Letters from Korean History 2 - From the Later Three Kingdoms to Goryeo

The English version of Letters from Korean History is published for young readers overseas who are curious about Korea and its people, and for young Korean readers keen to learn more about their own history while improving their language skills as global citizens. I hope that readers will not feel obliged to start at the beginning of Volume I and plow all the way through; rather, each letter contains a historical episode in its own right, and can be chosen and read according to the reader’s particular area of interest. The text is complemented by plenty of photos and illustrations, giving a more vivid sense of history - reading the captions that accompany these should enhance the sense of historical exploration. -Park Eunbong Progressing from the stones and bones of prehistory all the way to the turbulent twentieth century in the course of five volumes, Letters from Korean History can be browsed as a reference text or plowed through from beginning to end. As with most histories that cover such a long period, the density of information increases as the narrative approaches the present. The relatively recent Joseon period, for example, accounts for two of the five volumes (III and IV), rich as it is in events and meticulously recorded historical data. Letters from Korean History has been a great success in its native country among Korean readers. I hope that this translation will now be of help to ethnic Koreans overseas, others interested in Korea or history in general, Koreans looking to study history and English at the same time, and anybody else who believes that exploring the past is a good way to try and make sense of the confusing, flawed and wonderful present. -Ben JacksonContents Vol. 1When did the first humans settle in Korea?What did Paleolithic Koreans look like?How did Neolithic Koreans live?Stone toolsThe Bronze Age and Gojoseon, the first state in Korean historyKorea, a land of dolmensHow was life in Gojoseon?Gojoseon: originally just ‘Joseon’What came after Gojoseon?What was the purpose of ‘jecheon haengsa?’The founding of the Three Kingdoms and GayaGaya cultureGoguryeo: a Northeast Asian superpowerThe riddle of the Gwanggaeto SteleBaekje, land of cultural refinementKing Mu and Princess SeonhwaBuddhism, key to the culture of the Three Kingdoms Influence of the Buddhist culture of the Three Kingdoms on Asuka Life in the Three Kingdoms periodFridges and drinksHow did Silla achieve unification?Hwarang: boys as beautiful as flowersSilla, land of the bone-rank systemHyangga: songs of SillaBalhae, land of mysteryBalhae’s road network ㆍIndexㆍImage credits and sources

《오늘의 한국》은 한국을 깊이 있게 배우고자 하는 외국인 학생을 위한 일종의 한국 입문서이다. 이 책에는 한국이라는 국가에 대한 정보와 그 속에서 살아가고 있는 한국인의 삶, 그리고 한국사회에 대한 전반적인 모습이 담겨 있다. 이 책을 통해 학생들은 오늘날 한국은 어떤 나라이며 한국인은 어떻게 살아가고 있는가를 생생하게 배우고 느낄 수 있을 것이다.이 책은 크게 4부로 구성되어 있다. 한국 인식의 토대가 되는 한국의 지리, 지방, 인구 등을 다루는 1부 <한국 인식의 기초>, 한국 사회를 이해하는데 필수적인 한국의 역사, 정치, 경제 등을 다루는 2부<한국사회의 이해>, 한국의 다양한 문화적 현상을 이해할 수 있는 3부<한국의 문화와 예술>, 마지막으로 오늘날 한국사회가 안고 있는 여러 가지 문제와 미래의 전망을 다루는 4부<한국사회의 미래>가 그것이다.

≪한국의 역사와 문화≫는 한국에 대해 체계적으로 배우고자 하는 외국인을 위한 한국학 기초 교재이다. 한 국가가 가진 고유한 정체성(identity)을 인식하는 데 있어서 가장 기초가 되는 것은 역사와 문화라 할 수 있다. 외국인들이 한국의 역사와 문화를 쉽고 체계적으로 배울 수 있도록 이 책은 크게 세 부분으로 구성하였다. 한반도에 사람이 살기 시작한 시기부터 오늘에 이르기까지 한국사의 역사적 전개 과정을 다루는 〈한국의 역사〉(1부), 한국적인 사상과 이러한 사상에서 생겨난 한국문화를 소개한 〈한국의 사상과 문화〉(2부), 마지막으로 한국의 세계적인 문화유산을 소개한 〈한국의 세계문화유산〉(3부)이 그것이다. 이를 통해 외국인들은 한국적인 것의 특징이 무엇이며 이러한 특징이 어떻게 형성되었는가를 배울 수 있을 것이다.

