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10.  Unique Significance � of Few Surnames�

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Korea’s Peaceful, Stable History -- Top Ten

1.  Longest Dynasties

2.  Peaceful Transition from Dynasty to Dynasty

3.  Few Invasions

4.  Never Invaded another Country!

5.  Border with China unchanged for 1000 years

6.  Graves of Kings not Robbed

7.  Seonbi Culture (not Samurai)

8.  Civilian Control of the Court

9.  Slavery, “the longest unbroken chain in world history”

10.  Unique Significance of Few Surnames

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Unique Significance of Few Surnames

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  • Korea is really different from other countries in regard to surnames.

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Unique Significance of Few Surnames

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  • Korea is really different from other countries in regard to surnames.

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  • * very few surnames

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  • * high concentration of population in a few surname groups

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Unique Significance of Few Surnames

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  • Korea is really different from other countries in regard to surnames.

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  • * very few surnames -- around 250

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  • * high concentration of population in a few surname groups

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Unique Significance of Few Surnames

​

  • Korea is really different from other countries in regard to surnames.

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  • * very few surnames -- around 250 (cf. 300,000 names in Japan)

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  • * high concentration of population in a few surname groups

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According to estimates, there are over 300,000 different surnames in use today in Japan.

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Japanese name - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Japanese_name

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Japanese_name

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​

About featured snippets•

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Feedback

People also ask

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How many surnames are there in Japan?

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291,129 different Japanese

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Officially, among Japanese names there are 291,129 different Japanese surnames, as determined by their kanji, although many of these are pronounced and romanized similarly. The top 10 surnames cover approximately 10% of the population, while the top 100 surnames cover slightly more than 33%.

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Unique Significance of Few Surnames

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  • Korea is really different from other countries in regard to surnames.

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  • * very few surnames -- around 250 (cf. 100,000 names in Japan)

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  • * high concentration of population in a few surname groups

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  • ---- Kim = 21%

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Unique Significance of Few Surnames

​

  • Korea is really different from other countries in regard to surnames.

​

  • * very few surnames -- around 250 (cf. 100,000 names in Japan)

​

  • * high concentration of population in a few surname groups

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  • ---- Kim = 21% (Sato in Japan is 1.5%, Wang in China is 7%)

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Surnames in other countries

  • Japan – Sato = 1.5%
  • US -- Smith = 0.8%
  • India -- Singh = 2.7%
  • Spain -- Garcia = 3.5%
  • Germany -- Muller = 0.8%
  • China – Wang = 7% (Lee 6.9%, Chang 6.8%)

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Surnames in other countries

  • Japan – Sato = 1.5%
  • US -- Smith = 0.8%
  • India -- Singh = 2.7%
  • Spain -- Garcia = 3.5%
  • Germany -- Muller = 0.8%
  • China – Wang = 7% (Lee 6.9%, Chang 6.8%)

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  • the exceptions
  • Vietnam -- Nguyen = 38%*

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Unique Significance of Few Surnames

​

  • Korea is really different from other countries in regard to surnames.

​

  • * very few surnames -- around 250 (cf. 300,000 names in Japan)

​

  • * high concentration of population in a few surname groups

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  • ---- Kim = 21%, Yi (Lee) 15%, Pak (Park) 9%

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Unique Significance of Few Surnames

​

  • Korea is really different from other countries in regard to surnames.

​

  • * very few surnames -- around 250 (cf. 300,000 names in Japan)

​

  • * high concentration of population in a few surname groups

​

  • ---- Kim = 21%, Yi (Lee) 15%, Pak (Park) 9%, Choe 5%, Jeong 5%

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Unique Significance of Few Surnames

​

  • Korea is really different from other countries in regard to surnames.

​

  • * very few surnames -- around 250 (cf. 100,000 names in Japan)

​

  • * high concentration of population in a few surname groups

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  • ---- Kim = 21%, Yi (Lee) 15%, Pak (Park) 9%, Choe 5%, Jeong 5% = 55%

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Why?

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Why?

Two theories:

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Why?

Two theories:

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1. Peaceful Korea (my favorite answer)

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Why?

Two theories:

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1. Peaceful Korea (my favorite answer)

#1 Long dynasties

#2 smooth transitions between dynasties

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Why?

Two theories:

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1. Peaceful Korea (my favorite answer)

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#1 Long dynasties

#2 smooth transitions between dynasties

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Line of dynasties never destroyed.

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Why?

Two theories:

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1. Peaceful Korea (my favorite answer)

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#1 Long dynasties

#2 smooth transitions between dynasties

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Line of dynasties never destroyed.

