arts==
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| − | {{main|Culture of Korea}}
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| − | {{see also|Korean art|Korean pottery|Korean martial arts|Korean dance}}
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| − | [[Image:Korea south kangnung kyongpodae.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Korean Buddhist architecture]]
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| − | Ancient Chinese texts refer to Korea as "Rivers and Mountains Embroidered in Silk" (錦繡江山) and "Eastern Nation of Decorum." During the 7th and 8th centuries, the [[silk road]] connected Korea to [[Arabia]]. In 845, Arab traders wrote, "Beyond China is a land where gold abounds and which is named [[Silla]]. The Muslims who have gone there have been charmed by the country and tend to settle there and abandon all idea of leaving." [http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-EPT/hyghe.htm]
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| − | Korean festivities often showcase vibrant colors, which have been attributed to [[Mongolian]] influences: bright red, yellow, and green often mark traditional Korean motifs.<ref>http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org/calendar/kcostumes.htm</ref> Traditional dress known as [[hanbok]] often display those bright colors.
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| − | Korean culture's [[East Asian age reckoning|age reckoning system]] has a unique twist. One year old at birth, individual's age increments on [[Korean New Year|New Year's Day]] rather than on the anniversary of their birthday. As a result, Korean's add one or two years to their birth age.
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| − | ===Literature===
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| − | {{main|Korean literature}}
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| − | "Classical" or "Traditional" Korean literature refers to writing before the end of the [[Joseon Dynasty]]. Traditional literature,written in Chinese characters ([[hanja]]), inaugurated when Chinese script arrived on the [[Korean Peninsula|peninsula]], Korean scholars wrote poetry in the classical Chinese style as early as the 2nd century B.C.E., reflecting Korean thoughts and experiences of that time. Classical Korean literature has its roots in traditional folk beliefs and folk tales of the peninsula, strongly influenced by [[Confucianism]], [[Buddhism]] and to some extent [[Taoism]].
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| − | Modern literature and the development of [[hangul]] linked to help spread literacy from the aristocracy to the common people and women. Hangul only reached a dominant position in Korean literature in the second half of the 19th century, resulting in a major growth in Korean literature. ''Sinsoseol'', for instance, signify novels written in hangul.
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| − | The [[Korean War]] led to the development of literature centered around the wounds and chaos of [[war]]. Much of the post-war literature in South Korea deals with the daily lives of ordinary people, and their struggles with national pain. The collapse of the traditional Korean value system constitutes another common theme of the time.
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| − | ===Religion and education===
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| − | [[Image:Goryeo Buddhist painting.jpg|thumb|150px|''Amitabha and Eight Great Bodhisattvas'', Goryeo scroll from the 1300s]]
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| − | {{main|Korean Confucianism|Korean Buddhism|Christianity in Korea}}
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| − | [[Confucian]] tradition has dominated Korean thought, along with contributions by [[Buddhism]], [[Taoism]], and [[Korean Shamanism]]. Since the middle of the 20th century, [[Christianity]] has competed with Buddhism in South Korea, while religious practice has been suppressed in North Korea.
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| − | According to 2003 statistics compiled by the South Korean government, about 46% of citizens profess to follow no particular religion. [[Christianity in Korea|Christians]] account for 27.3% of the population and [[Korean Buddhism|Buddhists]] 25.3%.
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| − | Koreans value scholarship, rewarding education and the study of [[Chinese classic texts]]; [[yangban]] educated boys in [[Hanja]]. In [[Silla]], the [[bone rank system]] defined a person's social status, and a similar system persisted through the end of the [[Joseon Dynasty]]. In addition, the [[gwageo]] civil service examination provided paths of upward mobility.
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| − | ===Cuisine===
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| − | {{main|Korean cuisine}}
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| − | [[Kimchi]], using a distinctive [[fermentation (food)|fermentation]] process of preserving vegetables, may be the best known Korean cuisine. Koreans commmonly use [[Chili pepper]]s, often as [[chile powder]], making the cuisine distinctively spicy.
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| − | [[Bulgogi]] (roasted marinated beef, chicken, or pork), [[galbi]] (ribs), and [[samgyeopsal]] (pork fatback) number among the most popular meat entrees. A soup or stew, often made with [[doenjang]] (fermented bean paste), usually accompany Korean meals. [[Bibimbap|bibimbap]] (mixed rice), [[naengmyeon]] (cold noodles), [[galbitang]] (stewed ribs), and [[doenjang jjigae]] (fermentated bean paste stew) number among the most popular dishes.
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| − | {{seealso|Korean tea ceremony|Korean royal court cuisine|Korean cuisine}}
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| − | ==Science and technology==
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| − | [[Image:Cheomseongdae.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Cheomseongdae]], one of world's oldest surviving astronomical observatories]]
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| − | [[Cheomseongdae]], a 9.4-meter high observatory built in 634, stands out as one of the best known artifacts of Korea's history of science and technology, considered one of the world's oldest surviving astronomical observatories.