살아있는 한국현대문화는 오늘의 한국문화를 생동감 있게 배울 수 있는 한국학 기초 교재이다. 한국을 배우고자 하는 외국 학생들은 이 책을 통해 한국인의 일상생활과 오늘날 유행하고 있는 한국문화를 실감나게 접할 수 있을 것이다. 또한 동시에 한국어의 수준도 한껏 높일 수 있을 것이다. 이 책은 봄·여름·가을·겨울의 4부로 나누어 계절별로 특색을 보이는 한국인의 삶과 문화를 생동감 있게 그려내고 있다. 이를 위해 우리는 최근 한국의 신문과 잡지에 실린 기사문을 활용하여 한국문화의 현장감을 살렸다. 또한 외국 학생들의 깊이 있는 이해를 돕기 위해 한국의 새로운 문화현상들을 설명하는 ‘생생(生生) 한국문화’를 장별로 제시하였다.

한국문학사는 한국문학이 언제 어떻게 발생했으며 시대의 흐름에 따라 어떠한 과정을 거쳐 변화해 왔는지를 기술한 책이다. 이 책에서는 외국인이 이를 비교적 간명하게 파악할 수 있도록 문학사의 시기를 구분하고 시대적 배경을 기술한 후, 시기별 문학적 변화에 따른 주요 작가와 작품을 제시하였다. 특히 한국문학의 개념과 범위에 대한 논쟁도 적지 않으므로 이에 대한 기본적인 인식을 먼저 밝히고, 원시시대부터 1990년대까지 한국문학의 전반적 흐름을 개괄적으로 훑어나갔다. 또한 분단 이후 북한문학이 어떻게 전개되었는지를 살필 수 있도록 북한문학의 역사적 전개 과정을 간략하게나마 기술하여 한국문학의 총체적 이해가 가능하도록 하였다. 시기별로 한국문학사에 있어서 핵심적인 내용만을 언급하다보니 작품 인용이 매우 소략하거나 부족하여, 이를 보완하고자 각 장별로 말미에 〈한국문학 작품 읽기〉 부분을 두어 작품에 대한 이해를 도왔다.

Mängelexemplar: Buch an einem Eck angestossen, sonst neu und einwandfrei Damaged Copy: Book dented on one corner, otherwise new copy 살아있는 한국현대문화는 오늘의 한국문화를 생동감 있게 배울 수 있는 한국학 기초 교재이다. 한국을 배우고자 하는 외국 학생들은 이 책을 통해 한국인의 일상생활과 오늘날 유행하고 있는 한국문화를 실감나게 접할 수 있을 것이다. 또한 동시에 한국어의 수준도 한껏 높일 수 있을 것이다. 이 책은 봄·여름·가을·겨울의 4부로 나누어 계절별로 특색을 보이는 한국인의 삶과 문화를 생동감 있게 그려내고 있다. 이를 위해 우리는 최근 한국의 신문과 잡지에 실린 기사문을 활용하여 한국문화의 현장감을 살렸다. 또한 외국 학생들의 깊이 있는 이해를 돕기 위해 한국의 새로운 문화현상들을 설명하는 ‘생생(生生) 한국문화’를 장별로 제시하였다.

The English version of Letters from Korean History is published for young readers overseas who are curious about Korea and its people, and for young Korean readers keen to learn more about their own history while improving their language skills as global citizens. I hope that readers will not feel obliged to start at the beginning of Volume I and plow all the way through; rather, each letter contains a historical episode in its own right, and can be chosen and read according to the reader’s particular area of interest. The text is complemented by plenty of photos and illustrations, giving a more vivid sense of history - reading the captions that accompany these should enhance the sense of historical exploration. -Park Eunbong Progressing from the stones and bones of prehistory all the way to the turbulent twentieth century in the course of five volumes, Letters from Korean History can be browsed as a reference text or plowed through from beginning to end. As with most histories that cover such a long period, the density of information increases as the narrative approaches the present. The relatively recent Joseon period, for example, accounts for two of the five volumes (III and IV), rich as it is in events and meticulously recorded historical data. Letters from Korean History has been a great success in its native country among Korean readers. I hope that this translation will now be of help to ethnic Koreans overseas, others interested in Korea or history in general, Koreans looking to study history and English at the same time, and anybody else who believes that exploring the past is a good way to try and make sense of the confusing, flawed and wonderful present. -Ben JacksonContents Vol. 4     Hwaseong: King Jeongjo’s new city    New martial arts for Joseon    The Silhak vision    ‘Wealth is created by the people’    Evolving farms and markets    ‘Sanga yorok’: A royal physician’s cookbook    Popular culture flourishes    Yi Danjeon, the ‘nobi’ poet    Love and marriage in Joseon    Gang Jeongildang and Yun Gwangyeon in love    Kim Jeongho and ‘Daedong yeojido’    Korean maps of the past    The peasants rise up    Hong Gyeongnae and the battle of Jeongju Fortress    Seohak and Donghak    Protestantism gains royal backing    Isolation or enlightenment? Korea at the crossroads    ‘Uigwe’: Joseon texts seized by France    Opening the doors    A ‘Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation’    ‘A new world, for three days’: the Gapsin Coup    A military uprising: The Imo Incident    Jeon Bongjun and the Donghak Peasant Revolution    The attack on Gyeongbokgung and the Gabo Reforms    The death of Empress Myeongseong    The Daehan Empire is born    Treaty ports usher in the winds of change    When did Korea start using the solar calendar?    ㆍ Index    ㆍ Image credits and sources  

