Yangban
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The yangban were the ruling class during the Joseon period of dynastic Korea. They were highly educated aristocrats who individually exemplified the Korean Confucian form of the scholar-official. They
A Korean official during his stay in China, 1863
A leisure class: a yangban takes a break while hunting. Hyewon, early 19th century.
One of the earliest photographs depicting yangban, taken in 1863.
Kisaeng
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Kisaeng, also called ginyeo, were enslaved women from outcast or enslaved families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men of upper class. First eme
Yangban
…Status Yangban 양반 兩班 aristocratic class Chungin 중인 中人 middle class Sangmin 상민 常民 common people Ch'ŏnmin 천민 賤民 lowborn people (nobi, paekchŏng, mudang, kisaeng, namsadang, etc.) v t The yangban (Korean: 양반; Hanja: 兩班; IPA: ) were the ruling class during the Joseon period of dynastic Korea. They were highly…
Ginyeo
A kisaeng girl of Joseon, in 1910
Young kisaeng receiving musical instruction, c. 1910
Jinju kisaeng specialized in the sword dance.