The Rise and Fall of the Koryo Dynasty: From Unification to the Chosun Era

KoreaKoryo to Chosun935 CE + 17

Koryo Dynasty935-1392 CE • Factionalism and corruption weaken Silla Dynasty • Tang China collapses leaving Silla without a protector • The Sadae principle fails them?? • Restoration movements in both Baekche and Koguryo • Both gain independence

Transition: Later Baekche • Later Baekche emerges • Prince imprisons his father • Younger brother liberates father • Liberated Father and his followers join Later Koguryo as junior partner in an alliance Later Baekche 

Transition: Later Koguryo • Later Koguryo emerges under King Wang Kon • Takes over the lower half of Parhae (lower half of the early Koguryo nation) Later Koguryo 

Koryo • Wang Kon allies with the senior king of Later Baekche • 935 CE: Koguryo overthrows Silla to unify Korea again • Takes on the new dynastic name: Koryo (고려) • High and elegant

Koryo Dynasty935-1392 CE • First King: Wang Kon • Great coalition builder and peacemaker • Baekche elites brought into his leadership – alliance with elderly Baekche king • Incorporate Silla Elite by marrying Silla princess • Capital at Kaeseong – now bisected by the DMZ

Koryo Leadership • Continued dominance of the Yangban Class • Yangban means two-sides or two corps • Emerged in Silla – continued in Koryo • Civil elite + Military elite = Yangban • Hereditary status for political position

Koryo Dynasty • Farming done by tenants and SLAVES • 1/3 of Koryo population classified as slaves

Koryo Dynasty:Golden age For Korean Women • Matrilocal marriage: • Women relatively well off • Women own property • Women can inherit • Women may get custody in case of divorce • Widows can remarry • Some women even take on multiple husbands • men taking on multiple wives was never uncommon in Korea until modern times Koryo Museum: NK

Koryo Dynasty935-1392 CE Civil service system develops • Exams, but still hereditary elite

Flowering of Arts:Celedon pottery

Flowering of Arts: • Buddhism: the national religion and dominant influence • Buddhist artwork • Koreana Tripitaka • Heinsa Temple

Moveable type invented • But not much used • Shipping Developed in the 1100s • Sextant • Deep water navigation

Koryo Occupied by Mongols: 1231 • Guerilla resistance until 1270 • Mongols oversee building of 900 ships & attack Japan 1270s (Korean sailors)

Koryo Occupied by Mongols: 1231 • Ming dynasty in China overthrows Mongols in 1368. • Koryo elites vacillate between loyalty to Ming and to Mongols.

Koryo Collapse • Yi Seung-kye is dispatched to repel Ming attack • Yi’s coup • Ming alliance • New Chosun Dynasty (named by Ming emperor) 1392-1910

The Rise and Fall of the Koryo Dynasty: From Unification to the Chosun Era