King Sejong and the creation of Hangul (Hangeul) part 1 | Joseon Dynasty 3 [History of Korea]

Summary

King Sejong the Great, the fourth ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, is renowned for inventing Hangul, the Korean alphabet, in 1443 to promote literacy among the common people. His innovative script, with 14 consonants and 10 vowels, simplified communication and challenged the elite's monopoly on education. Despite initial resistance, Hangul's popularity grew, especially among women and fiction writers. Today, it's celebrated on Hangul Day, October 9th, symbolizing its importance in Korean culture and history.

Takeaways

• 👑 King Sejong the Great, born Ido, was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty and is remembered as the dynasty's greatest ruler.
• 👦 He was the third son of King Tejong and Queen Juan Gyeon, and became the heir to the throne after his older brother Ije was stripped of his title.
• 🗓️ King Sejong ascended to the throne in 1418, with his father acting as regent until his death in 1422.
• 🔠 Sejong is best known for inventing Hangul, the Korean alphabet, which aimed to promote literacy among the common people.
• 🌐 Hangul was designed to be easy to learn, with the claim that anyone could learn it in a few days, emphasizing its scientific and accessible nature.
• 📚 The creation of Hangul was initially met with resistance from the noble class, who feared it would undermine their privileged status and knowledge of Chinese characters.
• 📜 Before Hangul, the Korean peninsula used Classical Chinese for writing, which was difficult and inaccessible to the lower classes.
• 📝 Hangul consists of 14 basic consonant letters and 10 basic vowel letters, with additional complex letters formed by combining these basic letters.
• 🎓 King Sejong published a 33-page manual titled 'Hunmin Jeong-eum' in 1446, explaining the philosophy and motives behind creating Hangul.
• 📅 October 9th is celebrated as Hangul Day in South Korea, commemorating the invention of the alphabet and its impact on the country's literacy and culture.
• 🚫 Despite initial resistance, Hangul was eventually adopted in official documents in 1894 and is now used in both North and South Korea, with variations in the use of Chinese characters (Hanja).

Q & A

Who was King Sejong the Great and what dynasty did he rule?

King Sejong the Great was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. He was known for his significant contributions to Korean culture and governance.

What was King Sejong's relationship to King Tejong and Queen Juan Gyeon?

King Sejong was the third son of King Tejong and Queen Juan Gyeon. Initially, his older brother Ije was the heir to the throne, but King Tejong later changed the succession to Sejong.

What significant invention is attributed to King Sejong?

King Sejong is most famously known for inventing Hangul, the native phonetic writing system for the Korean language.

What was the original name of Hangul as mentioned in the script?

The original name of Hangul was 'Hunmin Jeongeum', which translates to 'the correct or proper sounds for the instruction of the people'.

Why did King Sejong create Hangul?

King Sejong created Hangul to promote literacy among the common people, as classical Chinese was difficult to learn and limited to the privileged classes.

How many basic letters are there in the Hangul alphabet?

There are 24 basic letters in Hangul, consisting of 14 consonant letters and 10 vowel letters.

What is the significance of Hangul Day in South Korea?

Hangul Day, celebrated on October 9th in South Korea, commemorates the creation of Hangul and its introduction to the public by King Sejong.

What was the initial reaction of the noble class to Hangul?

The noble class initially disapproved of Hangul, fearing it would allow peasants to read and write, potentially finding loopholes in the law and threatening their position in court.

When was Hangul first adopted in official documents in Korea?

Hangul was first adopted in official documents in 1894, long after King Sejong's time.

How is Hangul different from the Chinese characters previously used in Korea?

Hangul is a phonetic alphabet designed to match the Korean language's sounds, unlike Chinese characters which were logographic and did not align well with Korean pronunciation.

What is the modern status of Hangul in North and South Korea?

Hangul is the official writing system in both North and South Korea. North Korea has banned the use of Hanja (Chinese characters), while South Korea still uses Hanja in some publications and for writing names.