what is Korean literature?
Arguably, the Korean literature starts early in the first centuries CE, even if we know about the existence of the earliest texts only from mentions contained in later ones, such as Samguk Sagi (삼국사기), the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms. Compiled in the 12th century by Kim Bu-sik, this historical text covers the histories of the three ancient Korean kingdoms: Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Although written in Classical Chinese (Hanja), it references older texts and oral traditions, thus serving as a critical source for understanding early Korean history. Another reference in this early history are the Hwarangdae (화랑도) or Hwarang - a group of elite worriors ("the flowering youth") in the Silla Kingdom had their own poetry and song traditions. Some of their works and teachings were recorded later. Another important body of texts is formed by the Hyangga (향가) - native Korean songs or poems from the later Silla period, some dating back to the 9th century, thought to have been sung in honor of the Hwarang. A notable example is "The Song of Cheongchun." On the other hand, the Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam (동국여지승람), compiled in the 15th century, is an example of erudite, encyclopaedic literature, providing various geographical and cultural insights into Korea. It was also in the 15th century that Korean script, known as Hangul, was created, reflecting the decline of the tradition of writing in Chinese and the proliferation of all sorts of texts in Korean. It is also much easier to use. Hangul is an alphabet, meaning each character represents a sound, while Chinese characters are logographic; each character represents a word or a morpheme, which can make learning to read and write much more difficult and time consuming.
The first significant European contacts with Korea occurred during the 16th century, mainly through Portuguese and Spanish traders who had traveled to East Asia. One of the most important testimonies on those early-modern contacts is the Diary of the Royal Envoy (1606): it mentions interactions with Dutch traders. In 1627, the Dutch East India Company sent ships to Korea for trade. The encounters were limited due to Korea's isolationist policies, but the Dutch managed to establish a brief trading post on Deung Island. It was thus the Dutch who produced the first comprehensive accounts of Korean culture and society that reached Europe. Nonetheless, similarly to Japan, the country ruled by the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) adopted a policy of isolation (Sadae) towards foreign influence, particularly after experiencing invasions by Japan and the Manchus. This led to limited interaction with European powers. This is why the European missionaries began to enter Korea as late as 1880s.
Korea, thus, was not colonized by any European power. In 1910, it was formally annexed by Japan after years of increasing influence and control. This marked a significant period of Nipponic colonization characterized by cultural suppression, economic exploitation, and resistance movements focusing on Korean nationalism and independence, culminating in significant events like the March 1st Movement in 1919. Finally, after Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945, Korea was liberated, eventually leading to the division into North and South Korea. Following the Korean War (1950-1953), South Korea developed significant diplomatic and economic relations with Western countries, while North Korea sought alliances with communist nations.
Obviously, it is the South Korean culture that contributes substansively to global culture, making some of its distinctive elements globally recognizable. Just to give an example, the fox (여우, yeou) is a significant symbol with various meanings, often associated with both positive and negative traits. foxes are often depicted as shape-shifters that can transform into beautiful women. This ability can symbolize cunning, deceit, and seduction. On the other hand, in some interpretations, particularly influenced by Japanese culture (where the fox spirit is called kitsune), foxes are considered messengers of the gods or supernatural entities. They can be seen as protectors of rice crops or as tricksters that bring balance.
The first significant European contacts with Korea occurred during the 16th century, mainly through Portuguese and Spanish traders who had traveled to East Asia. One of the most important testimonies on those early-modern contacts is the Diary of the Royal Envoy (1606): it mentions interactions with Dutch traders. In 1627, the Dutch East India Company sent ships to Korea for trade. The encounters were limited due to Korea's isolationist policies, but the Dutch managed to establish a brief trading post on Deung Island. It was thus the Dutch who produced the first comprehensive accounts of Korean culture and society that reached Europe. Nonetheless, similarly to Japan, the country ruled by the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) adopted a policy of isolation (Sadae) towards foreign influence, particularly after experiencing invasions by Japan and the Manchus. This led to limited interaction with European powers. This is why the European missionaries began to enter Korea as late as 1880s.
Korea, thus, was not colonized by any European power. In 1910, it was formally annexed by Japan after years of increasing influence and control. This marked a significant period of Nipponic colonization characterized by cultural suppression, economic exploitation, and resistance movements focusing on Korean nationalism and independence, culminating in significant events like the March 1st Movement in 1919. Finally, after Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945, Korea was liberated, eventually leading to the division into North and South Korea. Following the Korean War (1950-1953), South Korea developed significant diplomatic and economic relations with Western countries, while North Korea sought alliances with communist nations.
Obviously, it is the South Korean culture that contributes substansively to global culture, making some of its distinctive elements globally recognizable. Just to give an example, the fox (여우, yeou) is a significant symbol with various meanings, often associated with both positive and negative traits. foxes are often depicted as shape-shifters that can transform into beautiful women. This ability can symbolize cunning, deceit, and seduction. On the other hand, in some interpretations, particularly influenced by Japanese culture (where the fox spirit is called kitsune), foxes are considered messengers of the gods or supernatural entities. They can be seen as protectors of rice crops or as tricksters that bring balance.
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