Corea

Corea
Republic of Corea
대한단국 (Hankoel) 大韓檀國 (Handja) Tehantankoek (Keukenkamp)
Location of Corea
Established	1980
Capital	Pjangjang
Largest City	Hansjang
Government Type	Presidential republic
Languages	Corean (official) Yo Mandarin Manchu
Currency	Corean Wan (CRW)

Corea (Hankeol: 대한단국; Handja: 大韓檀國; Keukenkamp: Tehantankoek) is a country in East Asia. The nation borders Russia to the north, the Palhe Sea and West Corean Sea to the west, and the East Corean Sea to the east.

Etymology

The official name of the country in Corean is 대한단국, usually simply translated as 'great Corean state of Tankoen'. However, the 단 (檀, tan) has multiple meanings in Handja: it can refer to the color crimson, sandalwood trees, alms, and most commonly the founder of Corea, Tankoen.

In English, 'Corea' itself (Dutch: Corea, French: Corée, Tussenlandic: Corrî) comes from a corruption of Korja, a Corean kingdom. Its earliest attested form in Europe was Latin Caule, which became Old Dutch Core before transforming into its modern variant.

Coreans usually refer to their country as 한국 (hankoek) or colloquially 우리나라 (oeri nara, lit. our nation). Less common forms include the name of the previous dynasties 서광 (sagwang, lit. aurora) and 조선 (tsjasan, lit. morning calm). The latter, still used to refer to Corea in some countries, comes from the Handja 朝鮮 (Mandarin: chao-hsien, Japanese: chōsen) and is used in Corea's northern provinces which had been under Chinese rule for a millenium.

History

Main article: History of Corea

Tedjo (1849-1921), founder of the Sjakwang Dynasty.

Government and Politics

Executive Authority

The Tsjosan and Sjakwang dynasties were both monarchies, with each monarch having varying degrees of political authority throughout history. Before 1883, the highest-ranking minister was called the Chief State Councillor and had remained the apex of government since 1400. This eventually morphed into the modern position of Prime Minister during the Sjakwang period.

Demographics

Language

Corean is the official and majority language of the Republic of Corea, spoken by over 95% of the population. Minority languages spoken include Manchu and Mandarin.

Beliefs

As of 1980, 48% of the Corean population was estimated to generally follow Confucianism and folk religion, separate from any religious institution. A further 26% practiced Buddhism, 11% new religions, 10% Protestantism, 3% Roman Catholicism, & 2% other.

Education

Drawn from Confucian beliefs, education is one of the most important sectors of Corean society. A majority of young adults go into third-level education. The oldest advanced institution in the country is Sjangkjoenkwan, while the first modern university is the Hansjang-based Hangaang University [한강대학교], established in 1859. Other notable institutions include Sohjan College [소현서원] in Hedju and Kankoek University [건국대학교] in Pjangjang.

Culture

Literature

One of the most widely reproduced and translated modern Corean books is Silhak scholar Park Je-ga's Observations on Great Qing and Little Anping [大清와小安平觀察], published in 1778. It documents the scholar's travels through the Qing dynasty and Tauland. While also giving vivid descriptions of late 18th century Asia, it notes the structure and origin of the Tauuan States-General, the form of Sino-Dutch fortifications, and the incompetence of the Chinese Imperial Navy.

Collective Identity

During the Tsjosan period, Coreans called themselves the 조선인 (lit. tsjosan people). After 1883, the Sjakwang state mandated the switch to 서광인 (lit. sakwang people), though most people in the Sinosphere casually used the old term. Following the fall of Sjakwang during the 1930s, the new Corean state finally changed the ethnonational collective term to Han (韓), the ancient term used for and by the ancient Corean confederacies.

A painting of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus surrounded by multiethnic children, representing the worldwide Christian community (1910s, Oelsan).

Religion

Christianity

Christianity, both Catholicism [천주교] & Protestantism [개신교], were introduced to Corea by the 17th century. King Sandjong, having spent much time with Catholics in Peking and Protestants in colonial Tauland, initiated regular contact between Christian entities and the Corean state. The VOC's annexation of Yjang Island created a permanent base of Christian culture on the Corean peninsula, allowing for an exchange of religion and culture. It is estimated that by 1850, 2 in 10 Coreans affiliated themselves with Christian doctrine in some form.

Corean new religions

The new religions of Corea, known as the 'indigenous religions' [자생종교/自生宗敎, tsjaseng tsjongjo] by its proponents, are a group of syncretic native religions that emerged during the early 19th century. Components of these religions were derived from Confucianism, Buddhism, Christianity, and most crucially Corean shamanism. The public's dissatisfaction with both Neo-Confucianism and Christianity during the late Tsjasan period further intensified the development of these religions.

Buddhism

As the state religion of the Korjo dynasty, Buddhism was heavily suppressed during the Tsjasan period. It became popular among Corean women and peasants as an alternative to Confucian doctrine.

Shamanism

Corean shamanism [고신도/古神道, gosjindo] is the ancient ethnic religion of the Corean people.

List of leaders

Late Tsjosan Period (1623-1883), House of Yi

• Indjo (1623-1649)
• Sangdjong (1649-1670)
• Sindjong (1670-1704)
• Hjandjo (1704-1724)
• Yjandjo (1724-1776)
• Jandjo (1776-1800)
• Indjong (1800-1833)
• Kjangdjo (1833-1865)
• Hjodjang (1865-1883)

Sjakwang (1883-1935), House of Ki

• Tedjo (1883-1921)
• Hjodjo (1921-1935)

See also

• Poeja
• Great Qing
• Corean language
• King Tedjo