#annexation of the Korean royal family

[mayday396]

THATS FUCKING TERRIBLE

You're gonna ignore the shit load of Colonialism that came with that?

Biden what the fuck, most likely you said this because you're sick physically but like holy shit dude

He said WHAT

[stirringwinds]

When do u think the modern personification of Korea was born? Cause there is the kingdom of Goguryeo which place Korea at like 4000(but like would it be like a china situation where it’s the same personification who’s just stupidly old or like Greece and Egypt where they had an ancient version) there’s also the three kingdoms period which started about 2000 years ago. Or there’s even the more modern eras like Joseon. I’m just curious how old u see the current personification as.

*Gojoseon I accidentally typed the wrong G kingdom. Goguryeo was later on. Sorry for any confusion

thanks for the question! this is my personal take on it: yong-soo is at least 2000 years old; he thus dates back to the three kingdoms period rather than to gojoseon. i do think there's always some wiggle room with the age of a personification and how we interpret history so i can see other variations; my main hard no is making him too young (such as born after the 1950 korean war...please no).

contemporarily, yong-soo represents south korea, but in the beginning, i see him as the old korean kingdom of silla. nations don't suddenly spring into existence overnight, so while silla was was officially founded in 57 BCE, he's probably older than that. that's just the latest date i see him being around by. yong soo, imo, also has/had at least two brothers: goguryeo (who later represents north korea after wwii) and baekje, who was kiku's close ally—as per how, in real history, the kingdom of baekje and yamato japan had quite an important alliance. baekje dies by a combination of yong-soo and yao's actions after the baekje-tang war—as per how baekje got annexed into the kingdom of silla, and china crushed the japanese forces attempting to support baekje restorationists at the battle of baekgang. i don't think yong-soo necessarily wanted his brother to die, but it was a power struggle, and those have consequences (as tang dynasty yao would probably say coolly, while seated atop his war horse...😔)—nations mirror humans, and how often have royal houses across different cultures warred against family members throughout human history? so, it's kind of sombre but there were once three brothers.

overall, i see yong-soo as an old nation who's lived many lives before his present incarnation as the republic of korea (and in the east asian cosmology; reincarnation is quite a familiar concept for us). i see him being older than kiku, and he's the one who taught kiku advanced shipbuilding and navigation, as a reflection of how mariners/shipbuilders from silla influenced japan. this is naturally very ironic from the meiji era onwards, particularly when korea comes under japanese colonial rule, and kiku refashions himself as a 'modern' naval power. so, rather than the canon dynamic that seems to posit a rather youthful yong-soo vs. old man china and japan...imo it's really Old Men Wrestling with the Confucian Hierarchy All the Way Down (even if Yong-soo's skincare regimen means he looks good and he is skilled at putting on a friendly and youngish persona if need be). one implication that's important to me about yong-soo's age is exploring how he and kiku (and also yao) have a very old relationship that runs deep due to all that history and cultural exchange, but it is naturally, far from easy.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 7.15 (after 1900)

1910 – In his book Clinical Psychiatry, Emil Kraepelin gives a name to Alzheimer's disease, naming it after his colleague Alois Alzheimer. 1916 – In Seattle, Washington, William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt incorporate Pacific Aero Products (later renamed Boeing). 1918 – World War I: The Second Battle of the Marne begins near the River Marne with a German attack. 1920 – Aftermath of World War I: The Parliament of Poland establishes Silesian Voivodeship before the Polish-German plebiscite. 1922 – The Japanese Communist Party is established in Japan. 1927 – Massacre of July 15, 1927: Eighty-nine protesters are killed by Austrian police in Vienna. 1941 – The Holocaust: Nazi Germany begins the deportation of 100,000 Jews from the occupied Netherlands to extermination camps. 1946 – The State of North Borneo, now Sabah, Malaysia, is annexed by the United Kingdom. 1954 – The Boeing 367-80, the prototype for both the Boeing 707 and C-135 series, takes its first flight. 1955 – Eighteen Nobel laureates sign the Mainau Declaration against nuclear weapons, later co-signed by thirty-four others. 1966 – Vietnam War: The United States and South Vietnam begin Operation Hastings to push the North Vietnamese out of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. 1971 – The United Red Army is founded in Japan. 1974 – In Nicosia, Cyprus, Greek junta-sponsored nationalists launch a coup d'état, deposing President Makarios and installing Nikos Sampson as Cypriot president. 1975 – Space Race: Apollo–Soyuz Test Project features the dual launch of an Apollo spacecraft and a Soyuz spacecraft on the first Soviet-United States human-crewed flight. It was the last launch of both an Apollo spacecraft, and the Saturn family of rockets. 1979 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter gives his "malaise speech". 1983 – An attack at Orly Airport in Paris is launched by Armenian militant organisation ASALA, leaving eight people dead and 55 injured. 1983 – Nintendo released the Famicom in Japan. 1996 – A Belgian Air Force C-130 Hercules carrying the Royal Netherlands Army marching band crashes on landing at Eindhoven Airport. 1998 – Sri Lankan Civil War: Sri Lankan Tamil MP S. Shanmuganathan is killed by a claymore mine. 2002 – "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh pleads guilty to supplying aid to the enemy and possession of explosives during the commission of a felony. 2002 – The Anti-Terrorism Court of Pakistan sentences British born Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh to death, and three others suspected of murdering The Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl to life. 2003 – AOL Time Warner disbands Netscape. The Mozilla Foundation is established on the same day. 2006 – Twitter, later one of the largest social media platforms in the world, is launched. 2009 – Caspian Airlines Flight 7908 crashes near Jannatabad, Qazvin, Iran, killing 168. 2009 – Space Shuttle program: Endeavour is launched on STS-127 to complete assembly of the International Space Station's Kibō module. 2012 – South Korean rapper Psy releases his hit single Gangnam Style. 2014 – A train derails on the Moscow Metro, killing at least 24 and injuring more than 160 others. 2016 – Factions of the Turkish Armed Forces attempt a coup. 2018 – France win their second World Cup title, defeating Croatia 4–2.

