The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-29
A History Of Corea.

Ifno satisfactory account OF the peninsular
kingdom OF Corea has been hitherto sible
in English, 1t is becau Sc the materials can only
be drawn from Japanese and Chinese sources.
Even concerning the present social and politi.
cal condition Of the country. the narratives Of
Ce.Lc'i" missionaries supply only fragmentary
information. and full and accurate view OF
Corean life is only possible to the student OF
the literary language OF China. which. to this
dnv fills in Corea role strictly analogous to
that taken by Latin in the countries Of western
Europe during the early middle ages. Whether
Mr.. w. 4. GRIrFITHs Is himself able to read the
Japanese and Chinese histories at first hand
We do not know. but he has been assisted by
number OF Japanese scholars. and so far
as regards the ancient and medinval his
tory Of tho country. he has relied almost
exclusively on the original authorities in
the work which he has now published under
the name OF COiea. the Hermit Nation (Scrib-
ners) In that part Of his book. however which
deals with the actual manners and customs Of
Corea. he acknowledges considerable obliga-
tons to Dialects Historic de rEglise de
Corte." which WAS published in Paris about
eight years ago. For the same pur-
pose OF illustrating the social con-
dtion Of the people. he has ayaied himself Of
the diary OF u Chinese envoy despatched to
Corea in 1866. French translation Of this
journal having been published We are told
during the present year at Picking. For the re-
cent history Of the kingdom. 80 far as its at
tempts to break down the wall OF exclusiyeness
are concerned. the compiler H. OF course.
obliged to depend mainly on the reports Of
French missionaries and the records OF the
several abortive expeditions. But even these
accounts are to q large extent. revised from II
Corean point OF view. by Information obtained
through Japanese and Chinese channels. The
work bears witness to vast amount OF we'll
directed labor. and while ii Is clothed with
raro charm for the general reader. whose curl
osity regarding long isolated nation will for
the first time be satisfied. 1t IL also sure of
respectful and grateful reception from the
student of history. ethnology. and philology.
The discussion. indeed. OF the Corean Ian
guaxe in an appendix is the first essay on the
subject which has seemed to us at once ex-
plicit Ineligible. and trustworthy.
At present the Corsan Kingdom is officially
called Chosen. but In early times this name was
applicable only TO a part Of Mantchooria. includ-
ing at most the northwestern angle Of the PENN
suls. This portion of Mantchooria seems to have
been civilized by emigrants from China in very
carly times. Chinese histories agree with Co.
rean traditions in ascribing the foundation 81
Corean social order to Iii Ts2e. who emisrated
from China on tho overthrow Of the Shang
dynasty. B. G. 1922. and created what is known
~ tho ancient kingdom OF Chosen. which at first
lay outside OF the limits Of ancient Corea and
somewhat to the west. The descendants OF XII
Tsze are said to have ruled this country unit,
the fourth century before tho Christian era
1t was not. however. until Is. c. lO7 that the
independence OF Chosen (which By this time
embraced the two northwestern provinces Of
Corsa) came to an end. all OF this region
becoming a part Of the Chinese empire OF
the Han dynasty. From that time to this the
Chinese Empsrors have asserted more or less
defined right Of suzeranty over the whole
Corean peninsula, and this claim has been
usually recognized, though the attempts which
have been made since the beginning OF the
Christian era to transform vague acknowl-
sdgment Of vassalage into absolute subsection
have. for the most part. miscarred.
But although the civilization OF the Corean
peninsula was undoubtedly derived from
China. the modern Coreans. II we except the
natives OF the two northwestern provinces are
not directly descended from the inhabitants OF
the old kingdom of Chosen. They come Of an
other stock-the so-cslled Fuyu race, which oc-
cupied Il part OF Mantchoora to the northeast
of ancient Chosen. an d which for very many
hundred years maintained complete indepen-
dence OF China. 1t WAS this people which grad
ually spread southwark till 1t absorbed the
northeastern and central portions OF the Core
all peninsula. and thus constituted the main
stem ut tho present Corean nation. Tho en-
larg"d Kingdom Of Korai as the realm con-
struried by the Fuyu conuuerors was called
succumbed at last In its turn and
about A. ID. G70 was annexed to the Chi
nese empire. At this epoch there re-
manned but single independent State
In tho country now known as Corea. VIZ, Shin
ra. situated in the southeast part OF the PENN
SUN. The small kingdom Of Hnksnl. which
occupied the southeast angle OF the peninsula.
had been tho ally OF Korai and. sharing its
fate. became vassal OF China. It was. ms we
have said by contact with Chinese emigrnnts
on the northwest that the Corcans FIRST became
civilized. but 1t was through the southern king