1.
Korea
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Korea is a historical state in East Asia, since 1945 divided into two distinct sovereign states, North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by China to the northwest and it is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait and the Sea of Japan. Korea emerged as a political entity after centuries of conflict among the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Later Silla divided into three states during the Later Three Kingdoms period. Goryeo, which had succeeded Goguryeo, defeated the two states and united the Korean Peninsula. Around the same time, Balhae collapsed and its last crown prince fled south to Goryeo, Goryeo, whose name developed into the modern exonym Korea, was a highly cultured state that created the worlds first metal movable type in 1234. However, multiple invasions by the Mongol Yuan Dynasty during the 13th century greatly weakened the nation, following the Yuan Dynastys collapse, severe political strife followed, and Goryeo eventually fell to a coup led by General Yi Seong-gye, who established Joseon in 1388. The first 200 years of Joseon were marked by peace and saw the creation of the Korean alphabet by Sejong the Great in the 14th century. During the later part of the dynasty, however, Koreas isolationist policy earned it the Western nickname of the Hermit Kingdom, by the late 19th century, the country became the object of imperial design by the Empire of Japan. Despite attempts at modernization by the Korean Empire, in 1910 Korea was annexed by Japan and these circumstances soon became the basis for the division of Korea by the two superpowers, exacerbated by their incapability to agree on the terms of Korean independence. To date, both continue to compete with each other as the sole legitimate government of all of Korea. Korea is the spelling of Corea, a name attested in English as early as 1614. It is a derived from Cauli, Marco Polos transcription of the Chinese 高麗. This was the Hanja for the Korean kingdom of Goryeo or Koryŏ, Goryeos name was a continuation of the earlier Goguryeo or Koguryŏ, the northernmost of the Samguk, which was officially known by the shortened form Goryeo after the 5th-century reign of King Jangsu. The original name was a combination of the go with the name of a local Yemaek tribe. The name Korea is now used in English contexts by both North and South Korea. In South Korea, Korea as a whole is referred to as Hanguk, the name references the Samhan—Ma, Jin, and Byeon—who preceded the Three Kingdoms in the southern and central end of the peninsula during the 1st centuries BC and AD. It has been linked with the title khan used by the nomads of Manchuria
2.
Temple of Confucius
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A temple of Confucius or Confucian temple is a temple for the veneration of Confucius and the sages and philosophers of Confucianism in Chinese folk religion and other East Asian religions. They were formerly the site of the administration of the examination in China and Vietnam and often housed schools. The temples are known by a variety of names throughout East Asia, the two greatest temples in Qufu and Beijing are now known in Chinese as Temples of Confucius. In Shanghai, Vietnam, Korea, and Indonesia, they are known as Temples of Literature or Temples of the Sage of Literature, in Southern China, however, temples by that name generally honor Wenchang Wang, a separate deity associated with the scholar Zhang Yazi. In Japan, they are known as Temples or Halls of the Sage. The development of temples devoted to the cult of Confucius was an outcome of his gradual canonisation. In 195 BC, Han Gao Zu, founder of the Han Dynasty, sacrifices to the spirit of Confucius and that of Yan Hui, his most prominent disciple, began in the Imperial University as early as 241. In 454, the Liu Song dynasty of southern China built a prominent state Confucian temple, in 489, the Northern Wei constructed a Confucian temple in the capital, the first outside of Qufu in the north. In 630, the Tang Dynasty decreed that schools in all provinces and counties should have a Confucian temple, as a result of which temples spread throughout China. Well-known Confucian shrines include the Confucian Temple in Jianshui, the Confucian Temple in Xian, the Fuzi Miao in Nanjing, the Confucian Temple of old Tianjin is located on Dongmennei Dajie, a short distance west of Traditional Culture Street. Occupying 32 acres of land, The Confucian Temple is the largest extant traditional architectural complex in Tianjin, the largest and oldest Temple of Confucius is found in Confucius hometown, present-day Qufu in Shandong Province. The temple was expanded repeatedly over a period of more than 2,000 years until it became the huge complex currently standing, there is another temple in Quzhou. Beginning in the Tang dynasty, Confucian temples were built in prefectural and county schools throughout the empire, the front gate of the temple is called the Lingxing Gate. Inside there are three courtyards, although sometimes there are only two. However, the complex in Qufu has nine courtyards containing scores of steles commemorating visits by an emperor or imperial grants of titles upon descendants of Confucius. In imperial China, this housed the Spirit Tablets of Confucius. In front of the Dachengdian in Qufu is the Apricot Pavilion or Xingtan, another important building behind the main building is the Shrine of Adoring the Sage, which honoured the ancestors of Confucius and the fathers of the Four Correlates and Twelve Philosophers. Unlike Daoist or Buddhist temples, Confucian temples do not normally have images, in the early years of the temple in Qufu, it appears that the spirits of Confucius and his disciples were represented with wall paintings and clay or wooden statues
3.