Kim, Yi, and Park are royal names. (Gaya, Silla, Joseon)

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Why?

Two theories:

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1. Peaceful Korea (my favorite answer)

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Why?

Two theories:

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1. Peaceful Korea (my favorite answer)

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2. Slavery

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Why?

Two theories:

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1. Peaceful Korea (my favorite answer)

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2. Slavery

slaves did not have surnames

they tended to take common surnames, not original names

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Why?

Two theories:

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1. Peaceful Korea (my favorite answer)

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2. Slavery

slaves did not have surnames

they tended to take common surnames, not original names

what was the percentage?

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Why?

Two theories:

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1. Peaceful Korea (my favorite answer)

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2. Slavery

slaves did not have surnames

they tended to take common surnames, not original names

what was the percentage? NOT 90%, as some say. More like 20%-40%

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  • Let’s look at Joseon period exam passers.

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  • (Goryeo looks similar as well).

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  • 21% Kim

-- even if it’s half slave, still a large percentage descending from royalty

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Why?

Two theories:

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1. Peaceful Korea (my favorite answer)

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2. Slavery

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The slavery theory does not contradict the “Peaceful Korea” theory.

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Korea’s Peaceful, Stable History -- Top Ten

1.  Longest Dynasties

2.  Peaceful Transition from Dynasty to Dynasty

3.  Few Invasions

4.  Never Invaded another Country!

5.  Border with China unchanged for 1000 years

6.  Graves of Kings not Robbed

7.  Seonbi Culture (not Samurai)

8.  Civilian Control of the Court

9.  Slavery, “the longest unbroken chain in world history”

10.  Unique Significance of Few Surnames

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Korea’s Peaceful, Stable History -- Top Ten

1.  Longest Dynasties

2.  Peaceful Transition from Dynasty to Dynasty

3.  Few Invasions

4.  Never Invaded another Country!

5.  Border with China unchanged for 1000 years

6.  Graves of Kings not Robbed

7.  Seonbi Culture (not Samurai)

8.  Civilian Control of the Court

9.  Slavery, “the longest unbroken chain in world history”

10.  Unique Significance of Few Surnames

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Korea’s Peaceful, Stable History -- Top Ten

1.  Longest Dynasties

Silla — 57 BCE - 935 = 992 years

Goryeo — 918-1392 = 474 years

Joseon — 1392 - 1910 = 518 years

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2.  Peaceful Transition from Dynasty to Dynasty

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Gaya - Silla - Goryeo - Joseon

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(Not Baekje and Goguryeo)

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7.  Seonbi, not Samurai, Culture�

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Korea’s Peaceful, Stable History -- Top Ten

1.  Longest Dynasties

2.  Peaceful Transition from Dynasty to Dynasty

3.  Few Invasions

4.  Never Invaded another Country!

5.  Border with China unchanged for 1000 years

6.  Graves of Kings not Robbed

7.  Seonbi Culture (not Samurai)

8.  Civilian Control of the Court

9.  Slavery, “the longest unbroken chain in world history”

10.  Unique Significance of Few Surnames

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  • RADICALLY different culture
  • Could not be more different
  • Evidence of peaceful tradition
  • Even in warfare, civilian “general” commissioned
  • --  강감창, 김부식 (Goryeo period)
  • 임진왜란때에도 ( Joseon period)
  • �

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Samurai vs. Seonbi

  • Radically different approach to society / culture

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  • Samurai
  • Warrior

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  • Seonbi
  • Scholar

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Samurai vs. Seonbi

  • Radically different approach to society / culture

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  • Samurai
  • Warrior
  • short dynasties, lots and lots of war and chaos
  • Seonbi
  • Scholar
  • long dynasties, civilian rule, peace, with minimal war

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Japanese shogunate

  • Asuka 538-710 172 years
  • Nara 710-794 84
  • Heian (imperial) 794-1185 391
  • Kamakura 1185-1333 184
  • Kenmu restoration (imperial) 1333-1336 3
  • Ashikaga 1336-1573 237
  • Sengoku (disunity) 1573-1603 30
  • Tokugawa 1603-1868 265

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Korean dynasties

  • Silla 57 BCE – 935 = 992 years
  • Goryeo 918 – 1392 = 474 years
  • Joseon 1392 – 1910 = 518 years

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Korean dynasties

  • Buyeo 2nd century BCE – 494 600 years
  • Goguryeo 37 BCE – 668 805
  • Baekje 18 BCE – 660 678
  • Gaya 42 – 562 520
  • Silla 57 BCE – 935 992
  • Goryeo 918 – 1392 474
  • Joseon 1392 – 1910 518