[koreaguides]

The 5 Royal Palaces In South Korea

1. Gyeongbokgung 

Gyeongbokgung consists of a throne hall, monarch’s residence, gardens, and pavilions. It is the biggest and most stunning palaces out of all the Joseon palaces. It emphasizes the palace’s auspicious and affluent nature with colors of ruby and jade where the National Palace Museum of Korea, National Museum of Korea, and the National Folk Museum are on these grounds. 

2. Changdeokgung 

Many Joseon dynasty kings had their main residences here. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The palace was built according to pungsu with the topography in mind. The palace’s main building faces south, while the hidden garden faces north. The buildings in the complex were arranged according to Confucian principles both practically and symbolically. 

3. Changgyeonggung

It was originally built by King Sejeong for his farther King Taejong. It was formerly known as Suganggung and was connected to Chandeokgung. This palace is quite small compared to the other royal palaces. This palace was often served as the residential quarters for queens and concubines. It also has a Grand Greenhouse inside. 

4. Deoksugung

Deoksugang wasn’t classified as a royal palace at first. It was initially a residential home of Grand Prince Wolsan. However, the royal family’s home was burned down during the Imjin War. So they had to relocate to this area. It is famous for its elegant stone-wall road and integration of European architecture within complex. 

5. Gyeonghuigung 

It is the youngest palace among all and was known as the King’s emergency palace. It is not as famous as the other palaces, but is still ideal to visit as you can appreciate the authentic Korean architecture too. On the palace grounds, you can find the Seoul Museum of History and the Gyeonghuigung Annex Building of the Seoul Museum of Art. 

[wearejapanese]

[Text: In 1872, the Empire of Japan declared that King Shô Tai of the Kingdom of Ryûkyû was to be no longer the king of a kingdom, but a lord of a domain within Japan. He was given a mansion here, at Mochizaka (today Chiyoda-ku Fujimi 1-chôme). 

Nothing survives of the mansion today, so far as I know, or even marks the site. Banana leaves and palm trees give a tropical sense, evocative of Ryukyu, but today these are the grounds of the Filipino Embassy; I'm not sure exactly where the Shô family mansion had been.

Meanwhile, about half an hour's walk to the southwest, in Kioi-chô, we find the "Classic House at Akasaka Prince Hotel," identified as the former residence of Prince Kitashirakawa, and ever so quietly also identified as having been built for the former Korean royal family.

As the sign here says, a residence for Prince Kitashirakawa was built on the site in 1884. A new residence was then built in 1930, for the former royal family of Korea (which psst psst had been annexed and colonized).

I'm sure there's a large element of just happenstance, or other factors, involved, but at the same time I'm somehow not surprised that the Korean mansion survives (or has been rebuilt?), and the Ryukyuan one doesn't even have a historical marker.

The same is generally true of both primary and secondary sources: a ton more historical documents rel. to Japan-Korea relations survive than those pertaining to Japan-Ryukyu, and there's a ton more research.

Korea is considered a major element of "history of Japanese foreign relations," and Ryukyu an odd side-case, a curiosity. There are many rational reasons for this. But, even so, nevertheless, it is a thing.]

https://twitter.com/toranosukev/status/1304396065064402945

[friendship-korea-japan]

8.9. Class discrimination ended

Question 8: About the shift of Korea › 9. Class discrimination ended

Click here for table of contents

8.9. Class discrimination ended

The class discrimination between the Yangban, sangmin (law-abiding citizens) and lowly people, which had existed from the Goryeo to the Joseon periods, completely disappeared by 1945.

  Following the Goryeo era, Korea had a strict class system. The royal family, ranked highest, owned vast lands and lived in a palace without working in public office.  

  Next were the civil and military officials (Yangban), who received land and salary according to their status. While civil officials were employed based on the result of the Gwageo examination, the offspring of the high-ranking officials could become officials just by succession. The Yangbans did not have to pay taxes and did not engage in physical work or military service. They just learned Confucianism, took charge of politics and led a luxurious life. The Yangban class was followed by the middle class, which included technical experts such as interpreters, doctors and station officials, as well as working-level officials in the administration. Common people were divided into sanghan (law-abiding citizens) and lowly people. The majority of law-abiding citizens were peasants. In addition to paying taxes, they were obliged to provide local specialties as tributes and were also frequently mobilized for labor services. While they technically had the right to take the Gwageo examination, it was in practice impossible for them to do so, as they were too busy with farming and labor service to have time for learning.

  The lowly people included gwaldae (performers), mugyeok (mu corresponds to women and gyeok corresponds to men), prostitutes and baekjeong (such as butchers). While some consider them to be part of the law-abiding people, they were presumably treated as lowly people in reality. The slaves were ranked as the lowest among them. The slaves were subject to complete subordination. They were owned by others; they had no surname; they had no right as humans; and they were treated as assets, being sold, bought, donated, pledged as a collateral or inherited.

  At that time, the main form of assets was not land but slaves, and they were passed down from the owners to their children. If either the father or the mother belonged to the lowly people class, he or she was in the same class. Even if a slave was freed, the freedom continued only for one generation, while the freed slave’s descendants were returned to slavery.

  Regarding this class system, “III. Social change and the unrest of the class system”, “Chapter VIII, Latter period of the Joseon era” in Korean History I describes the population size and ratio by class. According to this document, the populations of different social classes in Daegu, Gyeongsang Province in 1858 were as follows (source: pp. 198 and 199 of Yangban by MIYAJIMA Hiroshi).

Yangban: 7.4% in 1690 → 48.6% in 1858

Sangmin: 49.5% in 1690→ 20.1% in 1858

Slaves: 43.1% in 1690 → 31.3% in 1858

   It seems that the middle-class and the gwaldae people were included in the sangmin category above, but we are not exactly sure about it.

  As for the ratio of the Yangban, sangmin and lowly people, the percentage of the Yangban rose over time. In Daegu, Gyeongsang Province, the percentage of the Yangban class, which was 7.4% in 1690, accounted for 48.6%, namely nearly half of the population, in the final years of the Joseon era. Members of the Yangban class considered working as shameful, did not engage in military service, and led a luxurious life as rulers. The slaves, not recognized as humans and owned by others or the government offices, did not pay taxes or accomplish military services. It seems quite logical that a country where 48% of the population led a luxurious life without working, and nearly 80% (48.6+31.3=79.9%) of the population did not pay taxes or join military service, should decline and become incapable of maintaining autonomy. 18 years before the Japan-Korea Treaty of Amity was concluded in 1876, Korea was so rapidly declining that it had already become almost incapable of remaining independent.

  Besides, we have found the following description in an article entitled “Toward an egalitarian society”, “Step for modernization” in p. 198 of History Textbook of Korea.

[ The radical reformists tried to build a modern society by launching the Gapsin Coup, abolishing the hierarchy based on lineage and establishing the equal rights of people. Hereditary slavery was abolished in 1886.] 

  However, this description is not based on fact. This was because, according to History Textbook of Korea, in 1894, eight years after 1886 (when the hereditary slavery is supposed to have been abolished), Kim Hong-jip’s government proclaimed during the Gabo Reform that it would “socially defeat the Public and Private Slavery Act”. In other words, the class system, which the Kim Ok-gyun administration tried to abolish in 1884 through the Gapsin Coup, had survived and was still in place as of 1894, ten years later.

  It was King Gojong of Korea, as well as members of the government linked to the royal family by lineage, who dwelled on the slaves owned by the Yangban class, that defeated the Kim Ok-gyun and Kim Hong-jip administrations which had tried to abolish the class system and build a modern state, and killed the protagonists of the reform. The policy for the emancipation of slaves was not enforced by the subsequent lineage-based administration. As the members of the lineage-based administration of the day came from the Yangban class, they supposedly acted together against the emancipation.

  We have found the following description about the dismantling of the class system on pp. 94-96 of “Section II. A major shift in the history of civilization”, Story of the Republic of Korea.

[ At that moment, Korea started to go through a fateful shift that would never be reversed. […] First, the class system was dismantled. The equality of all people came true.

[…]

That was because Japan became the new ruler of Korea. Japan was based on neutral power freed from such class divisions as Yangban and ordinary people. Rather, it was inadmissible for Japan that a specific group of people should discriminate others based on class.

[…]

During the Joseon era, the baekjeong were the professionals who slaughtered cattle and pigs and made straw sandals using leather, but they were not treated as ordinary humans. […] However, when the Japanese administration proceeded to the establishment of the family register, they also forced the baekjeong to register. During the colonial days, they had surnames and Bon-gwan (legal domicile and place of origin of the predecessor of the paternal ancestor). Finally, the children of the baekjeong class started to attend school. […] Then, the Yangban rose in revolt. […] It is known that harsh demonstrations by the Yangban occurred in Yecheon area, Gyeongsang Province. During the Joseon era, the Yangban were called the defending soldiers of the state, and if they proceeded to demonstration, even the state could not do anything significant against them. However, this was not the case for the rulers from abroad. The demonstrators of the Yangban class were rapidly suppressed by the police organization of the Government-General of Korea.]

  In November 1905, when the Japanese Residency-General of Korea was set up following the second Japan–Korea Treaty, Duke Ito Hirobumi became the first Resident-General of Korea and resigned in June 1909. Therefore, it is possible to say that the legal abolition of the class system was the legacy of Resident-General Ito.

  Moreover, by 1945, when the Japanese rule came to an end, class discrimination had completely disappeared from Korea. It was now possible for all Koreans to act freely with their own will and ability.

  While the disappearance of the Joseon dynasty due to the annexation of Korea by Japan was an unpardonable event for the privileged ruling class including the Yangban, it was likely welcomed by the oppressed people because it meant emancipation from the class system. However, as most of the people freed from the class system were illiterate, it was possible that they could not describe that, and that only a history of anti-Japanese sentiment was passed down by those in the ruling class who were capable of keeping records.  

   In addition, we believe that Korea saw drastic improvement in various issues and that the foundation for the development of today’s Korea was established during the period of Japanese rule. This is because the class system, which had lasted for around 1,000 years since before the Goryeo era, was abolished, the Yangban class, which accounted for the majority of the population, started to work, and the slaves and commoners were allowed to act freely.

[diannayi]

*TASK FIFTEEN : ( 1864 - PRESENT )

( the fall of the kingdom of joseon ) — ( relations and contention with china, japan, the soviet union, and the united states ) — ( the divide between the north and south korea ) — ( the modernisation of the imperial family )

the end of the joseon kingdom

in the beginning of 1864, king cheoljong of joseon died without any male issue, with protocol pointing instead to the raise of his then twelve-year-old distant cousin as his heir. in the apocryphal story, queen cheorin ( wife of the late king cheoljong ) sent a minister to fetch the son of yi haeung, twelve-year-old yi myeongbok, who was flying a kite in a palace garden. the son was brought to the palace in a sedan chair, where dowager queen sinjeong ( the wife of king cheoljong’s predecessor, king heonjong ) rushed forward and called him her son. yi myeongbok became crown prince yi hui, and with his adoption by the dowager queen sinjeong -- thus also becoming the adopted son of the dowager queen’s husband, crown prince hyomyeong -- he became king gojong of joseon.

the founding of the empire of korea

with the twelve-year-old king gojong on the throne, the child’s biological father was placed as his regent, and the palace shook with his inexperience. the weak government was soon proven starting from the imo incident (1882), a violent soldiers riot in the centre of seoul, to the donghak rebellion (1894), that soon escalated to the first sino-japanese war over the control of joseon. due to its vast modernisation and heavy influences from the west, japan won and korea became fully independent from china. thus the korean empire was born, the raising of the head of state from king to emperor was to signify the nation’s equal rank to its previous ming oppressors. the japanese government sponsored the gabo reforms to enforce equal opportunities within korean society, including: the abolishment of legal slavery, equality of law, abolishment of child marriages, expanding of education, among others.

oppression under japan

king gojong -- now styled, emperor gojong -- having married the empress myeongseong, began to try to assert his control over the korean government to no avail. japanese presence and influence still loomed over his rule, the emperor was soon coerced to sign the japan-korea treaty of 1907, which allowed japan to intervene in matters of military and state. soon after, emperor gojong was forced to abdicate in favour of his son the crown prince, who became emperor sunjong of korea. however, the new emperor and his empress was effectively imprisoned in changdeokgung palace in seoul, under the influence of pro-japanese politicians.

by 1910, japan fully annexed korea through the japan-korea treaty of 1910, effectively stripping emperor sunjong and his descendants of the title of emperor, merely relegating him to ‘king yi of changdeok palace’. during this tumultuous time, the king thought it imminent to keep the royal bloodline strong, the queen bore eight children, although only two survived infancy. the crown prince was a sickly child, and with desperate pleas to his japanese captors, the king was able to send crown prince hyeom to be treated in far more superior japanese hospitals. the japanese royal family took advantage of the prince’s residence in tokyo, and arranged a marriage for him with a low-ranked princess of the japanese imperial house. this was done without the support or agreement of the prince’s family.

freedom from japan & the divide of north and south

korean resistance began with the march 1 movement in 1919, propelled by the rumours of assassination after emperor gojong’s death. it was the first of many protests that ended in violence in hopes of freeing korea from japanese control, continuing through the first and second world wars, until japan’s devastating loss after the bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki (1945). however, as russia waged war against japan before the second bomb hit, soviet troops began moving into japanese territory in hopes of securing land for their empire. seeing this, the united states arranged for chinese troops to occupy as much korean land to expel the soviet military pressure, although it soon became evident that they were much too late. with the soviets coming from the north, and the chinese from the south, korea became effectively divided in two -- and even with reinforcements from the united states, soviet troops conquered all the land north of pyeongyang.

during this time, crown prince hyeom, having been widowed after the japanese princess mako suspiciously passed, had remarried the daughter of an exiled korean marquis in his seclusion in japan. it has been said that the crown prince was unaware of his father’s passing on 1926, and it was during one of the very few visitations made by an american dignitary did he was informed that he has been dubbed king hyojong of changdeok palace for over five years. the king and queen mourned the late emperor, and vowed to bring back the power of their house once more. when japan formally lost the war and the conflict began to shift between the soviet union and the united states, king hyojong and queen miryeon was returned back to their homeland after almost forty years abroad. the public welcomed them fervently, especially with a son and daughter in tow. however, the matter of a divided korea still remains, and with a stalemate between the north and the south ( supported by the soviets and the americans, respectively ), the united nations supported the formation of separate governments: the democratic people’s republic of korea to the north, and the korean empire to the south.

this division of korea, after more than a millennium of being unified, was seen as controversial and temporary by both regimes, emperor hyojong was then criticised for being unable to hold on to the north. from 1948 until the start of the civil war on 25 june 1950, the armed forces of each side engaged in a series of bloody conflicts along the border. in 1950, these conflicts escalated dramatically when north korean forces invaded south korea, triggering the korean war. the united nations intervened to protect the south, sending a us-led force. as it occupied the south, the democratic people's republic of korea attempted to unify korea under its regime, initiating the nationalisation of industry, land reform, and the restoration of the people's committees. however, the attempt failed as south korean troops reinforced by the united states military fought back. an armistice was signed after three years of war, creating with it a 4km wide demilitarised buffer zone along the border.

the modern korean empire

emperor hyojong’s son, crown prince gu, was at the forefront of all military action, learning from various american experts and displaying sharp understanding of the political climate. it did not take long for the public to take notice, and soon citizens began protesting in order to replace the reinstated emperor hyojong with his son, many even citing his decades of living in japan had erased his national identity. emperor hyojong had no choice but to abdicated in favour of crown prince gu, who was named emperor haejo in 1957 at the age of twenty-seven. under emperor haejo, south korea’s economy began to flourish, putting forth many of the proposed changes outlined in the ‘gabo reformation’ that the japanese government started, but did not go through with. he had successfully restored the glory of the house of yi, upholding the previously abandoned traditions of late-joseon court life, and with it, the reinstating of the royal concubines. it had been said that the emperor grew scared of the passing of the crown to distant japanese relations, especially after the numerous arranged marriages enforced by the japanese government to senior members of the royal house, in order to undermine innate korean identity and culture at the time.

in keeping with the teachings of confucianism, emperor haejo continued in favouring patriarchal traditions when it came to the line of succession, believing that the reinstatement of imperial concubines would further the chances of a male heir. in his reform, the line of succession would first fall upon princes born to the emperor and empress, hereby styled: imperial grand princes, then towards princes born to the emperor and concubines from ranks one and two, before falling upon siblings of the emperor and their male heirs, and finally to princes born to concubines ranked third to sixth. emperor haejo named crown prince yoon as his heir, since the prince was the only male born to the emperor and empress jongsun, but after his untimely death at fifteen the position fell upon the emperor’s eldest son from imperial consort min, thus styled crown prince han.

the current imperial family

after emperor haejo’s abdication in 1998, crown prince han took the throne as emperor hyeongjeong, already with seven children between the empress myeongae and imperial consort kim. the emperor followed in his father’s footsteps in modernising the imperial family as well as supporting the economic boom that began in the 90s, with strong trade ties with america as well as military support that still remained along the border. however, as the king took concubines of his own, the public questioned his choices despite his strong stance in support of the feminist movement. 

[jiyu0407]

Week 3

Task 1. Answer some of the 15 questions you asked.

Task 2. Complement with 5 more questions.

< TASK 1 >

Deok-hye Lee / Korea / 1912 - 1989

When was she born and when did she pass away?

Born: 25 May 1912 Deoksu Palace / Died: 21 April 1989 (aged 76) Sugang Hall, Changdeok Palace, Seoul, South Korea

What was her status at that time?

Last royal family in Korea / Princess Deokhye was the last princess of the Korean Empire.

What was happening in the world in Korea in the 1910’s?

In 1910, Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan after years of war, intimidation and political machinations; the country would be considered a part of Japan until 1945.

How does she appear to us today?

The life of Princess Deokhye was truly a tragic one: losing both her parents at a young age, fearing an assassination, going through a mental disease, divorce, and the death of her own daughter.

How did Immigrating to Japan affect in her life?

The nobles of Japan lost their status and privilege, as well as wealth. Count Takeyuki could not afford to continue the treatment of Deokhye's dementia and the couple divorced the same year. Ten years after their divorcement, in 1955, they lost their only daughter to suicide.

< TASK 2 >

5 additional questions...

Who is the deokhye princess father?

Gojong of Korea / Gojong was the monarch of Korea from 1864 to 1907. He reigned as the last King of Joseon from 1864 to 1897, and as the first Emperor of Korea from 1897 until his forced abdication in 1907.

Did Deokhye princess have a nickname?

then known as Yang Gwi-in. After her birth, Gojong bestowed the royal title Boknyeong on Lady Yang. Deokhye was not formally recognized as a princess by Japan until 1917, because she was not the daughter of a Queen. In 1917, her name was formally entered into the Imperial Family's registry. In Korea, she is called Deokhye Ongju, not Gongju. Gongju refers to the daughters of the Queen, and Ongju refers to the daughters of concubines.

What was the relationship between the Deokhye princess and her father?

Her father loved her greatly and established the Deoksugung Kindergarten for her in Junmyungdang, Hamnyeong Hall.

What was going on in Japan in the 1910?

1910 - Japan annexes Korea after three years of fighting, becoming one of the world's leading powers. 1914 - Japan joins World War I on the side of Britain and her allies, gaining some Pacific islands from Germany at the end of the war.

How was Princess Deokhye's married life?

Having suffered an unhappy marriage with Sō Takeyuki eventually divorced in 1955 and he later remarried to a Japanese woman named Yoshie Katsumura.

[stirringwinds]

Hello! Long time fan of your account, and sorry for the long question.

About HWS Japan's relationship with China I would see him already having troubles with him before western intervention as I am currently reading about East Asian's relationships, Tang China and Silla (modern day South Korea) defeated Japan and Baekje (who had ties with the royal family in Japan) would that affect their relationship already? I hc Kiku feeling like Yao was not a very nice guy to be around but nevertheless a good teacher (fanboy of the Tang dynasty's culture but boi this guy is horrible type of relationship)

Since China historically favoured Korea (with benefits) it makes sense for South Korea to get along with China (considering that Silla's territories are South Korean and Goguryeo North Korea's and Silla played smarts by having Tang back them into fighting against Baekje and Goguryeo) but for most of the history it seems that Japanese and Chinese interactions were chaotic, with the Ningbo incident, the battle of baekgang and battle of imjin river where China helped Korea to defeat Japanese expansionism.

I am now seeing Japan as kinda of a Zuko to his family (no blood ties)

@thepianistblogsbasedonhumanities: hey, thanks for the very detailed (and interesting) question! this is my personal take on kiku and yao before the 20th century (from my POV as a diaspora Chinese/SEAsian):

- deep cultural influences, intimacy and enmity often go hand-in-hand, for nations that are neighbours—and so it is for Kiku and Yao. This is something I see even for nations I headcanon as siblings by blood—for example, with England and Scotland, Wales, Ireland, regarding the historical impact of English dominance and cultural imperialism on them, both before and after the British Empire became a world power. In the case of Kiku and Yao, I don’t see them as related or ever perceiving the other that way—at most, it was confined to how the Chinese tributary system sometimes deployed familial metaphors (such as how the academic literature describes Ming China and Joseon Korea being likened to a ‘older-younger brother dynamic’ in the Chinese imperial worldview. Likewise, I wouldn’t see Yao or Yong-soo as actually related either).

- for Yao and Kiku specifically, a somewhat regicidal mentor-protégé dynamic: as you point out, Sino-Japanese conflicts existed long before Japan was influenced by Western empires. How I see it: while Alfred and other circling Western powers did alter Kiku’s attitude towards Yao and Yong-soo from what it was during isolationism, Japanese imperial ambitions are not new in the larger sweep of 2000+ years of history. Kiku might have waged the 1894 Sino-Japanese War and annexation of Korea in western uniforms and with a westernized military—but it still mirrors the 16th century Imjin/Chongyu Wars and the 663 CE Battle of Baekgang in the pattern of Sino-Japanese conflicts involving Korea. If anything, imo, some of Kiku’s ambitious streak comes from Yao’s influence (rather than simply copying the Western powers). After all, even during those calm stretches where he and Yao were on friendly terms, he’s watching Yao doing what empires do—i.e the conquest of the “Baiyue” tribes who originally lived in Southern China, of Vietnam, or the Ming war against the Sinhalese kingdom of Kotte during Zheng He’s voyages.

- while by modern standards, this does seem like a tumultuous relationship, I see the helltalias being more accustomed to this, existing in eras where empire and warfare were treated as normalised byproducts of international relations. I feel like Kiku alternatingly admires, envies and resents Yao (sometimes all at once), but all the same, I don’t think he always found Yao uniquely horrible—if only because he never expected a man who is an empire to be nurturing or soft (even if Yao is capable of showing that side when he wants to). I’m a bit fuzzy re: when they first meet, but if I take the Han dynasty/ Yayoi period (based on the earliest found mention of Japan in Chinese records)? This is the era of the Roman, Persian and Gupta empires—and like them, Han dynasty Yao is also a conqueror. He's rather what Kiku expects of an empire: kind of great, terrible, intimidating and fascinating culturally all at once. From Kiku’s POV, Yao is a man comfortable with a sword as he is an inkbrush, a warlord occupied with political schemes—but also the sort who would halt his warhorse to admire the plum blossoms by the Yangtze river and compose a poem. During those Japanese embassies to the subsequent Tang dynasty, I see it similarly—for all the cosmopolitan artistic developments Kiku’s keen to learn about, he’s well aware of the Tang expansion into Central Asia, and of course the Battle of Baekgang in Korea where he’s actually at war with Yao.

- Imo, pre-20th century Kiku still tended to regard Yao as a sort of standard for what “power” and “civilization” looked like. In that vein, I headcanon the Opium Wars being more uniquely shocking to Kiku compared to the Manchu or Mongol conquests of China—while both had enormous repercussions, the Opium Wars represented a more drastic overturning of the Chinese worldview—including those tenets Kiku incorporated into his own culture centuries ago. Now, it seems as though all this is ossified, irrelevant and decadent—next to Western industrialisation and ways of thinking. We might think, but regimes come and go, don't they? However, Kiku’s accustomed to Yao being atop the hierarchy for centuries, or at least being regarded as culturally sophisticated, even by his enemies (the Manchu and Mongols both being open to adopting certain elements of Chinese culture, even if partly motivated by fostering a sense of legitimacy with the larger population). And so, even when Kiku was in a long-term and intensely romantic relationship with Jan/Johan (Ned) and was learning about Western culture from him before 1853, he still retained many of his Chinese-influenced customs (such as Confucian philosophy or the way the kimono was influenced by the Chinese hanfu).

-  so, overall—my personal take on Kiku and Yao before the 20th century is deep cultural influence, steeped in a complicated and contradictory relationship. Ultimately, I also feel this sort of Janus-faced dynamic isn’t unprecedented between neighbouring nations who have a long history together. And they clash because they’re similar in some ways; having a deep vein of artistry, but also sharp-edged pride and ambition. Yao regards him as an upstart: perhaps a good learner who is savvy at adapting and incorporating what he learns—but also a troublemaker who needs to be reminded his place (Imjin/Chongyu Wars, the Ningbo Incident etc). For his part, imo, Kiku doesn’t really try to deny that Yao is his mentor and during calmer eras, admiration might be stronger than envy or resentment for Yao—but personality-wise, imo Kiku has a strong streak of pride and ambition— and not enough reverence to always accept the Chinese imperial hierarchy.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 7.15 (after 1900)

1910 – In his book Clinical Psychiatry, Emil Kraepelin gives a name to Alzheimer's disease, naming it after his colleague Alois Alzheimer. 1916 – In Seattle, Washington, William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt incorporate Pacific Aero Products (later renamed Boeing). 1918 – World War I: The Second Battle of the Marne begins near the River Marne with a German attack. 1920 – Aftermath of World War I: The Parliament of Poland establishes Silesian Voivodeship before the Polish-German plebiscite. 1922 – The Japanese Communist Party is established in Japan. 1927 – Massacre of July 15, 1927: Eighty-nine protesters are killed by Austrian police in Vienna. 1941 – The Holocaust: Nazi Germany begins the deportation of 100,000 Jews from the occupied Netherlands to extermination camps. 1946 – The State of North Borneo, now Sabah, Malaysia, is annexed by the United Kingdom. 1954 – The Boeing 367-80, the prototype for both the Boeing 707 and C-135 series, takes its first flight. 1955 – Eighteen Nobel laureates sign the Mainau Declaration against nuclear weapons, later co-signed by thirty-four others. 1959 – The steel strike of 1959 begins, leading to significant importation of foreign steel for the first time in United States history. 1966 – Vietnam War: The United States and South Vietnam begin Operation Hastings to push the North Vietnamese out of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. 1971 – The United Red Army is founded in Japan. 1974 – In Nicosia, Cyprus, Greek junta-sponsored nationalists launch a coup d'état, deposing President Makarios and installing Nikos Sampson as Cypriot president. 1975 – Space Race: Apollo–Soyuz Test Project features the dual launch of an Apollo spacecraft and a Soyuz spacecraft on the first joint Soviet-United States human-crewed flight. It was the last launch of both an Apollo spacecraft, and the Saturn family of rockets. 1979 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter gives his "malaise speech". 1983 – An attack at Orly Airport in Paris is launched by Armenian militant organisation ASALA, leaving eight people dead and 55 injured. 1983 – Nintendo released the Famicom in Japan. 1996 – A Belgian Air Force C-130 Hercules carrying the Royal Netherlands Army marching band crashes on landing at Eindhoven Airport. 1998 – Sri Lankan Civil War: Sri Lankan Tamil MP S. Shanmuganathan is killed by a claymore mine. 2002 – "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh pleads guilty to supplying aid to the enemy and possession of explosives during the commission of a felony. 2002 – The Anti-Terrorism Court of Pakistan sentences British born Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh to death, and three others suspected of murdering The Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl to life. 2003 – AOL Time Warner disbands Netscape. The Mozilla Foundation is established on the same day. 2006 – Twitter, later one of the largest social media platforms in the world, is launched. 2009 – Caspian Airlines Flight 7908 crashes near Jannatabad, Qazvin, Iran, killing 168. 2012 – South Korean rapper Psy releases his hit single Gangnam Style. 2014 – A train derails on the Moscow Metro, killing at least 24 and injuring more than 160 others. 2016 – Factions of the Turkish Armed Forces attempt a coup. 2018 – France win their second World Cup title, defeating Croatia 4-2. 2021 – Three people are killed by a distracted driver in the 2021 Bowburn crash.

