A History of Korea (116 page)

Authors: Jinwung Kim

1290	Territory under administration of Tongny ŏ ng-bu returned to Kory ŏ
1294	Territory under jurisdiction of T’amna ch’onggwan-bu returned to Kory ŏ
1356	Kory ŏ , by military force, recovers territory under administration of Ssangs ŏ ng Ch’onggwan-bu
1359	Chinese Red Turbans invade Kory ŏ
1361	Red Turbans again invade Kory ŏ
1364	Mun Ik-j ŏ m secretly brings cotton seeds to Kory ŏ from Yuan
1376	Ch’oe Y ŏ ng demolishes Japanese pirates at Hongsan
1377	Ch’oe Mu-s ŏ n persuades government to manufacture cannon and gunpowder; oldest extant book printed by movable metal type, Chikchi simch’e yoj ŏ l, appears
1380	Yi S ŏ ng-gye annihilates Japanese pirates at Unbong
March 1388	Chinese Ming demands the “return” of Kory ŏ ’s northeastern territory
April 1388	Kory ŏ determines to invade Liaodong region of Manchuria
May 1388	Yi S ŏ ng-gye, deputy commander of Kory ŏ forces, marches troops back from Wihwa-do, seizing power
June 1388	Yi S ŏ ng-gye deposes King U and enthrones King Ch’ang
February 1389	Pak Wi leads direct assault on Japanese pirates’lair on Tsushima
November 1389	Yi S ŏ ng-gye deposes King Ch’ang and enthrones King Kongyang
June 1391	Yi S ŏ ng-gye promulgates Kwaj ŏ ngp ŏ p, basic statute for land reform
August 1392	Yi S ŏ ng-gye ascends throne as T’aejo, ending Kory ŏ dynasty and founding Chos ŏ n dynasty
November 1394	Chos ŏ n moves capital to Hanyang
September 1398	Yi Pang-w ŏ n kills his younger half-brother, the crown prince, and seizes power
October 1398	T’aejo abdicates throne to King Ch ŏ ngjong
February 1400	Yi Pang-w ŏ n defeats his elder brother, Yi Pang-gan, militarily
December 1400	King Ch ŏ ngjong abdicates throne to Yi Pang-w ŏ n who ascends the throne as T’aejong
September 1418	King Sejong ascends the throne
July 1419	Yi Chong-mu attacks Tsushima, den of Japanese pirates.
1426	Chos ŏ n opens three ports along southeast coast to Japanese, granting limited trade privileges
May 1433	Ch’oe Yun-d ŏ k and Yi Ch’ ŏ n establish four outposts along upper Yalu River
November 1437	Kim Chong-s ŏ establishes six garrison forts in northeastern part of Korean peninsula.
September 1441	Chang Y ŏ ng-sil and Yi Ch’ ŏ n invent the world’s first pluviometer
October 1446	King Sejong completes han’g ŭ l, Korea’s written alphabet
September 1451	Kory ŏ sa compiled
March 1452	Kory ŏ sa ch ŏ ryo compiled
July 1456	King Sejo kills six martyred subjects who opposed his usurpation of the throne and plotted to depose him
November 1457	King Sejo kills his young nephew, King Tanjong
November 1470	King S ŏ ngjong completes Ky ŏ ngguk taej ŏ n
August 1498	“Literati Purge of 1498”
November 1504	“Literati Purge of 1504”
May 1510	Armed uprising by Japanese residing at the three ports of Pusanp’o, Naeip’o, and Y ŏ mp’o.
July 1517	Piby ŏ nsa is established and empowered to deal with all matters of defense and security
December 1519	“Literati Purge of 1519”
December 1543	Chu Se-bung establishes the Paekundong s ŏ w ŏ n, the first of its kind, at P’unggi, Ky ŏ ngsang province
September 1545	“Literati Purge of 1545”
September 1575	Factional strife between Easterners and Westerners begins.
May 1592	158,000 Japanese forces launch surprise attack on Chos ŏ n, heralding the start of war
June 1592	Japanese forces occupy Seoul.
June-October 1592	Yi Sun-sin gains decisive naval victories over Japanese navy, seizing control of the sea and separating Japanese forces in Chos ŏ n from their homeland
November 1592	Chos ŏ n forces, commanded by Kim Si-min, defeat major Japanese force at Chinju
January 1593	40,000-strong Ming Chinese relief army arrives in Chos ŏ n
March 1593	Chos ŏ n forces, under Kw ŏ n Yul, defeat major Japanese force at Haengju
September 1593	Japanese and Ming forces withdraw from Chos ŏ n
February 1597	141,000 Japanese forces again invade Chos ŏ n
August 1597	Yi Sun-sin dismissed as commander-in-chief of Chos ŏ n naval forces, replaced by W ŏ n Kyun
August 1597	Yi Sun-sin reinstated after W ŏ n Kyun’s death
October 1597	Yi Sun-sin, with only 12 remaining warships, achieves victory over Japanese flotilla at My ŏ ngnyang