Sungkyunkwan University
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Sungkyunkwan University is a private research university with campuses in Seoul and Suwon. Originally, it was founded in 1398 by the Joseon Dynasty located in the heart of central Seoul and it was authorized as Sungkyunkwan, the foremost educational institution of Joseon, by the great code of the state administration pertaining to the royal assent. Today, the university has two campuses, the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus in Seoul, and the Natural Sciences Campus in Suwon, twelve schools and four colleges offer degrees at the bachelors level, twelve graduate schools confer various degrees at both the masters and doctoral levels. SKKU offers Korea’s first fully English-taught Global MBA program, which has gained tremendous international recognition, SKKU also has one of the best medical schools in South Korea, which is affiliated with the world-famous Samsung Medical Center. Samsung partnered with SKKU in 1965-1977 and took up its partnership again in 1996, recent years have seen a trend of SKKU rising in university rankings, consistently placing in the top 3 nationally. It is located near Hyehwa-dong and Daehangno, the nearest subway station is Hyehwa Station on Seoul Subway Line 4. The Natural Sciences Campus in Suwon is located within walking distance from Sungkyunkwan University Station, the Natural Sciences Campus was established in 1978. This campus is situated 45km away from Seoul on a 250-acre site in northern Suwon, the campus is home to five colleges and two schools as well as numerous graduate schools. Sungkyunkwan was established in 1398 to offer prayers and rituals to Confucius and his disciples and it was located within the city walls of the capital Hanseong, or modern-day Seoul. It followed the example of the Goryeo-period Gukjagam, which in its latter years was known by the name Sungkyunkwan. Most Korean culture and Hangul have been archived by Sungkyunkwan scholars over hundreds of years, Sungkyunkwan was Koreas foremost institution of higher learning under the Joseon Dynasty education system. During the period of Japanese rule, the traditionally higher-education Sungkyunkwan was derogated, after liberation from the Empire of Japan, however, it was reopened as a college by the United States Army Military Government in Korea. Before long, it was reinstated by the ex-rector of Sungkyunkwan, Kim Changsook, as Korea modernized and underwent social and economic reforms, SKKU has played an important role in academic freedom in higher education and also kept alive traditional ethics in Korean society. The number of graduates now totals approximately 130,000, Sungkyunkwan now operates two campuses, the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus in Seoul and the Natural Sciences Campus in Suwon. 1398, The foundation of Sungkyunkwan 1400–1418, King Taejong initiates a tradition for royal princes to enter Sungkyunkwan,1475, Jongyeonggak, Koreas first library, is established. 1519, Planting of the pair of trees, that became SKKUs symbol. 1592, Munmyo, the Confucian Shrine, is destroyed in a fire,1895, Sungkyunkwan is reformed as a modern three-year university. 1911, The university is renamed Kyonghagwon by the Japanese Government-General,1946, Sungkyunkwan receives accreditation from United States Army Military Government in Korea on September 25 as Sunkyunkwan College
4.
Seokjeon Daeje
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The Seokjeon Daeje, also sometimes called Seokjeonje, is a ceremonial rite performed twice annually to honor Confucius. It is held at Confucian sites across South Korea including hyanggyos and the Confucian temple Munmyo located at Sungkyunkwan, on Confucius birthday in fall, Seokjeon is made up of the two Chinese characters, 釋 and 酋, and Seokjeon Daeje means Laying out offerings ceremony. It involves a ceremony with sacrificial offerings of alcohol and foods. Ceremonies honoring Confucius date back to 372 in Korea, during the Three Kingdoms Period, the ceremony is recognized in Korea as important intangible cultural heritage no.85. The Seokjeon rite resembles a version of Jesa ancestral funerary rites. Entrance and preparation, Welcoming the honored spirits by way of the main gate, the master of music leads the musicians and dancers to their places. The usher escorts the Confucian scholars to their places, the usher conducts the reader of the invocation or ceremonial address and the deacons to their places. The reader and the deacons bow four times, the announcer requests that the first offerer opens the ceremony. Music is played by the Ground Orchestra, and the Civil Dance begins Offerings of Tribute and Sacrificial Food to the spirits of Confucius, the first offerer kneels in front of the tablet of Confucius, burns incense three times, offers the sacrifices, and rises. The first offerer proceeds to the tablet of Tseng Tzu, kneels, the first offerer proceeds to the tablet of Mencius, kneels, burns incense three times, offers the sacrifice, and rises. The announcer escorts the first offerer to the table for the offering to Confucius. Attendants pour the wine from the pitcher to the brass cup. They turn the wine cup over to the worshippers and they receive the wine cup and circle the wine cup three times above the smouldering fire. Music is played by the Terrace Orchestra and the Civil Dance begins, the first offerer offers wine, retreats a few steps, and kneels. The reader sits at the left of the first offerer, reads the invocation, the announcer escorts the first offerer back to his place. Music by the Terrace Orchestra and the Military Dance are performed, rituals at the Confucius shrine, or munmyo, the kings personal presence was not essential. The monarch would send high-ranking officials to honor the rites for Confucius, the Rite of the Secondary Wine Offering The announcer escorts the second offerer to the basin to wash his hands and then to the wine table for offering to Confucius. The announcer escorts the second back to his place
5.
Joseon
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The Kingdom of Joseon was a Korean kingdom founded by Yi Seonggye that lasted for approximately five centuries, from July 1392 to October 1897. It was officially renamed the Korean Empire in October 1897 and it was founded following the aftermath of the overthrow of Goryeo in what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul, the kingdoms northernmost borders were expanded to the natural boundaries at the Yalu and Tumen Rivers through the subjugation of the Jurchens. Joseon was the last dynasty of Korea and its longest-ruling Confucian dynasty, during its reign, Joseon encouraged the entrenchment of Chinese Confucian ideals and doctrines in Korean society. Neo-Confucianism was installed as the new state ideology. Buddhism was accordingly discouraged and occasionally faced persecutions by the dynasty, Joseon consolidated its effective rule over the territory of current Korea and saw the height of classical Korean culture, trade, science, literature, and technology. After the end of invasions from Manchuria, Joseon experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace, by the late 14th century, the nearly 500-year-old Goryeo established in 918 was tottering, its foundations collapsing from years of war and de facto occupation from the disintegrating Mongol Empire. Following the emergence of the Ming dynasty, the court in Goryeo split into two conflicting factions, the group led by General Yi and the camp led by General Choe. Goryeo claimed to be the successor of the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo, as such, Yi was chosen to lead the attack, however, he revolted and swept back to Gaegyeong and initiated a coup détat, overthrowing King U in favor of his son, Chang of Goryeo. He later killed King U and his son after a failed restoration, in 1392, Yi eliminated Jeong Mong-ju, highly respected leader of a group loyal to Goryeo dynasty, and dethroned King Gongyang, exiling him to Wonju, and before he ascended the throne. The Goryeo Dynasty had come to an end after almost 500 years of rule. After much deliberation, the Taejo Emperor declared the name of the new dynasty to be Joseon, after the ancient Korean state of Gojoseon and he also moved the capital to Hanyang from Kaesong. When the new dynasty was promulgated and officially brought into existence, with Taejos support, Jeong Dojeon kept limiting the royal familys power by prohibiting political involvement of princes and attempting to abolish their private armies. Both sides were aware of each others great animosity and were getting ready to strike first. This incident became known as the First Strife of Princes, one of King Jeongjongs first acts as monarch was to revert the capital to Kaesong, where he is believed to have been considerably more comfortable, away from the toxic power strife. Yet Yi Bangwon retained real power and was soon in conflict with his older brother. Yi Banggan, who yearned for power. In 1400, the tensions between Yi Bangwons faction and Yi Banggans camp escalated into a conflict that came to be known as the Second Strife of Princes
6.
Silla
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Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the worlds longest sustained dynasties. Although it was founded by King Park Hyeokgeose, the dynasty was ruled by the Gyeongju Kim clan for most of its 992-year history. It began as a chiefdom in the Samhan confederacies, once allied with China, thereafter, Unified Silla or Later Silla, as it is often referred to, occupied most of the Korean Peninsula, while the northern part re-emerged as Balhae, a successor-state of Goguryeo. After nearly 1000 years of rule, Silla fragmented into the brief Later Three Kingdoms, Silla, Hubaekje, and Taebong, handing over power to its successor dynasty Goryeo in 935. From its founding until its growth into a kingdom, Silla was recorded with various hanja phonetically approximating its native Korean name, 斯盧, 斯羅, 徐那, 徐耶, 徐羅. In 503, King Jijeung standardized on the characters 新羅, which in Modern Korean is pronounced Shilla, in the modern Mongolian language, Korea and Koreans are still known as Солонгос Solongos, which seems to be an alteration of Silla influenced by the Mongolian word for rainbow. Scholars have traditionally divided Silla history into three periods, Early, Middle, and Late. The Park clan held power for three generations before a coup by the Seok clan. During the reign of the first Seok ruler, Talhae of Silla, the Park and Seok clans constantly fought each other for power and both were eventually overthrown by the Kim clan. The Kim clan then ruled over Silla for many generations with the Park, the final ruler of Later Silla, King Gyeongsun, was a member of the Kim clan. During the Proto–Three Kingdoms period, the city-states of central and southern Korea were grouped into three confederacies called Samhan, Silla began as Saro-guk, a statelet within the 12-member confederacy called Jinhan. Saro-guk consisted of six villages and six clans, according to Korean records, Silla was founded by King Park Hyeokgeose in 57 BC, around present-day Gyeongju. Hyeokgeose is said to have hatched from an egg laid from a white horse. He is also the progenitor of the Park clan, now one of the most common names in Korea. The Samguk Sagi and Bei Shi say that the originally Lelang Commandery area which became the Jinhan confederacy was the origin of Silla. By the 2nd century, Silla existed as a state in the southeastern area of the Korean peninsula. It expanded its influence over neighboring Jinhan chiefdoms, but through the 3rd century was no more than the strongest city-state in a loose federation. To the west, Baekje had centralized into a kingdom by about 250, to the southwest, Byeonhan was being replaced by the Gaya confederacy
