Corea, the Hermit Nation

Published in 1882, this accessible history of Korea provided for an English-speaking audience a general introduction to this mysterious country.

William Elliot Griffis (Author)

9781108080491, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 January 2015

498 pages, 22 b/w illus. 27 maps
21.7 x 14 x 2.9 cm, 0.65 kg

Described as a 'hermit nation' because it isolated itself from the rest of the world, Korea remained very little known to English speakers in the late nineteenth century. During his time in Japan, the American author and educator William Elliot Griffis (1843–1928), who did much to foster understanding between the United States and Japan, became fascinated by Korea and its influence on Japanese history and culture. This historical outline of Korea is compiled from printed sources and eyewitness accounts rather than from personal experience since Griffis was yet to visit Korea at this point. Despite this, and the fact that he was sometimes criticised for presenting Korea in comparison with Japan, this book was well received. First published in 1882, it contains an annotated bibliography and features maps and illustrations throughout. Griffis' most famous work on Japan, The Mikado's Empire (1877), is also reissued in this series.

Preface
Bibliography
Part I. Ancient and Mediaeval History: 1. The Corean peninsula
2. The old kingdom of Cho-sen
3. The Fuyu race and their migrations
4. Sam-han, or southern Corea
5. Epoch of the three kingdoms - Hiaksai
6. Epoch of the three kingdoms - Korai
7. Epoch of the three kingdoms - Shinra
8. Japan and Corea
9. Korai, or united Corea
10. Cathay, Zipangu, and the Mongols
11. New Cho-sen
12. Events leading to the Japanese invasion
13. The invasion - on to Seoul
14. The campaign in the north
15. The retreat from Seoul
16. Cespedes, the Christian chaplain
17. Diplomacy at Kioto and Peking
18. The second invasion
19. The siege of Uru-san castle
20. Changes after the invasion
21. The Issachar of eastern Asia
22. The Dutchmen in exiles
Part II. Political and Social Corea: 23. The eight provinces
24. The king and royal palace
25. Political parties
26. Organization and methods of government
27. Feudalism, serfdom, and society
28. Social life, woman and the family
29. Child life
30. Housekeeping, diet, and costume
31. Mourning and burial
32. Outdoor life, characters and employments
33. Shamanism and mythical zoology
34. Legends and folklore
35. Proverbs and pithy sayings
36. The Corean tiger
37. Religion
38. Education and culture
Part III. Modern and Recent History: 39. The beginnings of Christianity
40. Persecution and martyrdom, 1801–34
41. The entrance of the French missionaries, 1835–45
42. The walls of isolation sapped
43. The French expedition
44. American relations with Corea
45. A body-snatching expedition
46. Our little war with the heathen
47. The ports opened to Japanese commerce
48. The year of the treaties
Appendix
Index.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]