Korean nobility

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Korean monarchy and native nobility existed in Korea until the end of the Japanese occupation. In Imperial Korea, nobles continued to hold noble titles, which included che, wang and kun.

Sources

As the Benedictines and other monastical orders did during Europe's Dark Ages, the Buddhist monks became the purveyors and guardians of Korea's literary traditions while documenting Korea's written history and legacies from the Silla period to the end of the Goryeo dynasty. Korean Buddhist monks also developed and used the first movable metal type printing presses in history—some 500 years before Gutenberg[citation needed]—to print ancient Buddhist texts. Buddhist monks also engaged in record keeping, food storage and distribution, as well as the ability to exercise power by influencing the Goryeo royal court.

Ruler and princely styles

Original titles

The monarchs of Goguryeo adopted the title of "Taewang", the literal translation of the title is the Great king. The early monarchs of Silla have used the title of "Geoseogan", "Chachaung", "Isageum", and finally "Maripgan" until 503. This follows from an earlier tradition when Korean kings were styled either Han or Kan, which are cognates of the Turkic khan. Marip originally meant the highest, and gan meant rulers. In addition, Baekje used the title of "Eoraha", "Ha" meaning "rulers" and "Eora" meaning "the largest".[1][2][3][4][5]

Emperor

The rulers of Korea adopted the title Je (제; 帝), or emperor during the Goryeo. The title was revived for less than two decades during the Korean Empire.

Kings

Wang (Hangul: 왕; Hanja: 王), or king, was a Chinese royal style used in many states rising from the dissolution of Gojoseon, Buyeo, Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla and Balhae, Goryeo. The monarchs of Goguryeo used the title Taewang, meaning the "Great king". In late Goryeo (918-1392) and the Joseon Dynasty (until 1897) the rulers of Korea were still known as "kings", as evident in the title of King Sejong the Great. However, they were referred to by their temple names.

Prince

Gun (군; 君) is translated as "prince". The Royal Prince born of the Principal Royal consort (Queen) was designated Daegun, translated as the Grand Prince of the Blood. The princes born of concubine was given the title gun (often distinguished as wangja-gun), translated as the Prince of the Blood. The father of the king who himself has never reigned was given the special title of Daewongun (The Grand Prince of the Blood in the Court).

Those who has distinguished himself in the service of the court were also given the princely title as well. Buwongun (The Grand Prince of the Court), were the title of the father of the Queen, or those who have reached the rank of the Chief State Counsellor. Gun was the title of the meritorious subjects who reached the rank of the State Counsellor. These princes created for service had a prefix attached to the princely title, a town that a subject is affiliated to. Though designed as a titular appointment as a Lord of the area, the title was purely honorific.

The title gun can also refer to the dethroned rulers of Chosŏn dynasty as well. There were three dethroned kings to be called "Gun" in Joseon Dynasty (one restored to the dignity of king posthumously).

Under the Korean Empire (1897–1910), the Prince of the Blood was given the title of Chinwang. While the literal translation is the Imperial King of the Blood, a more appropriate title is the Imperial Prince of the Blood. Only four chinwang were appointed.

Aristocracy Before Joseun

Silla

In Silla, the nobility was long split into two classes: sacred bone, which meant eligibility for the royal succession, and true bone, until the former was extinguished.

There also were several lower ranks of aristocracy under the empire, similar to those in China, with ranks descending generationally, by one degree with each succeeding heir to a title, with the exception of Gun and Kong. These were the seven main grades, with tentative Western equivalents, in descending order:

  • Gun, Prince.
  • Gong, Duke, This was the title given to the Progenitor of the major branches of a clan.
  • Champ'an, Marquis.
  • Poguk, Count.
  • Pansŏ, Viscount.
  • Chamise, Baron.
  • Chusa, somewhat similar to the British Baronet.

Goryeo

At the time of Goryeo, Korean nobility was divided into 6 classes.

  • Gukgong (國公), Duke of a nation
  • Gungong (郡公), Duke of a county
  • Hyeonhu (縣侯), Marquis of a town
  • Hyeonbaek (縣伯), Count of a town
  • Gaegukja (開國子), Viscount of a town
  • Hyeonnam (縣男), Baron of a town

Also the title Taeja (hangul: 태자, hanja: 太子) was given to sons of emperor not like other east Asian countries. In other countries, this title meant crown prince. It was similar to Chinwang (hangul: 친왕, hanja: 親王) of the Korean Empire.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 이도학, 백제사 (History of Paekje), 2005, ISBN 89-89899-57-5
  2. ↑ 도수희, 백제왕칭어에 대하여: 어라하 , 건길지 , 구드래 , 구다라를 중심으로 (Concerning the title of Baekje's rulers: Ŏraha, Kŏgilji, Kudŭrae and Kudara), 한국언어문학, 11, 244-247 (1973)
  3. ↑ 도수희, 백제어 연구 II (Study of Pakeje Language II, 백제문화개발연구원(1989)
  4. ↑ 도수희, 백제어 연구 III (Study of Paekje Language III) (1994), 백제문화개발연구원
  5. ↑ 도수희, 존칭의 비(卑)칭화에 대하여 (Concerning honorific titles and humble names), 한국현대언어학회 특강논문 (1998)

External links

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