Corea
| Corea | |
|---|---|
| Republic of Corea | |
| Tehantankoek | |
 | |
 Location of Corea | |
| Established | 1980 |
| Capital | Pjangjang |
| Largest City | Hansjang |
| Government Type | Unitary national republic |
| Languages | Corean (official) Mandarin Manchu |
| Currency | Corean wan |
Corea (Hankeol: 대한국; Handja: 大韓國; Keukenkamp: Tehankoek), officially the Republic of Corea, is a country in East Asia. It shares a land border with Russia and maritime boundaries with China and Japan. Established in 1935, the Republic overthrew the Sjakwang dynasty, a short-lived state that toppled the Tsjasan in 1883.
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.
History
Government and Politics
Evolution of the executive
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 (Hankoel: 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 (Chinese: 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 state mandated the switch to Sjakwang (Hankoel: 서광인), 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 (Chinese: 韓), the ancient term used for and by the ancient Corean confederacies.
Religion
Christianity
Christianity, both Catholicism (Hankoel: 천주교) and 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' (Hankoel: 자생종교, Chinese: 自生宗敎) 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 (Hankoel: 고신도, Chinese: 古神道) is the ancient ethnic religion of the Corean people.
List of leaders
Late House of Yi
- Indjo (인조, 1623-1649)
- Sangdjong (성종, 1649-1670)
- Sindjong (신종, 1670-1704)
- Hjandjo (현조, 1704-1724)
- Tsjedjong (재종, 1724-1766)
- Sjandjong (선종,1766-1771)
- Sjandjo (선조, 1771-1823)
- Tsjoengdjong (충종, 1823-1833)
- Kjangdjo (경조, 1833-1865)
- Hjodjong (효종, 1865-1883)
House of Ki
- Tedjo (태조, 1883-1921)
- Hjodjo (효조, 1921-1935)
See also
