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Post by MTR on May 27, 2012 19:22:09 GMT -5
Thanks truth . Can you elaborate on 21 seems like Choi Seung Ro was trying to keep the population in check by limiting bastard children ..just a thought .
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Post by truth on May 27, 2012 19:39:44 GMT -5
Thanks truth . Can you elaborate on 21 seems like Choi Seung Ro was trying to keep the population in check by limiting bastard children ..just a thought . The book just says limiting the number of sexual intercourse and nothing more. I think it's just a Confucian thing.
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Post by truth on May 31, 2012 0:48:37 GMT -5
Seo Hee was born in 943 as the second son of Seo Pil, the Minister of Domestic Affairs during Gwangjong's rule. His birth name was Seo Yeom Yoon, but he changed his name to Seo Hee later. On the 11th year of Gwangjong's rule, Seo Hee passed the civil service exam at the age of 18.
On 972, Seo Hee went to Song dynasty China to restore the diplomatic relations that had been severed for more than 10 years. On 993, he was appointed as the Middle Commander to fight the Khitans off. The Khitans established the Liao Dynasty during this time and threatened Song, Jurchens, and Koryo. Koryo refused to make any diplomatic relationship with the Khitans, so the Khitans invaded with 800,000 troops under the command of Xiao Xunning, the Governor of Tungjing. Koryo vowed to punish them and sent Seo Hee, Park Yang Yu, and Choi Ryang to fight them off. Emperor Sungjong himself encamped in Seo Gyung(Pyongyang).
Xiao Xunning sent Koryo a letter after conquering a border town Bongsan. He insisted that they had the rights to Goguryeo's old territories, because they conquered Balhae(which claimed to be the New Goguryeo). Sungjong sent Yi Mongjeon to negotiate peace. However, Xiao Xunning responded that he would only take surrender for an answer.
Some people got scared and suggested "giving back" Goguryeo's old territories. Sungjong agreed, so he ordered the giveaway of all rices in Seo Gyung, the capital of Goguryeo, to the peasants. Any remaining rice in the city after the peasants received their portions would be thrown away to Daedong River.
Seo Hee opposed Sungjong's order by claiming "the wins and losses of war do not depend on the number of soldiers. Knowing the weakness of an enemy can lead to victory, so why would you order something like that? Food is critical for the survival of our peasants, so they should not be thrown into water."
Sungjong canceled his order after hearing Seo Hee's claim. Seo Hee then insisted that Goguryeo's old territories should not be given away and that Koreans should fight until the end. Yi Ji Back supported Seo Hee's argument as well.
Xiao Xunning attacked the Ahn Yoong Fortress when Koryo did not respond to him for a long time. However, he was defeated by Dae Dosu, the son of Balhae's last Crown Prince Dae Gwang Hyun, and Yu Bang.
Xiao Xunning did not attack anymore after losing at Ahn Yoong Fortress, but he continued to demand surrender from Koryo.
Sungjong sent Seo Hee in reponse. When Seo Hee arrived at the Khitan camp, Xiao Xunning told him to bow down to him. Seo Hee refused Xiao's suggestion by saying "I will only bow down to a ruler of country, not someone of equal rank as me." Xiao Xunning kept asking Seo Hee to bow down to him, but Seo Hee did not listen to him. Xiao Xunning had no choice but to talk to him on an "equal status."
Xiao Xunning made 2 points :
1. The Khitans insisted that they had the rights to Goguryeo's old territories, because they conquered Balhae(which claimed to be the New Goguryeo).
2. Liao and Koryo share a border, so why does Koryo befriend Song and not Liao?
Seo Hee's answers were :
1. Koryo/Goryo was the New Goguryo/Koguryo(just take out the "gu" and you get Koryo/Goryo). Goguryeo's old capital Pyongyang was also Koryo's western capital(Koryo had 4 capitals with Kaesung being the main capital. Seoul[Baekjae capital] was the southern capital and Kyungju[Shilla capital] was the eastern capital). The Khitan eastern capital Liao Hsiang should belong to Koryo, because it was Goguryeo's old territory.
2. Koryo could not befriend Liao, because the Jurchens are blocking the way. If you wish to establish a diplomatic relation, you should get rid of the Jurchens first.
Xiao Xunning could not refute against Seo Hee's arguments, so he got a permission from the Khitan emperor to end the war and negotiate peace. Xiao Xunning promised that Khitans would not interfere in Koryo's annihilation of the Jurchens and gave away six Khitan states without fighting.
When Seo Hee returned to the palace, Sungjong ordered Park Yang Yu to go to Liao for establishing diplomatic relation. Seo Hee opposed Sungjong's order by saying "I made a promise with Xiao Xunning. It would not be too late to establish relations with Liao after wiping the Jurchens off."
On 996, Seo Hee retired after getting ill. He stayed at Kaeguk Temple until he died at the age of 56 on 998.
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Post by ajk on May 31, 2012 11:00:47 GMT -5
Great stuff; thanks, truth. I learned a little about this guy during Iron Empress. He's certainly an interesting historical figure, and the actor playing him did a good job.
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Post by MTR on May 31, 2012 19:43:03 GMT -5
Yes this is so refreshing to read this and being a History Junkie what Truth has provided is better than any text written in Eng Language and i really give you utmost thanks Truth for taking the time to provide these translations .
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Post by TheBo on Jun 1, 2012 10:56:57 GMT -5
Ditto what DYC said.
Bo
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Post by truth on Jun 1, 2012 20:11:39 GMT -5
ajk, DYC, TheBo. Thank you so much guys! Here's the next part. Annals of Emperor Mokjong(980-1009. R.997-1009) Mokjong was the first son of Emperor Kyungjong and his third wife Empress Hunae. His name was Song. Sungjong suceeded Kyungjong, because Song was only 2 on the time of Kyungjong's death. Sungjong didn't have a son, so he chose Song as the successor when he died on 997. Song became the emperor at the age of 18. His temple name was Mokjong. Empress Hunae ruled as a regent and called her boyfriend Kim Chi Yang into the palace to stay with her. Kim Chi Yang was exiled during Sungjong's rule for having an affair with Hunae. Empress Hunae then changed her name to Empress Dowager Cheonchu. Kim Chi Yang eventually rose to the higest position in the government, so people all over Koryo hoping to get a government job came to his house to bribe him. Thanks to all the bribes, he built a mansion with 300 rooms, garden, pavillion, and pond. He partied and slept with Cheonchu day and night in his new mansion. He also forced peasants to build his ancestral shrine, so he became hated by many peasants. Mokjong didn't have any power due to Kim Chi Yang. He tried to kick Kim Chi Yang out, but Empress Cheonchu prevented him from doing so everytime he tried. Mokjong became a homosexual out of despair. His boyfriend was Yu Hangan, who was unusually "beautiful." Mokjong fell instantly in love with Yu Hangan. Yu Hangan eventually rose to a highest position and gained the same power as Kim Chi Yang. Yu Hangan was basically the emperor. He sometimes even ordered people around with his eyes and chin. Yu Hangan introduced a Balhae man named Yu Choong Jeong to Mokjong. Yu Choong Jeong was also "beautiful," so he was soon loved by Mokjong as well. The two Yu's soon controlled every affairs of the country. On 1004, Empress Cheonchu gave birth to Kim Chi Yang's son. She decided to make this son as Mokjong's successor. Prior to this, her sister Empress Hun Jeong committed adultery with Wang Wook(Ahnjong, the half-brother of Emperor Gwangjong) in 991(10 years after Kyungjong's death). When Emperor Sungjong(Kyungjong's successor) found about her pregnancy, he exiled Wang Wook. On July of 992, Empress Hun Jeong gave birth to Emperor Hyunjong and died of labor pains. The son's name was Wang Soon. Wang Soon was named Prince Dae Ryang by Mokjong. Getting rid of Dae Ryang was the first thing that had to be done in order to make Cheonchu's new son as Mokjong's successor. Prince Dae Ryang became a monk and stayed in Shin Hyul Temple due to the pressure from Cheonchu. She sent assassins to Prince Dae Ryang and tried to poison him numerous times, but they all ended in failures. On the spring of 1009, Mokjong was weakened by the storm he endured in Soong Gyo Temple. When Cheonchu's room burned along with other parts of palace and storage during a Buddhist festival, Mokjong was so saddened that he became very ill. Kim Chi Yang and Cheonchu spent even more time trying to kill Prince Dae Ryang after Mokjong got sick, which all ended in failures. Yu Hangan and Yu Choong Jeong were basically the emperors and nobody else could see Mokjong except those two. Mokjong knew he was going to die soon, so he wanted to let Dae Ryang know that he was going to be the successor. When Yu Hangan opposed his idea, Mokjong secretly talked with Chae Choong Soon and Choi Hang(not to be confused with the dictator 230 years later) about the issue. He then sent Hwangbo Yui to bring Prince Dae Ryang to the palace. He also sent Yi Joo Jeong, who was Kim Chi Yang's closest friend, to the Northwest region and ordered the Governor of Seo Gyung(Pyongyang) Kang Jo to come to the palace. When Kang Jo left Seo Gyung and arrived at Yongcheon, a man named Choi Chang told Kang Jo that Kim Chi Yang and Cheonchu were calling Kang Jo to the palace in emperor's name so that they can kill him. Kang Jo also heard a rumor that Mokjong had already been killed by Kim Chi Yang. Kang Jo went back to Seo Gyung as a result. Cheonchu thought her plan would be ruined if Kang Jo came to Kaegyung, so she arranged an army to capture him. Kang Jo's father found about Cheonchu's plan and sent a letter to his son, which said "The emperor's dead. Come to the capital with your army and calm down this national crisis." Kang Jo left with his 5000 troops after reading his father's letter. He found out that emperor was still alive when he got to Pyungju. Kang Jo regretted bringing army, but it was too late. Kang Jo was a 'traitor.' One of his advisor insisted that they should just dethrone Mokjong, so Kang Jo sent a letter to the palace telling Mokjong to hide in Kwibup Temple. Kang Jo then invaded the palace with his army. Mokjong and his concubines, Empress Cheonchu, and Yu Choong Jeong hid in Bup Wang Temple. Kang Jo enthroned Prince Dae Ryang, who became Emperor Hyunjong. Kang Jo then executed 7 men including Yu Hangan, Kim Chi Yang, and his son. 30 men including Yi Joo Jeong were exiled. Mokjong ordered Choi Hang to ask Kang Jo for a horse. When Kang Jo gave him a horse, Mokjong got on the horse and left for Choongju. However, Kang Jo was worried that Mokjong might rebel later and sent him a poison to drink. When Mokjong refused to drink it, Kang Jo's men murdered Mokjong and made it look like he committed a suicide. When Kang Jo's men put Mokjong in a casket and sent him to Kang Jo, he held a funeral for Mokjong. Mokjong was 30 on the time of his death. Yi Jae Hyun, the author of the original History of Koryo(primary source), had this to say about Mokjong : "Mokjong and his mother almost ruined the imperial family. Ah! Mokjong's misfortune was actually not a misfortune!" Mokjong was cremated a month after his death. He was married to Empress Seonjeong, the daughter of Wang Kyu and Sungjong's first wife Empress Moondeok. He did not have any child with her, because he enjoyed homosexual relationship. Seonjeong's remains were enshrined in Mokjong's shrine after her death.
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Post by MTR on Jun 1, 2012 23:18:40 GMT -5
Really interesting and shows what KBS could have done with that stupid drama ,You read Truths text and you can imagine this would have made a great drama and really must question why KBS went the route they did .
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Post by sageuk on Jun 1, 2012 23:27:36 GMT -5
Three reasons
-They didn't care -They tried to appeal to a more modern crowd, with MMORPGs being rampant in Korea and probably to the feminists -They only knew how to follow certain cliche routes
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Post by ajk on Jun 2, 2012 0:08:30 GMT -5
Exactly my reaction, DYC. And it proves what I keep saying: Every time one of these shows disregards history rather than works with it within the story, it's a mistake because the real history would have made the series better.
sageuk, I think the cliche thing has a lot to do with it. And some overthinking, too--trying to over-anticipate what viewers will respond well to, rather than just telling a good story. And maybe the biggest thing is that it takes some cleverness and creativity to adapt the true story and make it work within this kind of series, and some of these writers just aren't up to it. Or don't care enough to put in the effort, like you said.
And poor Mokjong, everybody who saw the series remembers him as a nut-job who took drugs to allow himself to be gay. And who must have been crazy for never touching his hot wife (at least I thought she was). Rather than just letting the poor guy be gay and dealing with it as it was, which would have make a lot more sense.
To be fair to the series, they actually turned him into a pretty interesting character--a bright guy who got worn down and pounded on by other people's competing interests and motivations. But still, the real story would have made it all much better.
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Post by truth on Jun 2, 2012 9:56:54 GMT -5
Exactly my reaction, DYC. And it proves what I keep saying: Every time one of these shows disregards history rather than works with it within the story, it's a mistake because the real history would have made the series better. sageuk, I think the cliche thing has a lot to do with it. And some overthinking, too--trying to over-anticipate what viewers will respond well to, rather than just telling a good story. And maybe the biggest thing is that it takes some cleverness and creativity to adapt the true story and make it work within this kind of series, and some of these writers just aren't up to it. Or don't care enough to put in the effort, like you said. And poor Mokjong, everybody who saw the series remembers him as a nut-job who took drugs to allow himself to be gay. And who must have been crazy for never touching his hot wife (at least I thought she was). Rather than just letting the poor guy be gay and dealing with it as it was, which would have make a lot more sense. To be fair to the series, they actually turned him into a pretty interesting character--a bright guy who got worn down and pounded on by other people's competing interests and motivations. But still, the real story would have made it all much better. There is a controversy to whether Mokjong actually was a homosexual. Some historians think that Kang Jo forged Mokjong's account to justify his coup. History is written by victors after all. The reason why Mokjong might not have been a homosexual was because of all the concubines he had. If you read the translations above, it says Mokjong hid in a temple with his concubines. He would not have had any concubines if he was a homosexual. I forgot to mention this yesterday, but his favorite concubine was Lady Yoseokteok, whose maiden name was Kim. A man named Kim Yoong Dae claimed himself to be the descendant of King Wonsung of Shilla and enslaved 500 peasants. He bribed those new slaves to Lady Yoseokteok, Han In Gyung, and Kim Rak. When Mokjong found about this, he fined Lady Yoseokteok with 60,000g of bronze and exiled Han In Gyung and Kim Rak. Mokjong could have been a bisexual if his accounts about homosexual relationship was true.
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Post by MTR on Jun 3, 2012 4:41:32 GMT -5
Mokjong was one of the more interesting characters in that series . Because of Chae sira's great performance as Lady Jami in Haesin i was expecting more of the same .
Back to Mokjong probably was bisexual as at least in China and Japan it was not a big deal the various Korean Kingdoms on the whole seemed more Hetro .
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Post by truth on Jun 3, 2012 16:50:59 GMT -5
Emperor Sungjong hired a nanny to raise Wang Soon in the palace after banishing his father Wang Wook. The first word nanny taught to Soon was "father." When Sungjong visited a 2 year old Soon one day, Soon called him "father" and crawled up on his knee. Sungjong shed tears after seeing this and sent him back to his father.
On 996, Wang Wook died of disease. Wang Soon returned to the palace at the age of 5.
Empress Cheonchu sent assassins to kill Wang Soon numerous times while he was a monk in Shin Hyul Temple. Fortunately, an old monk digged a hole on the floor of Soon's room and put a bed above it to save Soon's life.
Cheonchu also sent a poisoned alcohol and poisoned food to eat. Wang Soon never ate them. He also wrote Mokjong numerous letters telling him to save his life.
Soon's letter often never got to Mokjong, because Yu Hangan received them and destroyed them. However, Yu Choong Jeong was able to give some of the letters to Mokjong.
When Kang Jo took over the palace, his men wanted to put an end to Koryo dynasty and enthrone Kang Jo as the new emperor. Kang Jo refused to do so and enthroned Wang Soon.
Annals of Emperor Hyunjong(992-1031. R.1009-1031)
Hyunjong became the emperor at the age of 18. The first thing Hyunjong did as emperor was getting rid of the music school and emancipating Mokjong's 100 concubines. He revived the Buddhist festivals banned during Sungjong's rule such as Buddha's Birthday festival and sent peasants who were forcefully moved to Northeastern region from Southern region back home.
Unfortunately, Hyunjong had to flee from palace shortly after becoming emperor due to the Khitan invasion.
On July of 1010, the Khitans sent Leung Ping and Na Lu Yun to Koryo and asked for the truth about Mokjong's death. Koryo sent Jin Jeok and Yoon Yeo to explain Mokjong's death, but the Khitans did not buy Koryo's explanation.
Hyunjong sent Kang Jo to Tongju with 300,000 troops to defend the border against possible Khitan invasion. On October of 1010, the Khitan emperor Shengzong himself led 400,000 troops into Koryo.
The Khitans first surrounded Heung Hwa Fortress and sent Yang Kyu a letter. The letter asked Koryo to surrender, arrest Kang Jo, and send him to the Khitans. The war began when Yang Kyu objected to the letter.
The Khitans conquered Kwakju and Seo Gyung(Pyongyang) just a month after the war began. On January of 1011, the Khitans conquered Kaegyung(capital city), destroyed the palace, and burned every houses. Hyunjong was hiding in Gwangju at the time, but he had to go all the way down to Naju in the southermost area of Korean peninsula after hearing that Khitans were coming down further south.
However, the Khitans had to retreat back north just 7 days after conquering Kaegyung due to efforts by Yang Kyu and Kim Sook Heung. The two died in action, but their guerilla tactics were very effective against the Khitans. Hyunjong returned back to Kaegyung on mid-February. Hyunjong rewarded everyone who fought against the Khitans and gave government jobs to peasants with huge contribution as well. He ordered the reconstruction of the palace in Kaegyung and Seo Gyung and Song Ahk Fortress.
The peace did not last very long as the eastern Jurchens invaded Koryo with 100 ships, but they were quickly defeated. On May of 1012, the eastern Jurchens invaded again, but they were quickly defeated by Moon Yeon and Kang Min Chum. Koryo was tired of war, so they asked Khitans for peace negotiations.
The Khitan emperor Shengzong wanted Hyunjong to come to Liao and bow down to him if he wanted peace. When Koryo refused to do so, Shengzong ordered his troops to take back the 6 states that was given to Koryo earlier. Koryo didn't want to lose those 6 states, so they told the Khitans that Hyunjong couldn't go because he was too ill. The Khitans did not buy this and invaded on May of 1013 with the Jurchens. Sadly, they were defeated by Great General Kim Seung Wi even before crossing the border.
The Khitans continued to make small invasions, which all ended in failures. On December of 1018, Xiao Xunning's big brother Xiao Pai Ya invaded Koryo with 100,000 troops. Hyunjong appointed Kang Gamchan as the High Commander and Kang Min Chum as the Liteutenant Commander and gave them 200,000 troops to fight the Khitans off. Koryo defeated the Khitans at the Battle of Heung Hwa Fortress. When some Khitans managed to find their way to go down to Kaegyung, Kang Min Chum followed them and destroyed them.
However, Xiao Pai Ya managed to lead the central army to Kaegyung. When Kang Gamchan's army put pressure on Xiao's army, they began to retreat. However, the Khitans were massacred by Kang Gamchan at the Battle of Kuju(or Kwiju) on February, 1019. Kang Gamchan thought a huge fortress should be built outside of Kaegyung. Hyunjong agreed and ordered the construction of a fortress.
Khitan emperor Shengzong punished Xiao Pai Ya and sent Wu Zhang Gong to negotiate peace on May, 1019. The Cheiftain of Eastern Jurchens Na Sha Fu bowed down to Hyunjong and promised peace on June. The Chieftain of Western Jurchens Aluofu did the same and gave horses as tribute on July. On September, Koryo invited the leader of Tamna(Jeju Island) and Malgal to the imperial party.
Hyunjong ordered Hwang Ju Ryang to publish the Annals of all the emperors from Taejo to Mokjong. He ordered the fixing of all the Buddhist temples that was destroyed during the war such as Hwang Ryong(Golden Dragon) Temple and publishing 6000 Koreana Triptakas.
He passed away at the age of 40 on May, 1031.
Yi Jae Hyun, the author of the original History of Koryo(primary source), had this to say about Hyunjong : "A ruler should always be alerted to possible troubles even if there are no troubles, always think of possible dangers even during time of peace, always know how to abstain, and always respect the Heavens. I cannot find any flaws from Hyunjong(about the 4 things mentioned)."
Hyunjong's tomb is located in Mt. Song Ahk(North Korea).
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Post by MTR on Jun 4, 2012 16:39:47 GMT -5
Did i miss something Truth or is Kang Jo's death mentioned in the text ?. Could be my eyes . Still this is a fantastic text ,i am so amazed at how all these books on Korea in English can just bypass all this information .
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Post by truth on Jun 4, 2012 16:50:47 GMT -5
Did i miss something Truth or is Kang Jo's death mentioned in the text ?. Could be my eyes . Still this is a fantastic text ,i am so amazed at how all these books on Korea in English can just bypass all this information . Kang Jo's death will be translated in more detailed account of the Khitan invasion. What my book does is that it gives an overview of what happned during an emperor's rule, talk about his wives and children other than the Crown Prince, and then gives more detailed account of important events such as foreign invasions and important person. (Ex. I gave overview of Sungjong's rule which included the 1st Khitan invasion, his wives, Choi Seung Ro's life, and then the detailed account of Seo Hee's role in 1st Khitan War.) Here's a portrait of Kang Min Chum! Very interesting!
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