Tedjo: Difference between revisions

'''Tedjo of Sjakwang''' (1849-1921), formally known as Emperor Tedjo (Hankoel: ''태조제 tedjodje,'' Handja: 太祖帝), was the first monarch of the Sjakwang dynasty of [[Corea]]. He deposed the Yi dynasty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseon Tsjosan] in the 1883 Gyemi Coup and ruled Corea and [[Poeja]] until his death in 1921. ▼

== Biography ==▼

==== Early life ====▼

He was born as Ki Ripbam [Hankoel: 기립범, Handja: 奇砬犯] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damyang_County Damjang County], the son of scholar Ki Tsjangdjin of the [[House of Ki|Hengdjoe Ki family]]. His mother was a Corean Catholic woman from the [http://www.andongkwon.org/ Andong Kwan clan], her name erased from historical records.▼

In 1858 following the collapse of the Qing dynasty, the family moved to their ancestral hometown of Hengdjoe on the outskirts of the Corean capital, Hansjang. Ripbam was tutored by Confucian scholars throughout his childhood. The young boy would observe his father during debates with Neo-Confucian and Christian scholars. He briefly attended a Catholic boys' academy during his teenage years. In his servant's journals, it is noted that the young Ripbam enjoyed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ssireum Corean wrestling], French pastries, and newspapers. He worked as a scribe at the Chinese embassy for many months and was reportedly in love with the daughter of a Hokkien merchant. ▼

When his mother died in 1867, he secluded himself near [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seonamsa Sanam Temple] for fifteen months. He then toured Corea until 1869, learning swordsmanship in Sangdju, studying theology in Pjangjang, and hiking [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallasan Mount Hallasan]. Ripbam was then employed at the Royal Inspectorate-General, where he came into contact with anti-government forces. When his father fell ill in 1871, Ripbam befriended his physician, Simon de Spaans, from [[Tauland]]. At the age of 23, he was married to Pak Mjanghwa [박명화] of the [https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%B0%80%EC%96%91_%EB%B0%95%EC%94%A8 Mirjang Pak] clan.▼

While visiting new hotels and cafés, Ripbam began periodically writing novellas and socio-political commentary. He adopted the pen name ''Oeimoedjak'' [疑無敵, lit. to doubt invincibility], under which he published his works. King Hjodjo's repressive policies forced anti-government publications underground by 1874. Via Kanghwa Island's port, Ripbam secretly wrote for the Taulander newspaper ''Gallant Tulips'' [勇土日朴, Mandarin: ''yong-tu-ri-po,'' lit. ''brave soil sun roots'']. ▼