Joseon

Joseon (Korean: 조선; Hanja: 朝鮮; MR: Chosŏn; [tɕo.sʌn]), officially Great Joseon State (대조선국; 大朝鮮國; [tɛ.tɕo.sʌn.ɡuk̚]), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that lasted just over 500 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom was founded following the aftermath of the overthrow of Goryeo in what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul. The kingdom's northernmost borders were expanded to the natural boundaries at the rivers of Amnok and Tuman through the subjugation of the Jurchens.

Great Joseon
조선국
(1392–1894)
朝鮮國

대조선국
(1894–1897)
大朝鮮國
1392–1897
Top: Flag (1883–1897)
Bottom: Royal flag
Royal emblem
Emblem
(c.1884–1897)
Seal
Territory of Joseon after King Sejong's conquest of Jurchens in 1433 (with current borders)
StatusTributary relations with the Ming and Qing
(1401–1895)a

Qing Intervention Period a
(1882–1894)
Japanese Intervention Period
(1894–1896)
Agwan Pacheon incident(1896–1897)
CapitalMain:
Hanseong
(now Seoul) (1394–1399/1405–1897)
Temporary:
Gaegyeong
(1392–1394/1399–1405)
Official languagesMiddle Korean,
Early Modern Korean,
Classical Chinese:243,329:74 (literary Chinese or Hanmun in Korean)
Religion
Confucianism
(state ideology)
,
Buddhism,
Shamanism,
Taoism,
Christianity
(recognized in 1886)
Demonym(s)Korean
GovernmentAbsolute monarchy
King 
 1392–1398
Taejo (first)
 1864–1897
Gojong (last)
Chief State Councillor 
 1392
Bae Geuk-ryeom (first)
 1894–1898
Kim Byeong-si (last)
LegislatureNone (rule by decree) (until 1894)
Jungchuwon (from 1894)
History 
 Coronation of Taejo
5 August 1392
9 October 1446
1592–1598
 First and second Manchu invasions
1627, 1636–1637
26 February 1876
 Treaty of Shimonoseki
17 April 1895
13 October 1897
Population
 1432
766,000
 1519
3,300,000
 1669
5,018,000
 1721
6,970,000
 1864
6,830,000
CurrencyMun
(1423–1425, 1625–1892)
Yang
(1892–1897)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Goryeo
Tamna
Korean Empire
Today part ofNorth Korea
South Korea
Russia (Nokdundo)
  1. The Chinese tributary system was a largely-symbolic Confucian world order, with its basis in trade and philosophical relations between foreign states and various Chinese dynasties. The diplomatic system in East Asia was hierarchical and its relation to the sovereignty of some states was flexible and diverse. Larger states, such as Joseon Korea and Japan, enjoyed full sovereignty in both domestic and foreign affairs, and their international status cannot be considered 'client states'. However, in the wake of the Imo Incident in 1882, the Qing dynasty abandoned its laissez-faire policy, signed the China–Korea Treaty of 1882, and became directly involved in the affairs of Joseon. The "radical change in China's policy" was in reaction to the growing influence of European powers and of Japan in Korea. The political influence of the Qing Dynasty ended in 1895 with the Treaty of Shimonoseki.
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJoseon
McCune–ReischauerChosŏn
IPA[tɕosʌn]
North Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJoseon Bonggeon Wangjo
McCune–ReischauerChosŏn Ponggŏn Wangjo
Official name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationDaejoseon(-)guk
McCune–ReischauerTaejosŏn'guk
IPAKorean pronunciation: [tɛdɕosʌnɡuk̚]

During its 500-year duration, Joseon encouraged the entrenchment of Confucian ideals and doctrines in Korean society. Neo-Confucianism was installed as the new state's ideology. Buddhism was accordingly discouraged, and occasionally Buddhists faced persecutions. Joseon consolidated its effective rule over the Korean peninsula and saw the height of classical Korean culture, trade, literature, and science and technology. In the 1590s, the kingdom was severely weakened due to the two failed Japanese invasions of 1592 and 1598. Several decades later, Joseon was invaded by the Later Jin dynasty and the Qing dynasty in 1627 and 1636–1637 respectively, leading to an increasingly harsh isolationist policy, for which the country became known as the "hermit kingdom" in Western literature. After the end of these invasions from Manchuria, Joseon experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace and prosperity, along with cultural and technological development. What power the kingdom recovered during its isolation waned as the 18th century came to a close. Faced with internal strife, power struggles, international pressure, and rebellions at home, the kingdom declined rapidly in the late 19th century.

The Joseon period has left a substantial legacy to modern Korea; much of modern Korean culture, etiquette, norms, and societal attitudes toward current issues, along with the modern Korean language and its dialects, derive from the culture and traditions of Joseon. Modern Korean bureaucracy and administrative divisions were also established during the Joseon period.

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