Joseon

Joseon
조선
고려국
(1392–1393)
高麗國
조선국
(1393–1910)
朝鮮國
대조선국
(1894–1897)
大朝鮮國
Joseon 조선 고려국; (1392–1393); 高麗國조선국; (1393–1910); 朝鮮國대조선국; (1894–1897); 大朝鮮國
1392–1897
	Top: Flag (1883–1897); Bottom: Royal standard Emblem; (c. 1884–1897) Royal emblem
	Royal Seal;
	Territory of Joseon after King Sejong's conquest of Jurchens in 1433 (with current borders)
Status	Tributary relations with the Ming and Qing; (1401–1895)a; Qing intervention; (1882–1894)a; Japanese intervention ; (1894–1896)
Capital	Main:; Hanseong; (now Seoul) (1394–1399/1405–1897); Temporary:; Kaegyŏng; (1392–1394/1399–1405)
Official languages	Middle Korean,; Early Modern Korean,; Classical Chinese (literary Chinese or Hanmun in Korean)
Religion	Confucianism; (state ideology),; Buddhism,; Shamanism,; Taoism,; Christianity; (recognized in 1886)
Demonym	Korean
Government	Absolute monarchy
King
• 1392–1398	Taejo (first)
• 1864–1897	Gojong (last)
Chief State Councillor
• 1392	Bae Geuk-ryeom (first)
• 1894–1898	Kim Byeong-si (last)
Legislature	None (rule by decree) (until 1894); Jungchuwon (from 1894)
History
• Coronation of Taejo	August 5, 1392
• Country renamed from Goryeo to Joseon	March 28, 1393
• Promulgation of the Korean alphabet	October 9, 1446
• Japanese invasions	1592–1598
• First and second Manchu invasions	1627, 1636–1637
• Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876	February 26, 1876
• Japanese occupation	July 23, 1894
• Treaty of Shimonoseki	April 17, 1895
• Proclamation of the Korean Empire	October 13, 1897
Population
• 1519	3,300,000
• 1889	16,000,000
Currency	Mun; (1423–1425, 1625–1892); Yang; (1892–1897)
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Goryeo
	Tamna
Korean Empire
Today part of	North Korea; South Korea
	The diplomatic system of East Asia was hierarchical, lacking in equality. Joseon Korea enjoyed a high level of independence and sovereignty in domestic and foreign affairs while ritually subordinate to the Ming and Qing dynasties of China. However, the Qing dynasty was directly involved in the affairs of Joseon from the Imo Incident of 1882 until the Treaty of Shimonoseki of 1895.;
Korean name
Hangul	조선
Hanja	朝鮮
RR	Joseon
MR	Chosŏn
IPA	[tɕo.sʰʌn]
North Korean name
Hangul	조선봉건왕조
Hanja	朝鮮封建王朝
RR	Joseon bonggeon wangjo
MR	Chosŏn ponggŏn wangjo
Official name
Hangul	대조선국
Hanja	大朝鮮國
RR	Daejoseonguk
MR	Taejosŏn'guk
IPA	[tʰɛ.dʑo.sʰʌn.ɡuk̚]

Joseon (English: /ˈtʃoʊsʌn/ CHOH-sun; Korean: 조선; Hanja: 朝鮮; MR: Chosŏn; pronounced [tɕo.sʰʌn]; also romanized as Chosun), officially Great Joseon (대조선국; 大朝鮮國; [tɛ.dʑo.sʰʌn.ɡuk̚]), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in 1897. The kingdom was founded after the overthrow of Goryeo in what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was moved to modern-day Seoul. The kingdom's northernmost borders were expanded to the natural boundaries at the rivers of Amnok and Tuman through the subjugation of the Jurchens.

Over the centuries, Joseon encouraged the entrenchment of Confucian ideals and doctrines in Korean society. Neo-Confucianism was installed as the new state's ideology. Buddhism was accordingly discouraged, and occasionally Buddhists faced persecution. Joseon consolidated its effective rule over the Korean peninsula and saw the height of classical Korean culture, trade, literature, science, and technology. The kingdom was severely weakened by failed Japanese invasions in 1592 and 1598, which were followed by invasions by the Later Jin dynasty in 1627 and the Qing dynasty in 1636–1637. The country pursued an increasingly harsh isolationist policy, becoming known as the "hermit kingdom" in Western literature. After the end of these invasions from Manchuria, Joseon experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace and prosperity, along with cultural and technological development. What power the kingdom recovered during its isolation waned as the 18th century came to a close. Faced with internal strife, power struggles, international pressure, and rebellions at home, the kingdom declined rapidly in the late 19th century.

The Joseon period left a substantial legacy. Modern Korean bureaucracy and administrative divisions were established during it. The modern Korean language and its dialects derive from the culture and traditions of Joseon, as does much of Korean culture, etiquette, norms, and societal attitudes.