Main article: History of Korea Gojoseon, Jin Proto-Three Kingdoms:  Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye  Samhan, Gaya Three Kingdoms:  Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla Unified Silla, Balhae Later Three Kingdoms Goryeo Joseon Japanese Rule Divided Korea:  N. Korea, S. Korea List of RulersSee also:

Korea, Korea - Names of Korea, Korea - Culture and philosophy, Korea - History, Korea - Gojoseon, Korea - The Three Kingdoms, Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, Korea - Goryeo, Korea - Joseon, Korea - Japanese occupation, Korea - Division, Korea - Civil war and hopes for reunification, Korea - Geography, Korea - Demographics, Korea - Korea in sporting events, Korea - Further readings, Korea - Special characters

Read more here: » Korea: Encyclopedia II - Korea - History

At the end of World War II in 1945, Korea was divided into American and Soviet zones of occupation. (See Division of Korea for more information.) The peninsula was divided at the 38th parallel, with the Americans controlling the south half of the peninsula and the Soviets controlling the north half. In 1948, the two zones became the independent countries of North and South Korea. 3 provinces—Hwanghae, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon—were divided by the 38th parallel. Most of Hwanghae Province belonged to the Soviet (northern) z ...

See also:

Provinces of Korea, Provinces of Korea - Historical summary, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of Unified Silla, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of Goryeo, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of Joseon, Provinces of Korea - Districts of Late Joseon, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of the Korean Empire, Provinces of Korea - Provinces since the division of Korea

Read more here: » Provinces of Korea: Encyclopedia II - Provinces of Korea - Provinces since the division of Korea

Jeong Dojeon was a major opponent of Buddhism at the end of the Goryeo period. He was a student of Zhuxi's thought. Using Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucian philosophy as the basis of his anti-Buddhist polemic, he criticized Buddhism in a number of treatises as being corrupt in its practices, and nihilistic and antinomian in its doctrines. The most famous of these treatises was the Bulssi japbyeon ("Array of Critiques Against Buddhism" ). He was a founding member of the Seonggyungwan, the royal Co ...

See also:

Jeong Dojeon, Jeong Dojeon - Background and early career, Jeong Dojeon - Relationship with Yi Seonggye, Jeong Dojeon - Intellectual activity, Jeong Dojeon - Political thought

Read more here: » Jeong Dojeon: Encyclopedia II - Jeong Dojeon - Intellectual activity

Main article: Joseon Dynasty In 1392 a Korean general, Yi Seonggye, was sent to China to campaign against the Ming Dynasty, but instead he allied himself with the Chinese, and returned to overthrow the Goryeo king and establish a new dynasty. The Joseon Dynasty moved the capital to Hanseong (formerly Hanyang; modern-day Seoul) in 1394 and adopted Confucianism as the country's official religion, resulting in much loss of power and wealth by the Buddhists. During this period, the Hangul al ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Joseon

Today, North Koreans use Chosŏn to refer to Korea as a whole, and refer to the two countries as Bukchosŏn (북조선, 北朝鮮; "North Chosŏn") and Namjosŏn (남조선, 南朝鮮; "South Chosŏn"). South Koreans use Hanguk, Bukhan (북한, 北韓; "North Han") and Namhan (남한, 南韓; "South Han"), respectively. The Korean language is called Chosŏnŏ or Chosŏnmal in the North and Hangugeo or Hangungmal in the South. Chosŏn'gŭl is the North Korean ...

See also:

Names of Korea, Names of Korea - History, Names of Korea - Ancient history, Names of Korea - Goryeo Joseon and Han revived, Names of Korea - 20th century, Names of Korea - Current usage, Names of Korea - East Asian names, Names of Korea - Western names

Read more here: » Names of Korea: Encyclopedia II - Names of Korea - Current usage

By 2005, with around 50% of the religious Koreans putting themselves down as Christians, the landscape of Confucian schools, temples, places of ancestral worship, and scholarship have been minimized, if not put to the side as historical artefacts worthy only of tourists, scholars, or neglected preservation. However, Confucian values arguably still immensely influence the psyche of Korean people. Moreover, Confucianism may also not be regarded as a religion, therefore allowing one to be a Taoist, Chr ...

See also:

Korean Confucianism, Korean Confucianism - Introduction, Korean Confucianism - Goryeo Dynasty Confucianism, Korean Confucianism - Neo-confucianism in the Joseon dynasty, Korean Confucianism - Contemporary society and Confucianism, Korean Confucianism - Korean confucian art, Korean Confucianism - Confucian ceremonials, Korean Confucianism - The future of Korean confucianism, Korean Confucianism - External link

Read more here: » Korean Confucianism: Encyclopedia II - Korean Confucianism - Contemporary society and Confucianism

From its location, Korea has always been greatly influenced by China, the big neighbour to the west and south. The influence of Buddhism in the Korean educational, moral, and political systems was the first major intellectual import; Confucianism came to Korea in the Three kingdoms period alongside of Buddhist teaching. The Goguryeo Kingdom was inspired and strengthened by Chinese culture and Confucianism, but initially maintained its own customs and traditions. The Baekje Kingdom, on the other hand, adopted Confucianism. This shaped ...

