Korean History – General

The Three Kingdoms Period (57 BCE – 668 CE): Started out as three independent nation-states called Silla (in the southeast), Baekje (in the southwest), and Goguryeo (in the north).

Unified Silla Period (668 CE – 918 CE): In 660 CE the Silla kingdom conquered Baekje and through an alliance with Tang-Dynasty China in 668 CE it vanquished Goguryeo. This was the beginning of the Unified Silla period. Buddhism prospered and many large and important temples were erected in and around Silla’s capital of Gyeongju.

Goryeo Dynasty (918 CE- 1392 CE): Unified Silla rule was ended in 918 CE. This period is knows as a period of courtly refinement and celadon-glazed ceramics. Capital was moved to Gaeseong.

Joseon Dynasty (1392 CE – 1910 CE): Goryeo Dynasty was overthrown by General Yi Seonggye, which started the Joseon (also known as the Yi) Dynasty. At first the Capital stayed Gaeseong, but was moved to Seoul in 1392 CE. Buddhism was rejected by this dynasty, which brought to the rise of Neo-Confucianism as the state philosophy. The government was modeled after the government of Ming dynasty China. This was considered a dynasty of isolation because they closed its borders to most of the world except China. This was also a period of great cultural development and scientific achievement. The rain gauge, astrolabe, celestial glove, sundial, water clock, Han’geul (Korean alphabet), and the moveable type where all invented during the Joseon Dynasty.

Modern Korea (1910 CE – Present Day): Colonial Occupation (1910-1945), World War II (1939-1945), the Korean War (1950-1953) hindered Korea’s artistic and cultural developments during the first half of the twentieth century.

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