The Koguryo Annals of the Samguk Sagi


Book Description

The Kogury Annals is placed in the middle section of the Samguk Sagi. Compared to The Silla Annals, which covers 705 years, it has fewer pages, and provides a proportionally more detailed presentation and many more derivatives from Chinese sources than the other two annals. Through the annals, Kogury heroes, landscapes, nomenclature and traditions constitute an integral part of Korea s past.




A History of the Early Korean Kingdom of Paekche


Book Description

This book presents two histories of the early Korean kingdom of Paekche (trad. 18 BCE-660 CE). The first, written by Best, is based largely on primary sources. This initial history serves, in part, to introduce the second, an extensively annotated translation of the oldest history of the kingdom, The Paekche Annals (Paekche pon'gi).




The Annals of King T’aejo


Book Description

Never before translated into English, this official history of the reign of King T’aejo—founder of Korea’s long, illustrious Chosŏn dynasty (1392–1910 CE)—is a unique resource for reconstructing life in late-fourteenth-century Korea. Its narrative of a ruler’s rise to power includes a wealth of detail not just about politics and war but also about religion, astronomy, and the arts. The military general Yi Sŏnggye, posthumously named T’aejo, assumed the throne in 1392. During his seven-year reign, T’aejo instituted reforms and established traditions that would carry down through the centuries. These included service to Korea’s overlord, China, and other practices reflecting China’s influence over the peninsula: creation of a bureaucracy based on civil service examinations, a shift from Buddhism to Confucianism, and official records of the deeds of kings, which in the Confucian tradition were an important means of educating succeeding generations. A remarkable compilation process for the sillok, or “veritable records,” was instituted to ensure the authority of the annals. Historiographers were present for every royal audience and wrote down each word that was uttered. They were strictly forbidden to divulge the contents of their daily drafts, however—even the king himself could not view the records with impunity. Choi Byonghyon’s translation of the first of Korea’s dynastic histories, The Annals of King T’aejo, includes an introduction and annotations.




A Study of Korean Pagodas


Book Description

A Study of Korean Pagodas, a monumental work of research in which Korean pagodas are described by focusing on their stylistic history, is considered as the archetype of this field. In Buddhist art history this work is a classic that set the stylistic standard for studying stone pagodas, the periods of classification, and the basic framework of analysis. The theories first presented in this book have exerted a great influence to the present day. The author Go Yuseop 高裕燮 (1905–1944), a representative scholar in the field of Korean art history, studied at Gyeongseong Jedae 京城帝大, the only university during the colonial period, and served as director of Gaeseong Museum and professor at Yeonhui Professional School and Ewha Womans Professional School. His research was based on the direct exploration of scenic spots, historical remains, and Buddhist temples. In addition to A Study of Korean Pagodas, Go Yuseop left Songdo gojeok 松都古蹟 (Historical Remains at Songdo), Joseon misulsa nonchong 朝鮮美術史論叢 (A Collection of Studies on History of Korean Art), and other writings. A Study of Korean Pagodas explains that Korean pagodas originated from wooden and brick pagodas of the Three Kingdoms period; their size was reduced during the early period of the Unified Silla dynasty, in which the typical style was established; during the middle to the end of the Unified Silla dynasty, the atypical pagoda appeared. Go Yuseop explains the arrangement of buildings in temples in the Three Kingdoms period and its variations on the basis of the relationship between the main hall, Geumdang金堂, and pagodas. Although criticism and alternative theories have been advanced, his explanation is still valid to understand the emergence of the monastery arrangement with twin pagodas. The base text for this translation is the published edition by Eulyoo Munhwasa (1948), but references are made to other editions, including those of Donghwa Chulpan (1975), Tongmungwan (1993), and Yeolhwadang (2010).




Koguryo


Book Description

This book describes the Koguryo language, which was once spoken in Manchuria and Korea, including Koguryo and Japanese ethnolinguistic history, Koguryo's genetic relationship to Japanese, Koguryo phonology, and the Koguryo lexicon. It also analyzes the phonology of archaic Northeastern Chinese.




Essentials of Koryŏ History


Book Description

Kory sa ch ryo is an abridgement of History of Kory condensed to 35 books. It is one of the most important historical records of the Kory kingdom (918-1392). Presented in 1452 and compiled under the leadership of Kim Chongs and 28 scholars, it appeared one year after the publication of the Kory sa itself. The Kory sa ch ryo offers a chronological presentation of the events of the Kory kingdom. As each year unfolds the Kory sa ch ryo captures the spirit and feeling of Kory , recording the triumphs and trials of the dynasty. This translation covers the years from 1147 to 1259.




A Companion to Korean Art


Book Description

The only college-level publication on Korean art history written in English Korean pop culture has become an international phenomenon in the past few years. The popularity of the nation’s exports—movies, K-pop, fashion, television shows, lifestyle and cosmetics products, to name a few—has never been greater in Western society. Despite this heightened interest in contemporary Korean culture, scholarly Western publications on Korean visual arts are scarce and often outdated. A Companion to Korean Art is the first academically-researched anthology on the history of Korean art written in English. This unique anthology brings together essays by renowned scholars from Korea, the US, and Europe, presenting expert insights and exploring the most recent research in the field. Insightful chapters discuss Korean art and visual culture from early historical periods to the present. Subjects include the early paintings of Korea, Buddhist architecture, visual art of the late Chosŏn period, postwar Korean Art, South Korean cinema, and more. Several chapters explore the cultural exchange between the Korean peninsula, the Chinese mainland, and the Japanese archipelago, offering new perspectives on Chinese and Japanese art. The most comprehensive survey of the history of Korean art available, this book: Offers a comprehensive account of Korean visual culture through history, including contemporary developments and trends Presents two dozen articles and numerous high quality illustrations Discusses visual and material artifacts of Korean art kept in various archives and collections worldwide Provides theoretical and interpretive balance on the subject of Korean art Helps instructors and scholars of Asian art history incorporate Korean visual arts in their research and teaching The definitive and authoritative reference on the subject, A Companion to Korean Art is indispensable for scholars and academics working in areas of Asian visual arts, university students in Asian and Korean art courses, and general readers interested in the art, culture, and history of Korea.




A History of Korea


Book Description

Dynamic and meticulously researched, A History of Korea continues to be one of the leading introductory textbooks on Korean history. Assuming no prior knowledge, Hwang guides readers from early state formation and the dynastic eras to the modern experience in both North and South Korea. Structured around episodic accounts, each chapter begins by discussing a defining moment in Korean history in context, with an extensive examination of how the events and themes under consideration have been viewed up to the present day. By engaging with recurring themes such as collective identity, external influence, social hierarchy, family and gender, the author introduces the major historical events, patterns and debates that have shaped both North and South Korea over the past 1500 years. This textbook is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of Korean or Asian history. The first half of the book covers pre-20th century history, and the second half the modern era, making it ideal for survey courses.







The God Susanoo and Korea in Japan’s Cultural Memory


Book Description

This book discusses how ancient Japanese mythology was utilized during the colonial period to justify the annexation of Korea to Japan, with special focus on the god Susanoo. Described as an ambivalent figure and wanderer between the worlds, Susanoo served as a foil to set off the sun goddess, who played an important role in the modern construction of a Japanese national identity. Susanoo inhabited a sinister otherworld, which came to be associated with colonial Korea. Imperialist ideologues were able to build on these interpretations of the Susanoo myth to depict Korea as a dreary realm at the margin of the Japanese empire that made the imperial metropole shine all the more brightly. At the same time, Susanoo was identified as the ancestor of the Korean people. Thus, the colonial subjects were ideologically incorporated into the homogeneous Japanese “family state.” The book situates Susanoo in Japan's cultural memory and shows how the deity, while being repeatedly transformed in order to meet the religious and ideological needs of the day, continued to symbolize the margin of Japan.