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Chinese dynasties

    • Xia dynasty (2070 BC – 1600 BC) 470 years
    • Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC) 554
    • Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) 800
    • Spring and Autumn period (722–476 BC) 246
    • Warring States period (476–221 BC) 255
    • Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) 14
    • Han dynasty (202 BC – AD 220) 422
    • Three Kingdoms (AD 220–280) 60
    • Jin dynasty (AD 266–420) 154
    • Northern and Southern dynasties (AD 420–589) 179
    • Sui dynasty (AD 581–618) 37
    • Tang dynasty (AD 618–907) 289
    • Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (AD 907–960) 53
    • Song, Liao, Jin, and Western Xia dynasties (AD 960–1234) 274
    • Yuan dynasty (AD 1271–1368) 97
    • Ming dynasty (AD 1368–1644) 276
    • Qing dynasty (AD 1644–1911) 267

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Korean dynasties

  • Buyeo 2nd century BCE – 494 600 years
  • Goguryeo 37 BCE – 668 805
  • Baekje 18 BCE – 660 678
  • Gaya 42 – 562 604
  • Silla 57 BCE – 935 992
  • Goryeo 918 – 1392 474
  • Joseon 1392 – 1910 518

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Seonbi – Confucian scholar/official

  • Highest achievement?
  • The test, the all-important, civil service exam, the munkwa exam
  • Government service
  • The source of wealth, income, land

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Seonbi – Confucian scholar/official

  • Highest achievement?
  • The test, the all-important, civil service exam, the munkwa exam
  • Government service
  • The source of wealth, income, land

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  • Military exam
  • Part of the “yangban” system, munkwa-mukwa
  • Civilian was clearly higher, but military was honored, recognized

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Korean dynasties, long, relatively peaceful

  • Buyeo 2nd century BCE – 494 600 years
  • Goguryeo 37 BCE – 668 805
  • Baekje 18 BCE – 660 678
  • Gaya 42 – 562 604
  • Silla 57 BCE – 935 992
  • Goryeo 918 – 1392 474
  • Joseon 1392 – 1910 518

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  • Yet peaceful traditions precede the mun/mu “yangban” era.
  • Something inherent in Korean psyche and culture

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Samurai culture

  • Warrior
  • Blended with Buddhism, = Zen

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  • Honorable death, hara-kiri (seppuku)

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Remnant of a Japanese fortress in Korea

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Seonbi,��scholar,��civilian official

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When the traditional system falls apart

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  • Samurai -- ronin, 47 ronin suicides

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  • Seonbi – impoverished, but holding on to the tradition

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When the traditional system falls apart

  • Legacy

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  • Samurai -- ronin, 47 ronin suicides
  • -- frustrated warriors, leading to World War II

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  • Seonbi – impoverished, but holding on to the tradition
  • -- scholarly ambition, educational ideals

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  • So, were the Japanese correct that Korea was weak?

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  • Was it correct that Korean dynasties lasted too long, and were ineffectual, corrupt, inept?

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  • My opinion,

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  • the end of the Joseon dynasty was a failure
  • because all dynasties fail, eventually

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  • What would it have been like if the last king were Sejong, not Gojong?

​

In the end – “the pen is mightier than the sword.”

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Legacy

​

  • Scholarship

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  • Highest literacy rate in the world
  • Highest secondary school graduation rate in the world
  • Highest college graduation rate in the world

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  • Innovation, copyrights, creativity (#1. Bloomberg Index)

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Korea’s Peaceful, Stable History -- Top Ten

1.  Longest Dynasties

2.  Peaceful Transition from Dynasty to Dynasty

3.  Few Invasions

4.  Never Invaded another Country!

5.  Border with China unchanged for 1000 years

6.  Graves of Kings not Robbed

7.  Seonbi Culture (not Samurai)

8.  Civilian Control of the Court

9.  Slavery, “the longest unbroken chain in world history”

10.  Unique Significance of Few Surnames

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Korea’s Peaceful, Stable History -- Top Ten

1.  Longest Dynasties

2.  Peaceful Transition from Dynasty to Dynasty

3.  Few Invasions

4.  Never Invaded another Country!

5.  Border with China unchanged for 1000 years

6.  Graves of Kings not Robbed

7.  Seonbi Culture (not Samurai)

8.  Civilian Control of the Court

9.  Slavery, “the longest unbroken chain in world history”

10.  Unique Significance of Few Surnames