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| − | [[Chae Yun-ui]] developed the world's first metal movable type printing press in Korea in 1232 by during the [[Goryeo]] Dynasty. Modeled after widespread Chinese clay ([[Bi Sheng]] in 1041), Koreans built the printing press before [[Johann Gutenberg]] developed his [[printing press|metal letterset type]] (Cumings 1997: 65). Though [[Block printing]] had been used much earlier, metal movable type printing press marked a significant development in printing allowing use of the same tools for more diverse printings. The [[Jikji]] stands as the world's earliest remaining movable metal printed book, printed in Korea in 1377. The world's earliest known surviving example of woodblock printing is the [[Seokgatap#National treasure No.126|Mugujeonggwang Great Dharani Sutra]].<ref>http://www.cha.go.kr/english/search_plaza/ECulresult_Db_View.jsp?VdkVgwKey=11,01260000,37</ref> Historians believe the wood block text printed in Korea in 750-751 C.E. which, if correct, would make it older than the [[Diamond Sutra]].
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| − | [[Image:Hae dong paldo bongwha mountain map 1700.jpg|200px|left|thumb|a 17th century map]]
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| − | [[Image:Water clock korea.jpg|150px|right|thumb|Reconstruction of a Joseon-era automated water clock]]
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| − | [[Ch'ilchongsan]], developed in 1442 constitutes the apex of astronomical and calendarial advances made under King Sejong. That work enabled scientists to calculate and accurately predict all the major heavenly phenomena, such as solar eclipses and other stellar movements. King [[King Sejong the Great of Joseon|Sejong the Great]] commissioned the creation of [[Hangul]], perhaps the most scientifically designed script in widespread use, in 1443. [[Jang Yeong-sil]] invented an automated [[water clock]], the [[Jagyeokru]], which worked by activating motions of wooden figures to indicate time visually, in 1434. Jang later developed a more complicated water-clock with additional astronomical devices, as well as the world's first [[Iron Printing Press]], [[water gauge]], and the [[rain gauge]]. Also during the Joseon Dynasty [[Heo Jun]], a court physician wrote a number of medical texts, the most significant [[Dongeui Bogam]], often noted as the defining text of [[Traditional Korean medicine]]. The work, still regarded as one of the classics of Oriental medicine, spread to [[China]] and [[Japan]].
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| − | During the [[Joseon Dynasty|Joseon]] period, [[China]] highly regarded Korean silk and Korean [[pottery]], made with blue-green [[celadon]], considering them the highest quality in the world. Also, during that time, Korean naval architects invented the early [[ironclad warship]]s, the [[Geobukseon]] ([[Turtle ship]]),<ref>[http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/16thcentury/a/firstironclads.htm First Ironclad Warships]</ref> as well as other weapons such as the [[Bikeokjinchonlae]] and the [[hwacha]].
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | {{Portal}}
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| − | * [[List of Rulers of Korea]]
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| − | * [[Famous Korean people]]
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| − | * [[National treasures of North Korea]]
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| − | * [[National treasures of South Korea]]
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| − | ==Notes==
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| − | {{reflist}}
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| − |
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| − | ==References==
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| − | ===Books===
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| − | *{{cite book|author=Byeon Tae-seop (변태섭)|title=韓國史通論 (Hanguksa tongnon) (Outline of Korean history), 4th ed.|year=1999|id=ISBN 8944591016}}
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| − | *Cumings, Bruce. 1997. Korea's place in the sun: a modern history. New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN 9780393040111
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| − | * [[Bruce Cumings|Cumings, Bruce]]. 1984.''The Two Koreas''. New York: Foreign Policy Association. ISBN 9780871240927
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| − | * Hart, Dennis. 2001. From tradition to consumption: construction of a capitalist culture in South Korea. Seoul, Korea: Jimoondang Pub. Co. ISBN 9788988095447
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| − | *Kim, Yung-Chung. 1976. Women of Korea: a history from ancient times to 1945. Seoul, Korea: Ewah Womans University Press. OCLC: 2963936
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| − | * Lee Ki-baik. 1984.A New History Of Korea. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674615755
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| − | *Yang, S.C. 1999. ''The North and South Korean political systems: A comparative analysis.'' (Rev. Ed.). Seoul: Hollym. ISBN 1565911059
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| − | ===Articles===
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| − | * Chun, Tuk Chu. Korea in the Pacific Community. Social Education 52 (March 1988), 182. EJ 368 177.
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| − | * Focus On Asian Studies. Special Issue: Korea: A Teacher's Guide. No. 1, Fall 1986.
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| − | * Lee Sang-sup. The Arts and Literature of Korea. The Social Studies 79 (July-August 1988): 153-60. EJ 376 894.
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | {{commons|Korea}}
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| − | {{wikia|Korea|Korea}}
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| − | *[http://fax.libs.uga.edu/DS895xR9xH2/ Account of a voyage of discovery to the west coast of Corea, and the great Loo-Choo island, by Captain Basil Hall]. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
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| − | *[http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm Asian Info website: Korea's History]. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
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| − | *[http://fax.libs.uga.edu/DS902xL26/ Corea; or, Cho-sen, by A. Henry Savage-Landor, 1895]. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
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| − | *[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/kptoc.html Country study North Korea]. Retrieved August 13, 2007
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| − | *[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/krtoc.html Country study South Korea]. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
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| − | *{{dmoz|Regional/Asia/Regions/Korean_Peninsula|Korea}}. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
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| − | *[http://www.trifood.com/food.html Korean Food Glossary]. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
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| − | *[http://www.korea.net The official website of Korea]. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
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| − | <!--{{coor title dm|38|19|N|127|14|E|type:country_region:KR}}—>
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| − | [[Category:Asia]]
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| − | [[Category:East Asia]]
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| − | [[Category:Korea]]
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| − | [[category:nations and places]]
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| − | [[category:geography]]
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| − | [[Category:Korea]]
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| − | {{credit|141095289}}
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