See also:

Korean Confucianism, Korean Confucianism - Introduction, Korean Confucianism - Goryeo Dynasty Confucianism, Korean Confucianism - Neo-confucianism in the Joseon dynasty, Korean Confucianism - Contemporary society and Confucianism, Korean Confucianism - Korean confucian art, Korean Confucianism - Confucian ceremonials, Korean Confucianism - The future of Korean confucianism, Korean Confucianism - External link

Read more here: » Korean Confucianism: Encyclopedia II - Korean Confucianism - Introduction

Main article: Names of Korea "Korea" derives from the Goryeo/Koryŏ (고려) period of Korean history, which in turn referred to the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo/Koguryŏ (고구려). In the Korean language, Korea as a whole is referred to as Han'guk (한국, Han Nation) by South Korea and Chosŏn (조선) by North Korea. ...

See also:

Korea, Korea - Names of Korea, Korea - Culture and philosophy, Korea - History, Korea - Gojoseon, Korea - The Three Kingdoms, Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, Korea - Goryeo, Korea - Joseon, Korea - Japanese occupation, Korea - Division, Korea - Civil war and hopes for reunification, Korea - Geography, Korea - Demographics, Korea - Korea in sporting events, Korea - Further readings, Korea - Special characters

Read more here: » Korea: Encyclopedia II - Korea - Names of Korea

In AD 660, the southeastern kingdom of Silla conquered Baekje in the southwest, and in 668, Silla conquered Goguryeo in the north with the help of China's Tang Dynasty (see also Three Kingdoms of Korea). For the first time, most of the Korean peninsula was ruled by a single power. Silla's northern boundary ran through the middle of southern Goguryeo, from the Taedong River (which flows through P'yŏngyang) in the west to Wŏnsan in modern-day Kangwŏn Province in the east. In 721, Silla solidifed its northern boundary with Barhae (Bohai) (which replaced Goguryeo ...

See also:

Provinces of Korea, Provinces of Korea - Historical summary, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of Unified Silla, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of Goryeo, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of Joseon, Provinces of Korea - Districts of Late Joseon, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of the Korean Empire, Provinces of Korea - Provinces since the division of Korea

Read more here: » Provinces of Korea: Encyclopedia II - Provinces of Korea - Provinces of Unified Silla

In 1895, Korea was redivided into 23 districts (Bu; 부; 府), each named for the city or county that was its capital. The districts were short-lived, however, as the following year, the provincial system was restored (see below). Each district name in the following list links to the article on the province from which the district was formed, and where more detailed information on the district is provided: Andong, Chuncheon, Chungju, Daegu, Dongnae, Gangneung, Gongju, Haeju, Hamhŭng, Hanseong, Hongju, Incheon, Jeju, Jeonju, Jinju, Kaesŏng, ...

See also:

Provinces of Korea, Provinces of Korea - Historical summary, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of Unified Silla, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of Goryeo, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of Joseon, Provinces of Korea - Districts of Late Joseon, Provinces of Korea - Provinces of the Korean Empire, Provinces of Korea - Provinces since the division of Korea

Read more here: » Provinces of Korea: Encyclopedia II - Provinces of Korea - Districts of Late Joseon

Korean historical action films have elements of swordsmanship within them. Important recent films readily available (and subtitle in Chinese/English) include: Musa The Warrior, 2003, 130 minutes, joint Korean/Chinese production. Chung Doo-Hong martial arts director. Set in the Goryeo dynasty, during 1375 chronicles General Choi Jung's mission to the Ming to make peace during their wars against the Yuan. H ...

See also:

Korean swords, Korean swords - History of Korean swords, Korean swords - Three Kingdoms period swords, Korean swords - Goryeo Period swords, Korean swords - Joseon dynasty swords, Korean swords - Swords under occupied Korea 1890s to 1945, Korean swords - Republic period swords, Korean swords - Types of Korean swords, Korean swords - Master swordsman through the ages, Korean swords - Schools of swordsmanship, Korean swords - Master swordmakers, Korean swords - Contemporary swordmakers, Korean swords - Swords and armour: changing needs and tactics, Korean swords - Contemporary films on Korean swordsmanship, Korean swords - Glossary of Korean sword terms into English

Read more here: » Korean swords: Encyclopedia II - Korean swords - Contemporary films on Korean swordsmanship

