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bluelake
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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 Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject: The First US-Korea Beef Impasse |
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As I go through a lot of the resources I use in my Korean historical research, I come across some interesting anecdotes. The following is from Forty-Five Years Under the Flag by Admiral Winfield Scott Schley (1904) who, as a young US Navy lieutenant-commander, took part in the first US-Korea military action in 1871 (Shinmiyangyo).
The lead-up to the story is the US sent two gunboats up the Kanghwa Straits (염하) that separate the island from the mainland. The gunboats were fired upon by Korean artillery and the US demanded an apology from Korea for what they saw as a sneak attack (In actuality, it was the result of poor cultural communications on both sides--sound familiar?). The US forces gave Korea ten days to respond before they would take military action. A while before the time was up, the following event occured. In a way, it could be viewed as Korea's first attempt to export beef to the US, which was summarily rejected by the US  (tongue planted firmly in cheek)
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Several days before the final answer came to the admiral's letter, a boatload of cattle and other provisions was drifted down the river to the squadron, in charge of one or two boatmen, from whom it was learned that these supplies were intended as a present, as the people might be hungry. Pending negotiations relating to the insult of firing upon the Monocacy and Palos, it was thought to be a mistake to accept presents of any kind before ascertaining whether the Korean Government was really friendly. Hence, on the change of the tide to flood this boatload of provisions was returned with thanks, and the information added that the squadron was supplied with everything needed for many moons to come. (page 88 ) |
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Pooty
Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Location: Ela stin agalia mou
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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Not trying to hijack your thread, just hope the Koreans don't get a hold of this video
http://edition.cnn.com/video/ More cows abused, group says |
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bluelake
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:15 am Post subject: |
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From the same book, it's interesting to see Western perceptions of a people who hadn't even been met yet:
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| It ought to be said that nobody in the treaty ports of the East had the faintest idea of Korea, its people or its productions. No white man had ever visited the country. Yet scores of people on shore pretended to be fully convinced that it abounded in wealth, that is inhabitants were giants in stature, that their strength was herculean, their ferocity inferior only to that of the tiger; that their guns were the latest type, and their marksmanship equaled only by that of William Tell of fable; their courage--well, that was comparable only to that of the defenders of historic Thermopylae. |
(page 82)
In late May 1871, the US made its first overtures to the Koreans by way of leaving notes on a pole on the shore. The reply is described here:
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| The reply was attached to this same stake, under cover of darkness, and in the daylight was discovered and brought on board. It was evasive in tone, lofty in style and deprecatory. It referred to supplying the squadron with food if it was hungry, but the principal desire manifested was to have the squadron go away. The suggestion was made that if the squadron had come to change Korean customs, there would be difficulty in changing the prejudices of four thousand years. |
(page 83) |
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Justin Kimberlake
Joined: 20 May 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 5:26 am Post subject: |
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| bluelake wrote: |
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| The suggestion was made that if the squadron had come to change Korean customs, there would be difficulty in changing the prejudices of four thousand years. |
(page 83) |
Dunno why, but this post made me think of the several Korean iPhone copycat phones. |
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bobranger
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Location: masan
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 6:02 am Post subject: |
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| really interesting bluelake. Please post more. |
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JustJohn
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Location: Your computer screen
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 6:26 am Post subject: |
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Page 83 is like a brilliant prophecy.
And if that's real history I'd have to say it's probably the funniest I've read since coming here. |
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bluelake
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:15 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, it's real history and reality is often stranger than fiction. |
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bluelake
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:39 am Post subject: |
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Another interesting piece of history that shows things haven't changed much in the past century is the book by Isabella Bird Bishop called Korea and Her Neighbours Vol. 1 (Volume 2 is equally interesting). I had my history students scan it and put it through an OCR program. They also were supposed to proofread it, comparing against the original, but there are still errors here and there. Still, it's a good read and has many illustrations. I have upload clearance for the Gutenberg Project, but haven't done so yet. In any case, here it is for anyone who is interested:
http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/IBB1.doc |
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krats1976
Joined: 14 May 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:54 am Post subject: |
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bluelake,
Where do you find these materials? I'm teaching an East Asia studies course for high school students this fall, and while there are tons of materials here in the US about China & Japan, there really doesn't seem to be much about Korea (other than what's in my head!). |
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bluelake
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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| krats1976 wrote: |
bluelake,
Where do you find these materials? I'm teaching an East Asia studies course for high school students this fall, and while there are tons of materials here in the US about China & Japan, there really doesn't seem to be much about Korea (other than what's in my head!). |
I've been collecting materials over the years and have picked things up from here and there. Often, I look in the bibliography of a book related to what I am researching and find original sources; from there, I look around to see what there is. I have found many old books on places like www.abebooks.com, although they are often quite expensive if they are old enough (like the Isabella Bird Bishop books). If there is ever anything you are particularly looking for, let me know, as it's possible I might have something related. |
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