King Sejong His Life and Achievements part 2 | Joseon Dynasty 4 [History of Korea]

Summary

King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty is celebrated for inventing Hangul, the Korean alphabet. His reign saw significant reforms in education, military technology, and agriculture. He suppressed Buddhism, promoted Confucian values, and supported scientific advancements. Sejong's efforts in calendar reform and medical treatises contributed to Korea's cultural identity, distinguishing it from China and Japan.

Takeaways

• 👑 King Sejong was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty and is most famous for inventing Hangul, the Korean alphabet.
• 🎎 At age 11, Sejong married Lady Shim, who later became Queen Sohan, and her father Shim On had significant influence in the kingdom.
• 🗣️ Sejong's reign began with a difficult year, including a conflict with his father-in-law's family, which ended in Shim On's execution.
• 🙏 Sejong continued his father's work to suppress Buddhism and reduce its influence in politics.
• 🌐 In 1427, Sejong ordered that Central Asian Muslims be treated like all other Koreans, ending their special status.
• 💰 Sejong attempted to introduce a new currency, the Joseon Tongbo, but it was abandoned due to high production costs.
• 🛡️ He supported military advancements, including the development of cannons and other weaponry to combat Japanese pirate incursions.
• 🔍 Sejong was a patron of science and established the Hall of Worthies to encourage scholarly pursuits.
• 📚 He authored 'The Non-Slips on Agriculture' to improve farming techniques and increase agricultural productivity.
• 🌧️ The first well-known rain gauge, the Chigugi, was invented during Sejong's reign by his scholar, Jang Yong-shil.
• 📅 Sejong reformed the Korean calendar to make it more accurate for predicting eclipses and other astronomical events.
• 🌿 Two important traditional Korean medicine books were written during his reign, marking an effort to develop a distinct medical system from China.

Q & A

Who was King Sejong and what is he most famous for?

King Sejong was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty. He is most famous for inventing the Hunmin Jeongeum, better known as Hangul, the Korean alphabet.

Who did King Sejong marry and who was her father?

King Sejong married Lady Shim, later known as Queen Sohan, whose father was Shim On, who became the chief state counselor in 1418.

What happened to Shim On and his family due to political conflicts?

Shim On was accused of treason, arrested, tortured, and executed. This was allegedly a plot by Pak Un, the left state counselor and rival of Shim On. King Sejong's father, King Taejong, also played a role in this due to his conservative views on power.

How did King Sejong's first year on the throne prove to be?

King Sejong's first year on the throne was quite difficult due to the political turmoil involving his father-in-law, Shim On, and the purge of the Shim family.

What was King Sejong's stance on Buddhism?

King Sejong continued his father's work in suppressing Buddhism, reducing the number of schools and seizing temple lands for redistribution.

What was the Joseon Tongbo and why was it discontinued?

The Joseon Tongbo was a bronze coin backed by a silver standard that King Sejong attempted to introduce from 1423 to 1425. It was discontinued because it was too expensive to produce.

How did King Sejong's reign affect relations with Japan?

King Sejong's reign saw the signing of the Treaty of Gerhei in 1443, which granted the daimyo of Tsushima exclusive rights to trade with Joseon in exchange for help in stopping Japanese pirate raids.

What was the Hall of Worthies and what was its purpose?

The Hall of Worthies, created by King Sejong in 1420, was a collection of Joseon's best and brightest thinkers. It was meant to encourage young scholars to attend by offering grants and scholarships.

What was the significance of the Nonghyup Chipo and who wrote it?

The Nonghyup Chipo was a book written by King Sejong that contained information about different farming techniques for various regions of the kingdom, aiming to help farmers improve their agricultural practices.

What innovations did Zhang Yongshil contribute during King Sejong's reign?

Zhang Yongshil invented new designs for water clocks, armillary spheres, and sundials. He also made the Chigugi, the first well-known rain gauge, and the Kabinja, a printing press that was twice as fast as previous models.

How did King Sejong's reforms impact traditional Korean medicine?

During King Sejong's reign, two important traditional Korean medicine treatises were written, the Hyangyak Chipongbang and the Uibang Yuchui, which represented an effort to develop a system of medical knowledge based on local herbal plants and suitable for Korean climates and constitution.

What social reforms did King Sejong implement regarding slaves and common people?

King Sejong enacted laws to help slaves and common people, granting nobi women 100 days of maternity leave after childbirth in 1426 and husbands 30 days of paternity leave in 1434.