Joseon Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Kingdom of Joseon 조선국 (朝鮮國) 조선왕조 (朝鮮王朝)
1392–1897
Flag of the King of Joseon Royal emblem of Joseon
Territory of Joseon after Jurchen conquest of King Sejong
Capital	Hanseong
Common languages	Korean
Religion	Neo-Confucianism (state religion), Korean Buddhism
Government	Monarchy
Historical era	Early Modern Period

• Coup of 1388	May 20, 1388
• Coronation of Taejo	July 17, 1392
• Promulgation of Hangul	October 9, 1446
• Seven-Year War	1592–1598
• Manchu invasions	1636–1637
• Treaty of Ganghwa	February 27, 1876
• Elevation to empire	October 12, 1897

Population

• 1500	est. 6,510,000
• 1753	est. 18,660,000

Currency	Mun, Yang
¹Became Emperor of Korea in 1897

The Joseon dynasty (also transcribed as Chosŏn or Chosun was a Korean dynastic kingdom that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and was replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. It 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. Joseon was the last dynasty of Korea and its longest-ruling Confucian dynasty.

During its reign, Joseon encouraged the entrenchment of Chinese Confucian ideals and doctrines in Korean society. Neo-Confucianism was installed as the new dynasty's state ideology. Buddhism was accordingly discouraged and occasionally faced persecutions by the dynasty. Joseon consolidated its effective rule over the territory of current Korea and saw the height of classical Korean culture, trade, literature, and science and technology.

However, the dynasty was severely weakened during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98) and the first and second Manchu invasions of 1636 nearly overran the Korean Peninsula, leading to an increasingly harsh isolated policy, for which the country became known as the "hermit kingdom" in Western literature. After the end of invasions from Manchuria, Joseon experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace.

However, whatever power the kingdom recovered during its isolation further waned as the 18th century came to a close, and faced with internal strife, power struggles, international pressure and rebellions at home, the Joseon dynasty 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 towards current issues developed during this period. The modern Korean language, its dialects and Korea's majority ethnic group, which refer to themselves as the "Joseon people", derive from the culture and traditions of the Joseon dynasty.

The Joseon Dynasty presided over two periods of great cultural growth, during which Joseon culture created the first Korean tea ceremony, Korean gardens, and extensive historic works. The royal dynasty also built several fortresses and palaces. The mid-to-late Joseon dynasty is considered the golden age of Korean painting.

The Joseon dynasty was noted for having Confucianism as its main philosophy. However Buddhism actually was a part of the Joseon dynasty. When studying literary exchanges between Confucian scholar officials, and Buddhist it is showing that Buddhism was not cast out. There literary exchanges show a middle ground of both philosophies.

Images for kids

King Taejo's portrait
The throne room at Gyeongbok Palace
Portrait of Ha Yeon, who served as Chief State Councillor during King Sejong's reign
A page from the Hunmin Jeongeum Eonhae, a partial translation of Hunminjeongeum, the original promulgation of the Korean alphabet
Portrait of the neo-Confucian scholar, Jo Gwang-jo (1482–1519)
Jeong Cheol (1536–1593), head of the Western faction
The Turtle ship (replica)
The Turtle Ship interior
A Korean painting depicting two Jurchen warriors and their horses
Portrait of Kim Yuk 김육 (1570–1658), an early Silhak philosopher of the Joseon period
Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon
Sinjeong, Queen Regent of Joseon. She served as nominal regent of Joseon, who selected Gojong to place upon the throne.
Heungseon Daewongun
Emperor Gojong
Woman's mourning clothes in Joseon
A portrait of a civil bureaucrat in the Joseon period
A Joseon painting which represents the Chungin (literally "middle people"), equivalent to the petite bourgeoisie
Men's (right) and Women's (left) clothes (Hanbok) of Joseon period. A portrait painted by Shin Yun-bok (1758–?).
Male dress of a Seonbi. A portrait painted by Yi Jae-gwan (1783–1837).
Royal ceremony with Joseon era clothing
Early Joseon landscape painting by Seo Munbo in the late 15th century
15th century. Joseon period, Korea. Blue and white porcelain jar with plum and bamboo design.
Landscape of Mt. Geumgang by Kim Hong-do (1745–1806) in 1788
Korean celestial globe first made by the scientist Jang Yeong-sil during the reign of King Sejong
Surviving portion of the Water Clock (Jagyeongnu)
Japanese illustration of King Gojong and Queen Min receiving Inoue Kaoru
This compilation photo, taken about 1915, shows the following royal family members, from left: Yi Kang, Prince Imperial Ui, the 6th son of Gojong; Yi Cheok, Emperor Sunjong, the 2nd son and the last monarch of Korea; Yi Un, Prince Imperial Yeong, the 7th son; Gojong, the Retired Emperor; Empress Yun, wife of Sunjong; Lady Kim, Consort Princess Imperial Ui, wife of Prince Imperial Ui; and Yi Geon, the eldest son of Prince Ui. The seated child in the front row is Princess Deokhye, Gojong's 5th daughter and youngest (14th) child. (This is a compilation of individual photographs since the Japanese did not allow them to be in the same room at the same time, and some were forced to leave Korea).

Joseon facts for kids

Images for kids

See also