After the fall of Gojoseon, the southern part of the peninsula consolidated into three confederations (collectively Samhan): Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan. In the north, Goguryeo was founded in southern Manchuria in 37 BC, claiming to be the successor to a branch of Buyeo. Among the other various small states in former Gojoseon territory were the neighboring Buyeo, and Okjeo and Dongye in t ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century

Archaeological evidence shows that humans first inhabited the peninsula about 700,000 years ago. Tool-making artifacts from the Palaeolithic period (70,000 BC to 40,000 BC) have been found in present-day North Hamgyong, South P'yongan, Gyeonggi, and north and south Chungcheong Provinces. The people were cave dwellers and built homes, using fire for food and warmth. They hunted, gathered and fished with stone tools. Earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC or before, and evidence of Mesolithic Pit-Comb Ware culture or Yung ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Prehistory

Main articles: Gojoseon, Dangun, Founding Myth of Korea According to legend, Korea's first kingdom, Gojoseon (고조선, then called Joseon), was founded by Dangun in 2333 BC, in southern Manchuria and northern Korean peninsula. The people of Gojoseon belonged to the Tungusic family and were linguistically affiliated with the Altaic. Around 2000 BC, a new pottery culture is evidenced, with painted designs, in Manchuria and northern Korea. Intensive agriculture and complex societies dev ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC

After the fall of Gojoseon, the southern part of the peninsula consolidated into three confederations (collectively Samhan): Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan. The Mahan and Jinhan confederations reconquered three of the Chinese commanderies in 82 BC and 75 BC. In the north, Goguryeo was founded in southern Manchuria in 37 BC, claiming to be the successor to a branch of Buyeo. Among the other various small states in former Gojoseon territory were the neighboring Buyeo, and Okjeo and Dongye in the ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century

Main article: Three Kingdoms of Korea Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla are called the Three Kingdoms. Baekje was founded in 18 BC in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula, by the sons of Goguryeo's founder. It deveoped a strong centralized government based in Seoul by the fourth century, and at its peak, controlled most of the western Korean peninsula. Culturally, Baekje acquired Chinese civilization through its relationship with the Southern Dynasties in China. It played a fundamental role in transmitting cultural development ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668

Main articles: Balhae, Unified Silla In 660, King Munmu of Silla ordered his armies to attack Baekje. General Kim Yu-shin, aided by Tang forces, defeated General Ge-Baek and conquered Baekje. In 661, he moved on Goguryeo but was repelled. King Munmu ordered General Kim to launch another campaign in 667 and, in 668, Goguryeo fell. The post-668 Silla kingdom is often referred to as Unified Silla. Unified Silla lasted for 267 ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla

In 1910 Japan annexed Korea by the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty which was signed under duress. (See also: Japanese war crimes) Korea continued to be ruled by Japan under a Governor-General of Korea until Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces on 15 August 1945. European based transport and communication networks were established across the nation. This facilitated Japanese commerce, but modernization had little if any effect on the Korean people, it being used to serve Japanese trade needs, and their tight centralized c ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Japanese Occupation

Main article: Division of Korea The unconditional surrender of Japan, the earlier collapse of Nazi Germany, combined with fundamental shifts in global politics and ideology, led to the division of Korea into two occupation zones effectively starting on September 8, 1945, with the United States administering the southern half of the peninsula and the Soviet Union taking over the area north of the 38th parallel. This division was meant to be temporary and was first intended to return a unified Korea back to its people until the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and Rep ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - The division of Korea

Archaeological evidence shows that humans first inhabited the peninsula about 700,000 years ago. Tool-making artifacts from the Palaeolithic period (70,000 BC to 40,000 BC) have been found in present-day North Hamgyong, South P'yongan, Gyeonggi, and north and south Chungcheong Provinces. The people were cave dwellers and built homes, using fire for cooking food and warmth. They hunted, gathered and fished with stone tools. Earliest known Korean pottery dates back to around 8000 BC or before, and evidence of Mesolithic Pit-Comb Ware cu ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Prehistory

Main articles: Gojoseon, Dangun According to legend, Korea's first kingdom, Gojoseon (고조선, then called Joseon), was founded by Dangun in 2333 BC, in southern Manchuria and northern Korean peninsula. The people of Gojoseon belonged to the Tungusic family and were linguistically affiliated with the Altaic. Around 2000 BC, a new pottery culture is evidenced, with painted designs, in Manchuria and northern Korea. Intensive agriculture and complex societies dev ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC

Main articles: Balhae, Unified Silla In 660, King Munmu of Silla ordered his armies to attack Baekje. General Kim Yu-shin, aided by Tang forces, defeated General Ge-Baek and conquered Baekje. In 661, he moved on Goguryeo but was repelled. King Munmu ordered General Kim to launch another campaign in 667 and, in 668, Goguryeo fell. The post-668 Silla kingdom is often referred to as Unified Silla. Unified Silla lasted for 267 years u ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla