Korean Politics (1) Gojoseon: the First Nation of Korea

(4) Confucian Ruling

As heavy Confucian indoctrination was the order of the day, state support of Buddhism gradually diminished. Young scholars were treated well and given opportunities at the newly established Hall of Leave for Study located in outlying areas. An ambitious program was implemented to publish scholarly articles, producing such works as a compendium of Korean historical geography, an anthology of Korean-Chinese literature and an illustrated text on traditional music.

(5) Japanese Invasion

The founder of the Joseon Dynasty, King Taejo had distinguished himself by his resistance against Japanese marauders. After their depredations had ceased, Korea opened three ports for trade with Japanese feudal lords, granting an official title to a Tsushima lord who had been engaged in lucrative trade with other ranking Japanese. The Japanese liaison officers posted at these ports caused trouble, however, and Joseon reduced trade with Japan.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi rose to power in 1590. Hideyoshi needed to find a way to weaken the powerful feudal lords in western Japan, and he looked abroad for a solution. He reasoned that invading China would provide the outlet needed for a peaceful solution at home. When Joseon rejected Hideyoshi's request to aid him in attacking China, he ordered his generals to invade both Ming and Joseon in 1592. The Japanese army, armed with matchlock guns, with which Joseon soldiers were not familiar, reached Seoul within two weeks.

King Seonjo fled to a northern province, where they appealed to the Ming Emperor for aid against the invaders. In the meantime, the Japanese generals were mired in conflict. Joseon's Admiral Yi Sunsin conducted a brilliant series of operations in the South Sea, destroying many Japanese ships.

The ironclad Geobukseon (turtle ships), which Admiral Yi had fitted with armor plates (thus resembling a turtle shell) protected the sailors and marines, and were more than a match for anything else afloat. Geobukseon (turtle ship)

With the appearance of allied Ming contingents, the Japanese were forced to fight a combined Ming-Joseon allied army. Cut off from supplies and reinforcements owing to Admiral Yi's control of the sea, the Japanese were severely weakened.

A Joseon volunteer army organized in the southern provinces harassed them with guerrilla tactics, while disease and malnutrition also took its toll. Finally, peace negotiations were held between the Ming general and the Japanese, who had by then lost the will to fight. The Japanese retreated, stalked by volunteer peasant forces and contingents of Buddhist monks.

Peace negotiations dragged on without results for five years, and Hideyoshi sent his army to Joseon again in 1597. The invaders were so harassed by the volunteer army, however, that they only got as far as some part of South Province. Hideyoshi's death finally forced the evacuation of Japanese forces. Admiral Yi, while attempting to smash the Japanese retreat, was struck by a stray bullet and killed during a climactic naval battle. The war was over, but it had a lasting impact Joseon, Ming China and Japan.