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Yeolchae
Joined: 24 Aug 2006
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 Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 4:38 am Post subject: New Korean History book by American Author |
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from http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2006092111008
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An American scholar has written a book on Korean history that covers from the Stone Age to the Joseon Dynasty.
Michael Seth, an assistant professor of history at James Madison University published �A Concise History of Korea� after 20 years of study.
It is an extremely rare occasion that a foreign scholar has released a history book that deals with Korea�s overall history after its ancient history.
The professor explained in the preface that Korea was never a small country historically, though overshadowed by bigger neighbors like China, Russia, and Japan.
He mentioned that Korean history has its own attributes such as homogeneity, continuity, and independence. Not many countries have been more successfully maintained unity for such a long time and established a unique language, cultural, and socio-political system than Korea.
He said that although Korea, under the huge influence from China, offered tributes to China deeming it the center of the world, it was all formality. In fact, he described Korea as �fiercely independent.�
He also drew a unique analysis that South Korea�s remarkable growth and North Korea�s unprecedented dictatorship were all explained by the originality of Koreans who have adapted themselves to the outside world by their own way.
The book briefly touches on the nation�s religion, memorial service to ancestors, marriage customs, folk songs, cuisine, and houses. It is easily readable for not only experts but also laymen. The 257-page book is printed by the Roman and Littlefield Publishing Group.
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billybrobby
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:53 am Post subject: |
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| He mentioned that Korean history has its own attributes such as homogeneity, continuity, and independence. Not many countries have been more successfully maintained unity for such a long time and established a unique language, cultural, and socio-political system than Korea. |
Our resident historical expert Lastat would disagree. |
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Hater Depot
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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| He also drew a unique analysis that South Korea�s remarkable growth and North Korea�s unprecedented dictatorship were all explained by the originality of Koreans who have adapted themselves to the outside world by their own way. |
Hmm. The books I have read attribute that not to originality but to the remarkable ability of Koreans to take a foriegn idea and adopt it in a more complete form than even the originating country.
Anyway, one thing I wonder is why spout on about Balhae and Shilla as if they had any connection to modern culture? I guess it is accurate to say the the Korean peninsula has 5,000 years of history but not that Korea does. |
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jaganath69
Joined: 17 Jul 2003
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Hater Depot wrote: |
| Quote: |
| He also drew a unique analysis that South Korea�s remarkable growth and North Korea�s unprecedented dictatorship were all explained by the originality of Koreans who have adapted themselves to the outside world by their own way. |
Hmm. The books I have read attribute that not to originality but to the remarkable ability of Koreans to take a foriegn idea and adopt it in a more complete form than even the originating country.
Anyway, one thing I wonder is why spout on about Balhae and Shilla as if they had any connection to modern culture? I guess it is accurate to say the the Korean peninsula has 5,000 years of history but not that Korea does. |
Nations love to connect themselves to a glorious past, no matter how tenuous the link. The reasons for doing so usually involve national pride and Korea is no exception. However, its only fair to point out that Korea is not alone in this practice, just take a look at how the French love to hat tip to their Gallic ancestors, or Italians or Greeks cite ancient Rome or Athens. |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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| billybrobby wrote: |
| Our resident historical expert Lastat would disagree. |
True, but that dude has only recently figured out that skunks smell bad. Let him have his fun with his first tentative forays into "book learnin". |
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Gwangjuboy
Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Not many countries have been more successfully maintained unity for such a long time and established a unique language, cultural, and socio-political system than Korea. |
I am no expert in the area but as most people know Korea consisted of three different kingdoms who were often at war with each other. They killed each other on a massive scale. They were at it only 60 years ago. I wouldn't say that is very indicative of unity. |
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Pyongshin Sangja
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Location: I love baby!
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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An American scholar has written a book on Korean history that covers from the Stone Age to the Joseon Dynasty. |
And back again. |
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techno_the_cat
Joined: 30 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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I think it's been discussed many times that Korean culture is in fact extremely homogeneous. They developed their own alphabet and still use it today. They have regional accents, but no dialects. Their food and dress style are all very similar, and let�s face it, they have a very strong national identity.
Wouldn't that be considered indicative of unity? |
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jaganath69
Joined: 17 Jul 2003
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Gwangjuboy wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Not many countries have been more successfully maintained unity for such a long time and established a unique language, cultural, and socio-political system than Korea. |
I am no expert in the area but as most people know Korea consisted of three different kingdoms who were often at war with each other. They killed each other on a massive scale. They were at it only 60 years ago. I wouldn't say that is very indicative of unity. |
Three kingdoms period ended with Koryo. Jeoson was united all the way from the Tumen to Mokpo for about 1000 years. Would you say that is not indication of a remarkable national unity? |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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| techno_the_cat wrote: |
| They developed their own alphabet and still use it today. They have regional accents, but no dialects. |
By the most conservative estimate there are at least three main dialects of Korean.
| Gwangjuboy wrote: |
| They killed each other on a massive scale. They were at it only 60 years ago. I wouldn't say that is very indicative of unity. |
It's not like it was a war of succession though - they were fighting over who was going to get control over the Korean nation, not trying to divide it.
Last edited by gang ah jee on Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:21 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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| What I wish was available were more good books on Modern Korean history. I find the stuff from about the turn of last century up to about now to be fascinating but there really isn't much stuff about it. |
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Gwangjuboy
Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England
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| Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 5:07 am Post subject: |
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| jaganath69 wrote: |
| Three kingdoms period ended with Koryo. Jeoson was united all the way from the Tumen to Mokpo for about 1000 years. Would you say that is not indication of a remarkable national unity? |
Not when 80% of Koreans were slaves to the Yangban system and strong regional differences remained. The 1000 years of national unity you refer to has culminated in 60 years of division and the prospects of reunification are almost zero.
| gang ah jee wrote: |
| It's not like it was a war of succession though - they were fighting over who was going to get control over the Korean nation, not trying to divide it. |
Is Afghanistan united? |
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bluelake
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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| Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 5:40 am Post subject: |
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[quote="Hater Depot"]
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| I guess it is accurate to say the the Korean peninsula has 5,000 years of history but not that Korea does. |
Very true. As a teacher of Korean history, one of the first things my students learn is that Korea, as a unified nation, really didn't exist until the early 10th C. Borders were fairly fluid up until then, and a third of the present territory was a separate kingdom, so it's better to refer to the region before that time as the Korean peninsula and not Korea. |
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