The Origins of the Choson Dynasty

by John B. Duncan

Overview

The Origins of the Choson Dynasty provides an exhaustive analysis of the structure and composition of Korea's central officialdom during the transition from the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) to the Choson dynasty (1392-1910) and offers a new interpretation of the history of traditional Korea.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780295805337
Publisher:	University of Washington Press
Publication date:	05/01/2014
Series:	Korean Studies of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	408
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

John Duncan is professor of pre-modern Korean history and director of the Center for Korea Studies at UCLA.

Table of Contents

	List of Tables	viii
	List of Genealogical Charts	x
	Acknowledgments	xi
	Introduction	3
1	The Koryo Political System	11
2	The Rise of a Central Bureaucratic Aristocracy	52
3	The Yangban in the Change of Dynasties	99
4	Institutional Crisis in the Late Koryo	154
5	Reform and Dynastic Change	204
6	The Ideology of Reform	237
7	Some Final Considerations	266
	Notes	285
	Korean Dynasties and Kings	325
	Glossary of Korean, Chinese, and Japanese Terms	329
	Bibliography	357
	Index	375

What People are Saying About This

Martina Deuchler

"Duncan has assembled the fullest evidence to date."

From the Publisher

"A landmark study . . . an original and mature work of research."—James B. Palais, University of Washington

"Duncan has assembled the fullest evidence to date."—Martina Deuchler, University of London

James B. Palais

"A landmark study . . . an original and mature work of research."

Editorial Reviews

"A work of profound scholarship and meticulous research, this book is an extremely important study on an important subject and should be indispensable reading for anyone interested in the history of the Koryo and Choson dynasties. It is also an excellent comparative study of aspects of East Asian history and institutions."

— Korean Studies

From the Publisher

Duncan (UCLA) uses statistical data from primary sources to challenge the common scholarly view that Korea's Choson dynasty (1392-1910) was established by a new socioeconomic class of scholar-officials who overthrew the capital-based aristocracy of the Koryo dynasty. Instead, Duncan shows that continuity in the structure and composition of the central ruling class was a key feature of the transition. He argues that the main force behind the shift was not revolution, but the need to revamp institutions to protect the interests of the aristocracy. With 26 tables and 10 genealogical charts as well as a lengthy glossary of Korean, Chinese, and Japanese place names, descent groups, and general terms. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews