.Moderne Koreaanse geschiedenis deelopdracht 1.
Leiden University.
Prof. Dr. R.E. Breuker
Moderne Koreaanse Geschiedenis.
2019-2020
Submission date: 23-02-2020
Total amount of words: 803.
Student: XXXXXX
Student Number: XXXXXX
Umail-adres: XXXXXXXX
, By the end of the 1860 the Choson dynasty (1392-1897) was faced with the challenge of how to deal
with the changes in the international political order in East Asia. 1 Although Western powers had little
interest in the Choson kingdom, Japan saw the state as a strategic piece in its competition with China
over influence in the region. When the Choson regime refused to acknowledge that Japan was on
equal footing with China, and therefore the Choson king inferior to the Japanese emperor, it led to the
Kanghwa incident of 1875.2 Consequently, the Japanese empire send an envoy by the name of Kuroda
Kyotaka, to insist on an apology and to negotiate a treaty. In 1876 the Kanghwa treaty was signed.
Although the treaty dealt mostly with trade, one of the most notable articles is the one concerning
extraterritoriality.3 Extraterritoriality was customarily a concession enforced by western powers on
non-western nations. By demanding this of Choson, the Japanese affirmed their position as a dominant
power similar to its western contemporaries. Furthermore, Choson was henceforth forced to engage on
the world theatre as a sovereign state.
An interim period started in where pro-Japanese and pro-Confucian groups argued contrasting views
on the future of Choson. In 1882, a large anti-government riot broke out. The Taewon’ gun managed
to redirect the rioters fury to the Japanese and pro-Japanese Choson officials. Fearing a Japanese
reprisal, the Chinese hastily dispatched an army to the Choson capital. Hereby repeating to Japan its
dominant position on the Peninsula. The Japanese were not interested in a confrontation with China
yet, and accepted China’s offered compensation. 4
When the Kapsin coup in 1884 between pro-
Japanese progressives and conservatives started, China once again intervened. After the coup had been
averted China took control of Choson’s government, and a period of stagnation ensued. 5 Furthermore,
the new regime damaged Japanese economic interests and the pre-agreed conditions of the Kanghwa
treaty were curtailed.
Due to the rising tensions between the two empires, they agreed on a co-protectorate status of Choson
in the Tianjin Convention (1885). Neither party was allowed to intervene militarily in Choson without
the others permission. After Choson asked the Chinese for help in quelling yet another rebellion in
1894, the Chinese agreed and effectively broke the Tianjin Convention. This resulted in Japan sending
an expeditionary force, and marking the start of the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). 6 China
eventually lost the war which lead to the Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895). One of the articles in the
treaty declared, that Choson was freed from its tributary relationship with China and now a sovereign
1
Buzo, The Making of Modern Korea, 17.
2
Buzo, The Making of Modern Korea, 18.
3
‘‘Treaty of Kanghwa,’’ opened for signature February 26, 1876, "The World and Japan" Database, Database of
Japanese Politics and International Relations, Kyujoyakuisan, Dai 3 kan (Chosen, Ryukyu), pp.1-8.
4
Buzo, The Making of Modern Korea, 28.
5
Buzo, The Making of Modern Korea, 31-32.
6
Breuker, ‘‘Moderne Koreaanse Geschiedenis Lecture 3’’(lecture, Leiden University, February 18, 2020).
Leiden University.
Prof. Dr. R.E. Breuker
Moderne Koreaanse Geschiedenis.
2019-2020
Submission date: 23-02-2020
Total amount of words: 803.
Student: XXXXXX
Student Number: XXXXXX
Umail-adres: XXXXXXXX
, By the end of the 1860 the Choson dynasty (1392-1897) was faced with the challenge of how to deal
with the changes in the international political order in East Asia. 1 Although Western powers had little
interest in the Choson kingdom, Japan saw the state as a strategic piece in its competition with China
over influence in the region. When the Choson regime refused to acknowledge that Japan was on
equal footing with China, and therefore the Choson king inferior to the Japanese emperor, it led to the
Kanghwa incident of 1875.2 Consequently, the Japanese empire send an envoy by the name of Kuroda
Kyotaka, to insist on an apology and to negotiate a treaty. In 1876 the Kanghwa treaty was signed.
Although the treaty dealt mostly with trade, one of the most notable articles is the one concerning
extraterritoriality.3 Extraterritoriality was customarily a concession enforced by western powers on
non-western nations. By demanding this of Choson, the Japanese affirmed their position as a dominant
power similar to its western contemporaries. Furthermore, Choson was henceforth forced to engage on
the world theatre as a sovereign state.
An interim period started in where pro-Japanese and pro-Confucian groups argued contrasting views
on the future of Choson. In 1882, a large anti-government riot broke out. The Taewon’ gun managed
to redirect the rioters fury to the Japanese and pro-Japanese Choson officials. Fearing a Japanese
reprisal, the Chinese hastily dispatched an army to the Choson capital. Hereby repeating to Japan its
dominant position on the Peninsula. The Japanese were not interested in a confrontation with China
yet, and accepted China’s offered compensation. 4
When the Kapsin coup in 1884 between pro-
Japanese progressives and conservatives started, China once again intervened. After the coup had been
averted China took control of Choson’s government, and a period of stagnation ensued. 5 Furthermore,
the new regime damaged Japanese economic interests and the pre-agreed conditions of the Kanghwa
treaty were curtailed.
Due to the rising tensions between the two empires, they agreed on a co-protectorate status of Choson
in the Tianjin Convention (1885). Neither party was allowed to intervene militarily in Choson without
the others permission. After Choson asked the Chinese for help in quelling yet another rebellion in
1894, the Chinese agreed and effectively broke the Tianjin Convention. This resulted in Japan sending
an expeditionary force, and marking the start of the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). 6 China
eventually lost the war which lead to the Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895). One of the articles in the
treaty declared, that Choson was freed from its tributary relationship with China and now a sovereign
1
Buzo, The Making of Modern Korea, 17.
2
Buzo, The Making of Modern Korea, 18.
3
‘‘Treaty of Kanghwa,’’ opened for signature February 26, 1876, "The World and Japan" Database, Database of
Japanese Politics and International Relations, Kyujoyakuisan, Dai 3 kan (Chosen, Ryukyu), pp.1-8.
4
Buzo, The Making of Modern Korea, 28.
5
Buzo, The Making of Modern Korea, 31-32.
6
Breuker, ‘‘Moderne Koreaanse Geschiedenis Lecture 3’’(lecture, Leiden University, February 18, 2020).
