Korea and Japan: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>D. Matt Innis
(grmmr?)
mNo edit summary
 
(14 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{subpages}}
The cultures of '''[[Korea]] and [[Japan]]''' are distinct but highly related given the shared origins of the peoples who came to inhabit the islands of Japan and the [[Korean peninsula]]. Both cultures also developed from much that is rooted in China: their [[written language]]s, for instance both involve [[Chinese character]]s, though their uses are reserved for specific purposes and are much less common in the modern states of [[North Korea|North]] and [[South Korea]]. Relations between these three nations, as well as links with the [[People's Republic of China]] and [[Taiwan]], have varied from cordial to strained since the close of [[World War II]].
==Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598)==
==Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598)==


The '''Japanese invasions of Korea''' were a series of major conflicts between [[Japan]] and the alliance of the [[Ming Dynasty|China]] and [[Joseon Dynasty|Korea]] during the years of [[1592]] and [[1598]]. The land and naval battles took place almost entirely on the Korean peninsula and its nearby waters, although the [[Shogun|Japanese leader]] [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]’s main objective in the war was to conquer China. The war consisted of two main invasions from Japan – the first from the years of 1592 and 1593, and the second from 1597 to 1598. The war finally ended during the last months of the year 1598 with the Japanese withdrawal and the [[Battle of Noryang|naval battle]] at the straits of [[Noryang]].
== The Chinese Tributary System in the 16th Century ==
 
The war is known by several other English titles, including the '''Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea''', in context of Hideyoshi’s biography; the '''Seven Year War''', in reference to the war’s duration; and the '''Imjin War''', in reference to the first year of the war in [[Korean language|Korean]] (See [[Sexagenery Cycle]]).<ref name="yonhap">{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| coauthors =
| title = Today in Korean History
| work =
| pages =
| language = English
| publisher = Yonhap News Agency of Korea
| date = [[2006-11-28]]
| url = http://find.galegroup.com/itx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=ITOF&docId=A155053120&source=gale&srcprod=ITOF&userGroupName=tel_middleten&version=1.0
| accessdate = 2007-03-24 }}</ref>
 
== Background ==
=== East Asia and the Chinese Tributary System ===
 
In the late [[16th century]], the [[Ming Dynasty]] of [[China]] dominated the [[East Asia]]n geopolitics. China established hegemony over the smaller neighboring countries in form of the [[tributary system]]. In practice, the tributary states maintained complete autonomy, and they sent ambassadors periodically to the imperial court in China to pay homage and to exchange gifts with the Chinese government officials. Many of the tributary states received the exclusive privilege from China to participate in the lucrative international trade within the tributary system. China justified the tributary system with the doctrine of the [[Mandate of Heaven]], that the Chinese Emperor rules to the benefit of mankind by decree from Heaven.<ref name="mandate">[http://wsu.edu/~dee/GLOSSARY/TIENMING.HTM T'ien ming: The Mandate of Heaven]. Richard Hooker (1996, updated 1999). ''World Civilizations''. Washington State University.</ref> Many Asian countries, including Korea,<ref name="Edward7">Rockstein, Edward D., Ph.D. pp.&nbsp;7</ref><ref name="Edward10-11">Rockstein, Edward D., Ph.D. pp.&nbsp;10-11</ref> voluntarily joined the tributary system in pursuit of the legal tally trade and the legitimacy in their rule by the [[Mandate of Heaven]].
 
While Japan never officially submitted to the tributary system, China granted Japan the right to engage in a limited tributary trade, which China considered as a form of tribute from Japan.<ref name="submit">Cheow pp.&nbsp;6</ref> The two treaties in 1404 and 1434 demanded that Japan police its waters to protect the trade routes from the [[wako]] pirates.<ref>Villiers pp.&nbsp;71</ref>
 
[[China]] assumed the role of a big brother, [[Korea]] the middle brother, and [[Japan]] the younger brother.<ref name="Alagappa117">[http://books.google.com/books?id=rnNnOxvm3ZwC&pg=PA117&lpg=PA117&dq=china+tributary+system+big+brother+korea&source=web&ots=IIlObnPWEw&sig=8oDox81E5Vwsm0kr3ESGGVaCq0o Alagappa, Muthiah pp.&nbsp;117]</ref>
 
Unlike the situation over a thousand years earlier where Chinese dynasties had an antagonistic relations with the largest of the Korean polities (see [[&lrm;List of Chinese invasions of Goguryeo]]), the Joseon Dynasty had a close trading and diplomatic relations with [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] China, and also a continuous trade relations with Japan.<ref name="Sansom142">Sansom, George. pp.&nbsp;142, 167-180.</ref> The two dynasties, Ming and Joseon, shared much in common: both emerged during the fourteenth century at the fall of the Mongolian rule, embraced the [[Confucian]] ideals in society, and faced similar external threats (the [[Jurchen]] raiders and the Japanese [[Wakō]] pirates).<ref name="turnbull11">Turnbull, Stephen. 2002, pp.&nbsp;11.</ref> As for the internal, both China and Korea were troubled with fights among the competing political factions, which would significantly influence the decisions made by the Koreans prior to the war, and those made during the war by the Chinese. <ref name="SWOPE771">Swope. 2002. pp.&nbsp;771</ref><ref>Turnbull, Stephen. 2002, pp.&nbsp;13.</ref> Dependence on each other for trade and also having common enemies resulted in Korea and Ming China having a friendly relationship.


==Notes==
==Notes==


<references/>
<references/>
==See also==
*[[Korea]]
*[[North Korea]]
*[[South Korea]]
*[[Japan]]
*[[Culture of Japan]]
*[[Culture of Korea]]
*China
*[[People's Republic of China]][[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]

Latest revision as of 17:01, 8 September 2024

This article is developing and not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Definition [?]
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

The cultures of Korea and Japan are distinct but highly related given the shared origins of the peoples who came to inhabit the islands of Japan and the Korean peninsula. Both cultures also developed from much that is rooted in China: their written languages, for instance both involve Chinese characters, though their uses are reserved for specific purposes and are much less common in the modern states of North and South Korea. Relations between these three nations, as well as links with the People's Republic of China and Taiwan, have varied from cordial to strained since the close of World War II.

Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598)

The Chinese Tributary System in the 16th Century

Notes


See also