December 1598	Japanese forces in full-scale retreat, ending the war
February 1627	Later Jin of Manchus invades Chos ŏ n
April 1627	Chos ŏ n reaches agreement with Later Jin
January 1637	Qing, formerly Later Jin, invades Chos ŏ n again
February 1637	King Injo capitulates to Qing emperor Taizong at Samj ŏ ndo
January 1709	Taedongp ŏ p enforced throughout the country, abolishing tribute tax system
August 1750	Kyuny ŏ kp ŏ p enacted, reducing “military cloth tax” from two cotton bolts to one per year
March 1801	“Catholic Persecution of 1801”
February 1805	Kim Cho-sun holds reins of government, heralding royal in-law government by Andong Kim clan
January 1812	Hong Ky ŏ ng-nae rebels
August 1839	“Catholic Persecution of 1839”
May 1860	Ch’oe Che-u founds Tonghak
March 1862	Peasant uprising at Chinju; succession of riots follow in three southern provinces.
January 1864	Taew ŏ n’gun takes the reins of government, as son ascends the throne as King Kojong
February 1866	“Catholic Persecution of 1866”
August 1866	U.S. schooner General Sherman destroyed and crew members killed
October 1866	“Western Disturbance of 1866”; French force invades Kanghwa-do, carrying off gold, silver, and precious books
April 1871	Taew ŏ n’gun closes all s ŏ w ŏ n but 47
May-June 1871	“Western Disturbance of 1871”; U.S. naval expedition joins battle with Chos ŏ n force on Kanghwa-do
26 February 1876	Chos ŏ n concludes Treaty of Kanghwa (Friendship Treaty) with Japan, opens doors to outside world
22 May 1882	Chos ŏ n and the United States conclude Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce, and Navigation
19 July 1882	Revolt of old-line soldiers against reformative government
2 August 1882	Chos ŏ n government requests Chinese troops to suppress military mutiny
10 August 1882	Chinese forces arrive at Inch’ ŏ n
30 August 1882	Chos ŏ n and japan conclude Treaty of Chemulp’o (Inch’on); leaders of military mutiny are punished and Japan stations guards at its legation in Seoul
20 September 1882	Chos ŏ n sends delegation, headed by Pak Y ŏ ng-hyo, to Japan to formally apologize; Chos ŏ n delegation takes present-day South Korean national flag, T’aeg ŭ kki
6 March 1883	T’aeg ŭ kki formally adopted as national flag
8 July 1883	Diplomatic mission, led by Min Y ŏ ng-ik, dispatched to United States
26 November 1883	Chos ŏ n signs trade and commerce treaties with Great Britain and Germany
7 July 1884	Chos ŏ n signs trade and commerce treaty with Russia
4 December 1884	Members of Kaehwadang, led by Kim Ok-kyun and allied with Japan, stage coup d’état, killing and wounding several Sadaedang senior officials
5 December 1884	Progressive Kaehwadang members form new government, formulate program of reform
6 December 1884	Chinese forces attack and defeat Japanese forces that assisted in Kaehwadang coup
11 December 1884	Kim Ok-kyun and other Kaehwadang members escape to Japan
9 January 1885	Chos ŏ n and Japan conclude Treaty of Hans ŏ ng (Seoul) for indemnities to Japanese victims of Kaehwadang coup and compensation for rebuilding Japanese legation
15 April 1885	Great Britain occupies K ŏ mun-do off south coast of Ch ŏ lla province to use against Russia, names it “Fort Hamilton”
31 May 1885	China and Japan conclude Convention of Tianjin, calling for troops of both countries to be withdrawn from Chos ŏ n and requiring prior notification when troops are to be dispatched to Chos ŏ n
4 June 1886	Chos ŏ n signs a trade and commerce treaty with France
1 March 1887	Great Britain withdraws its forces from K ŏ mun-do
15 February 1894	Start of Tonghak peasant war
10-11 May 1894	Tonghak peasant forces defeat government troops at Hwangt’ohy ŏ n hill
31 May 1894	Tonghak peasant forces occupy Ch ŏ nju, provincial capital of Ch ŏ lla province
1 June 1894	Chos ŏ n government formally requests Chinese military assistance to suppress Tonghak peasant rebellion
8 June 1894	Chinese and Japanese forces land, respectively, at Asan Bay and Inch’ ŏ n
10 June 1894	Chos ŏ n government and Tonghak forces conclude the “Peace of Ch ŏ nju”; Japanese forces enter Seoul

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