Joseon: Map & History
Joseon, officially Great Joseon State, was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years.
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Joseon, officially Great Joseon State, was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in 1897. The kingdom was founded after the overthrow of Goryeo in what is today the city of Kaesong. In 1393, Korea was retitled and the capital was moved to modern-day Seoul. The kingdom's northernmost borders were expanded to the natural boundaries at the rivers of Amnok and Tuman through the subjugation of the Jurchens.
Modern Countries Once Part of Joseon
At its mapped extent, Joseon covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Joseon's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Joseon in Depth
History
By the late 14th century, the nearly 500-year-old Goryeo established in 918 was tottering; its foundations were collapsing from years of war spilled over from the disintegrating Yuan dynasty. Following the emergence of the Ming dynasty, the royal court in Goryeo split into two conflicting factions, one favoring neutrality and the other wanting to retake the Liaodong peninsula, which many in Goryeo believed was theirs. Goryeo remained a neutral third-party observer in the conflict between the Yuan and the Ming and had friendly diplomatic relations with both. In 1388, a Ming messenger came to Goryeo to demand that territories of the former Ssangseong Prefecture be handed over to Ming China.
Government
Joseon was a highly centralized monarchy, and neo-Confucian bureaucracy as codified by Kyŏngguk taejŏn, a sort of Joseon constitution.
The king had absolute authority, but his actual power varied with political circumstances. He was bound by tradition, precedents set by earlier kings, Kyŏngguk taejŏn, and Confucian teachings. The king commanded absolute loyalty from his officials and subjects, but the officials were also expected to persuade the king to the right path if the latter was thought to be mistaken. Natural disasters were thought to be due to the king's failings, and therefore, Joseon kings were very sensitive to their occurrences. When there was a severe drought or a series of disasters, the king often formally sought criticism from officials and the citizenry.
Culture
The Joseon dynasty presided over two periods of great cultural growth, during which Joseon culture created the first Korean tea ceremony, Korean gardens, and extensive historic works. The royal dynasty also built several fortresses and palaces.
Noble Korean women during this time were suppressed, along with shamans, in the 15th century because of Neo-Confucianist social norms when they previously led some of the least restricted lives out of anyone in Asia.
During the Joseon period, jeogori of women's hanbok became gradually tightened and shortened. In the 16th century, jeogori was baggy and reached below the waist, but by the 19th century, jeogori was shortened to the point that it did not cover the breasts, so another piece of cloth (heoritti) was used to cover them.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Joseon (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Joseon: Key Facts
| Capital | Pyongyang |
|---|---|
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 2333 BCE |
| Dissolved | 108 BCE |
Facts from Wikidata Q28405 (CC0).
Joseon Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Joseon appears, with the other states of the time.
Joseon Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 235,001 km² in 1610 CE.
Joseon: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Joseon exist?
Joseon is dated to 1395 CE – 1897 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Joseon?
The capital of Joseon was Main: Hanseong, (now Seoul) (1394–1399/1405–1897), Temporary: Kaegyŏng, (1392–1394/1399–1405).
How large was Joseon at its peak?
At its peak in 1610 Joseon covered about 235,001 km².
How did the map of Joseon change over time?
Joseon appears on 6 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1400 CE to 1850 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Other Sovereign Realms
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Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram