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

Loonytricky

11 Oct 202108:41

Summary

TLDRKing 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.

Outlines

00:00

👑 King Sejong the Great and the Creation of Hangul

King Sejong, also known as Sejong the Great, was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty and is celebrated for his significant contributions to Korean culture and governance. Born as Ido, he was the third son of King Tejong and Queen Juan Gyeon. Initially, his older brother was the heir to the throne, but King Tejong later changed the succession to Ido, who then became the Grand Prince Chunyung. Sejong ascended to the throne in 1418, with his father acting as regent until his death in 1422. Sejong is most renowned for inventing Hangul, the Korean alphabet, which was designed to promote literacy among the common people. He also encouraged scientific and technological development and implemented economic measures. The creation of Hangul was a groundbreaking achievement, as it provided a phonetic writing system for the Korean language, which was previously written using Classical Chinese. Hangul's design is based on the shapes made by the mouth, tongue, and teeth when producing sounds, making it an easy-to-learn alphabet. The term 'Hangul' was coined in 1912 and means 'Great Script' or 'Korean Script'. The original alphabet included 24 basic letters, with 14 consonants and 10 vowels, and 27 complex letters formed by combining these. Four of the original letters are no longer in use.

05:02

📜 The Publication and Evolution of Hangul

King Sejong completed his work on Hangul in 1443 and published it in 1446 with a 33-page manual titled 'Hunmin Jeong-eum', which translates to 'The Correct Sounds for the Instruction of the People'. The manual detailed the letters, their philosophy, and the motives behind their creation, asserting that Hangul could be learned in a few days. Despite its simplicity, Hangul faced opposition from the noble class, who feared it would enable the lower classes to read and write, potentially finding loopholes in the law and threatening their privileged positions. The elite continued to use Chinese characters (Hanja) even after Sejong's death, and Hangul was often treated with contempt, earning the nickname 'Ae-gu-eum' or 'vulgar script'. However, Hangul gained popularity among women and fiction writers. In 1504, King Yeon-sang-gun banned the study and publication of Hangul after a critical document was published against him. The ban was lifted, and Hangul was adopted in official documents for the first time in 1894. The definitive modern Korean alphabet manual was published in 1946 and has been in use in both North and South Korea since then, with North Korea banning the use of Hanja and South Korea still incorporating it in certain publications and for writing names.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡King Sejong

King Sejong, also known as Sejong the Great, was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. He is a central figure in the video script, renowned for his contributions to Korean culture and governance. The script highlights his ascension to the throne in 1418 and his role in inventing Hangul, the Korean alphabet, which is a significant part of the video's theme.

💡Joseon Dynasty

The Joseon Dynasty was a Korean kingdom that lasted from 1392 to 1910. It is the historical context of the video, setting the stage for King Sejong's reign and achievements. The script discusses the political structure during this period, including the roles of the king and his advisors.

💡Hangul

Hangul is the native phonetic writing system for the Korean language, invented by King Sejong. The script describes its creation as a means to promote literacy among the common people, making it a key element of the video's narrative. Hangul's design and the ease of learning it are emphasized, illustrating its importance in democratizing education and communication in Korea.

💡Hunmin Jeongeum

Hunmin Jeongeum, also known as 'The Correct Sounds for the Instruction of the People,' is the name of the manual published by King Sejong in 1446 to explain the new alphabet, Hangul. The script mentions this manual as evidence of King Sejong's intention to make the alphabet accessible and easy to learn for all Koreans.

💡Chosungul

Chosungul is the North Korean name for the Korean alphabet, Hangul. The script briefly touches on the different names used for the alphabet in North and South Korea, indicating the political and cultural differences between the two regions.

💡Hanja

Hanja refers to Chinese characters used in the Korean writing system before the creation of Hangul. The script explains that due to the differences between the Korean and Chinese languages, and the complexity of learning Chinese characters, literacy was limited to the privileged classes. King Sejong's invention of Hangul aimed to overcome these barriers.

💡Jamo

Jamo are the basic letters of the Hangul alphabet, consisting of 14 consonant letters and 10 vowel letters. The script describes how these Jamo are combined to form syllabic blocks, which are then strung together to write words. This system is highlighted as one of the reasons why Hangul is considered a scientific and efficient writing system.

💡Syllabic Blocks

Syllabic blocks in Hangul are formed by combining Jamo letters. The script explains that these blocks are the fundamental unit of the writing system, allowing for the construction of words in a logical and systematic manner. This feature of Hangul is presented as an example of its simplicity and efficiency.

💡Hunmin Jungum

Hunmin Jungum is another term used in the script to refer to the manual that King Sejong published to explain Hangul. It underscores the king's desire to make the alphabet easy to learn and use for the benefit of the people, which is a central theme of the video.

💡Hangul Day

Hangul Day, celebrated on October 9th in South Korea, commemorates the invention of Hangul. The script mentions this holiday as a testament to the enduring significance of King Sejong's creation and its impact on Korean culture and national identity.

💡Edu

The term 'Edu' is not explicitly mentioned in the script, but it seems to be a typographical error for 'Eo', which means 'vowel' in Korean. The script discusses the creation of vowels in Hangul, using dots and lines to represent heaven, earth, and humanity, which is a unique aspect of the alphabet's design.

Highlights

King Sejong the Great was the fourth king of the Joseon dynasty and inventor of Hangul, the Korean alphabet.

Sejong was initially not the heir apparent but became the crown prince after his brother's title was stripped.

His reign began in 1418, with his father acting as regent until 1422.

Sejong is celebrated for his contributions to science, technology, and economic measures.

He believed in a well-rounded ruler with broad knowledge and the ability to recognize talent.

Sejong implemented policies for colonization and defense against Japanese pirate raids.

Hangul was created to promote literacy among the common people, who were mostly illiterate due to the complexity of Chinese characters.

Hangul consists of 14 basic consonant letters and 10 vowel letters, with additional complex letters formed by combinations.

The design of Hangul letters is based on the shapes made by the mouth, tongue, and teeth during speech.

Hangul is structured in syllabic blocks, making it easy to learn and read.

King Sejong completed Hangul in 1443 and published it in 1446 with a manual titled 'Hunmin Jeongeum'.

The creation of Hangul was initially met with resistance from the noble class, who feared it would undermine their status.

Hangul was popular among women and fiction writers but was banned for a time due to political reasons.

Hangul was first adopted in official documents in 1894 and became the definitive modern Korean alphabet.

North Korea banned the use of Hanja, while South Korea still uses it alongside Hangul in certain contexts.

October 9th is celebrated as Hangul Day in South Korea.

Sejong's work on Hangul aimed to make written communication accessible to all, regardless of social status.