[KS] perspectives on Korean history

[Kirk W. Larsen]

Two quick thoughts on Mark's thought-provoking post.

1) I wholeheartedly agree that while "the Chinese are usually listed as invaders" there are very few examples of invasions of Korea by identifiably Chinese powers. Far more important and influential in Korean history has been the interactions with (and invasions by) a succession of "barbarian" peoples--Khitan, Jurchen, Mongol, and "Manchu" (according to Crossley's recent book, there were no identifiable "Manchus" at the time of the 17th century invasions of Korea) being the most prominent. 

2) As for "the point that Korea never invaded another country," wouldn't Yi Song-gye's abortive attack on the Ming at least demonstrate a Korean intention to invade its neighbor (even if Yi ultimately chose not to actually follow through)? Moreover, I seem to recall that the Choson government sent a force to aid the Ming in its attacks on Jurchen/Manchu holdings in Liaodong (with careful instructions to see which way the wind was blowing and surrender to the Jurchen/Manchus if needs be). The Ming would probably paint this action as a defensive action but from the perspective of the Jurchen, it would clearly be an invasion of their territory. 

Cheers,

Kirk W. Larsen
Department of History and
Elliott School of International Affairs
The George Washington University
kwlarsen at gwu.edu
(202) 994-8115


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Peterson" <Mark_Peterson at byu.edu>
To: <Koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws>
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2001 11:31 PM
Subject: [KS] perspectives on Korean history


> Dear List Friends,
> 
> I'm writing a little thing about Korean History, and I'm torn between 
> soft-pedaling my views on a favorite Korean myth and going after it, 
> head-on.  It's for a popular format, that I've been asked to write, 
> so I'm not sure how controversial I should be.
> 
> The issue is this:  it drives me nuts to hear oft and o'er the bit 
> about how Korea has been invaded so many times.  There are so-called 
> scholarly studies that document several thousand "invasions" -- some 
> number them, 2,386, or whatever.
> 
> My take is, that such a view, though nearly universal, is a product 
> of recent, 20th century, events.  Looking at the long view, however, 
> aside from the Mongols in the 13th century, and the Hideyoshi 
> invasion in the late 16th century, you've got a culture of civilian, 
> not military dominance, and peace not war -- not a product of 
> multiple invasions.
> 
> There was the Manchu Invasion shortly after the Japanese, in the 
> early 17th century, but that, by comparison, wasn't much of an 
> invasion.  The Koreans were so beaten up by the Japanese that they 
> could hardly muster much resistance, and unlike the Japanese and 
> before that, the Mongol invasion, the Manchu's didn't really want to 
> conquer Korea -- they only wanted a diplomatic surrender.
> 
> Now, the two major invasions were absolutely horrific; the 
> devastation was near total, and the loss of life was tragic.  I'm not 
> playing that down at all.
> 
> But, aside from those invasions, to get thousands of "invasions", one 
> has to count every penny-ante pirate raid along the coasts.  And to 
> do that, cheapens the dramatic costs of the true invasions.
> 
> In other words, my take on it is that Korea's history is not so much 
> one of multiple, or constant invasions, but one of civilian, 
> Confucian culture -- not the culture of the soldier, or the warlord. 
> In other words, not the Japanese style "bushido" -- the code of the 
> warrior, the samurai.  We had no such thing in Korea.
> 
> Yet, the myth, held dearly, is that "we" have been invaded, 
> stomped-on, beaten, subjugated and down-trodden.  And the Chinese are 
> usually listed as invaders -- well, aside from Han dynasty outposts 
> and an alliance with T'ang that led to unification and eventual 
> control of the upper third of the peninsula, you don't have any 
> Chinese "invasions".  Do you want to count Sui and T'ang attempts 
> against Koguryo^ in lands north of the peninsula?  That's a fair 
> stretch, too.
> 
> On the other hand, the point that Korea never invaded anther country 
> is the oft-heard counter point.  And that, to their credit, is 
> strikingly true.
> 
> Have any of you aired this kind of view with the general audience in 
> Korea.  What kind of feed-back or resistance did you encounter.
> 
> People in any culture hate to see their favorite ox gored, favorite 
> bubble burst.
> 
> Hope to hear from some of you....
> 
> with best regards,
> Mark
> 
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