The English version of Letters from Korean History is published for young readers overseas who are curious about Korea and its people, and for young Korean readers keen to learn more about their own history while improving their language skills as global citizens. I hope that readers will not feel obliged to start at the beginning of Volume I and plow all the way through; rather, each letter contains a historical episode in its own right, and can be chosen and read according to the reader’s particular area of interest. The text is complemented by plenty of photos and illustrations, giving a more vivid sense of history - reading the captions that accompany these should enhance the sense of historical exploration. -Park Eunbong Progressing from the stones and bones of prehistory all the way to the turbulent twentieth century in the course of five volumes, Letters from Korean History can be browsed as a reference text or plowed through from beginning to end. As with most histories that cover such a long period, the density of information increases as the narrative approaches the present. The relatively recent Joseon period, for example, accounts for two of the five volumes (III and IV), rich as it is in events and meticulously recorded historical data. Letters from Korean History has been a great success in its native country among Korean readers. I hope that this translation will now be of help to ethnic Koreans overseas, others interested in Korea or history in general, Koreans looking to study history and English at the same time, and anybody else who believes that exploring the past is a good way to try and make sense of the confusing, flawed and wonderful present. -Ben JacksonContents Vol. 3 How was Joseon founded?A new name for a new state: ‘Joseon’ or ‘Hwaryeong?’Hanyang, Joseon’s new capital Why the king kept moving palace The real reason Sejong created Hangeul Jang Yeongsil, Joseon’s greatest scientist How were government officials appointed?Men of integrityHow did the people of Joseon live?Joseon’s children Joseon, land of ConfucianismYi Hwang and Gi Daeseung exchange lettersNeo-Confucians: a new breed of literati sparks purgesSeong Sammun and Sin SukjuClothes, food and housing in Joseon Children’s gamesNewspapers and books in Joseon Royal annals: definitive national histories The Three Great Bandits of Joseon The mysterious tale of Hong Gildong A time of crisis: Japan invades Were turtle ships really clad in iron? Fighting off the Manchus Kim Sangheon and Choe Myeonggil What caused factional strife? Death in a rice chest: Crown Prince SadoAn Yongbok defends Ulleung-do and Dok-do Hendrik Hamel and Park Yeon: Joseon’s two Dutchmen ㆍ Index ㆍ Image credits and sources

The English version of Letters from Korean History is published for young readers overseas who are curious about Korea and its people, and for young Korean readers keen to learn more about their own history while improving their language skills as global citizens. I hope that readers will not feel obliged to start at the beginning of Volume I and plow all the way through; rather, each letter contains a historical episode in its own right, and can be chosen and read according to the reader’s particular area of interest. The text is complemented by plenty of photos and illustrations, giving a more vivid sense of history - reading the captions that accompany these should enhance the sense of historical exploration. -Park Eunbong Progressing from the stones and bones of prehistory all the way to the turbulent twentieth century in the course of five volumes, Letters from Korean History can be browsed as a reference text or plowed through from beginning to end. As with most histories that cover such a long period, the density of information increases as the narrative approaches the present. The relatively recent Joseon period, for example, accounts for two of the five volumes (III and IV), rich as it is in events and meticulously recorded historical data. Letters from Korean History has been a great success in its native country among Korean readers. I hope that this translation will now be of help to ethnic Koreans overseas, others interested in Korea or history in general, Koreans looking to study history and English at the same time, and anybody else who believes that exploring the past is a good way to try and make sense of the confusing, flawed and wonderful present. -Ben JacksonContents Vol. 5 Lost sovereignty Secret mission to The HagueThe struggle to save the country Yun Huisun and the Ansaram Righteous Army Gunfire echoes across ManchuriaA learned man’s burden The nation rises up‘Gisaeng’ fight for independence Hong Beomdo and Kim Jwajin, ndependence army heroesYi Hwarim, the female general Bang Jeonghwan and Children’s DayKim Sowol’s ‘Azaleas’ The Kanto Massacre and forced relocationThe photo brides of Hawaii Sin Chaeho, the father of modern historyA history of pain and blood Yi Bongchang and Yun Bonggil The Liberation Army OSSKoreans who amazed the worldKim Yeom, Film Emperor of ShanghaiStolen youth, rotten mindsInvestigating Korea’s collaborators Liberation and national division What is socialism? Kim Gu crosses the thirty-eighth parallelThe Jeju UprisingWar divides a nationThe SOFA and the death of two schoolgirls Rapid growth: a time of miracles and tragediesMulticultural families, our new neighborsThe struggle for democracyDemocracy and the World Cup Encounters for reunificationToward reunification Index Image credits and sources