[wazafam]

Just like any other television show, K-dramas also come in an array of genres. Some fans might be more inclined to thrillers or crime series. Maybe even a steamy and blush-worthy romance. What about fans who want a K-drama set in a historical time period? No worries, there are a ton of historical dramas over the years that have gotten impeccable ratings.

RELATED: 10 K-Dramas Titled As Supernatural & Fantasy On Netflix, Ranked (According To IMDb)

There's a certain intrigue and tension when it comes to period pieces. The storyline can involve conspiracies of the throne, political unrest, and maybe even some love and comedy. Not to mention the gorgeous and intricate traditional ensembles like that of a hanbok. Historical K-dramas are just as binge-worthy as any modern tale.

10 Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016): 8.0

The 2016 K-drama is a coming-of-age romance centered around a group of elite young men. The drama takes place during the Silla Kingdom era between 57 BC and AD 935. The queen of the Kingdom of Silla sent her son away from the palace walls to stay safe from their enemies.

But he's coming of age and waits along with other citizens for her to step down. But there's trouble amidst. The queen worries about powerful nobles who once tried to take over the throne. She has a plan to form an elite group of warriors called, the Hwarang. They will surpass existing power factions and protect the throne. The young men are unaware that their future king is among them.

9 Rebel: Thief Who Stole The People (2017): 8.2

The K-drama is set during the ruling of the 10th king during the Joseon Dynasty. Many who watch the drama will find it closely related to another famous tale, Robin Hood. The son of a servant has no noble standing in society and little room to make something of himself.

Hong Gil-dong (Yoon Kyun-sang) decides to become the leader of a group of thieves. They steal and give back to the poor as the tyrannical King Yeonsangun (Kim Ji-seok) oppresses his people. This drama also has a love story as the King's consort can't seem to forget her first love who happens to be Gil-dong. It leads to a palpable romance.

8 Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung (2019): 8.2

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung premiered on Netflix in 2019 and stars K-Pop Idol, Cha Eun-woo as Prince Dowon Yi-rim. While the drama may be tagged as a romance and comedy, there's a lot of historical facts to unpack. Two storylines take place in the show.

One is set in "nowadays"  in the early 19th century of Joseon. The other twenty years beforehand. One is more lighthearted with caricatures and jokes. The other is a series of flashbacks detailing the unjust rank of citizens and suppression. Interweaved is also a story of love between a free-spirited woman hoping to become a female historian and a prince working in secret as a romance writer.

7 Deep Rooted Tree (2011): 8.3

Deep Rooted Tree was first known as a historical novel by the same name written by Lee Jung-myung. For fans wanting a bit more thrill in their drama, this is a good choice. The story revolves around a royal guard who is investigating the serial murders of  Jiphyeonjeon scholars. The drama does have inclinations of romance but it's not the main star.

RELATED: Kwon Shi-hyun & 9 Other K-Drama Bad Boys Who Made Us Fall In Love

Ddol-bok (Jang Hyuk) was once a young slave to the King. The King causes the death of his in-laws and his slaves to save them from his father. But the young slaves survive. Years later, now a royal guard, Ddol-bak wants revenge but gets tangled in the mysterious murders. As secrets get uncovered, the creation of the Korean alphabet can either give or take power.

6 Empress Ki (2013): 8.5

Empress Ki was a domestic and overseas hit for its impressive performances and riveting story. The historical drama details the journey of a woman born in Korea as she becomes a powerful empress of China amidst love, war, and politics. Gi Seungnyang (or Ki Seung Nyang) rises to power despite the restrictions of the era's class system.

She comes to marry the Emperor of the Mongol Empire to become empress. But underneath there're still feeling for her first love. Audiences will get caught up in the display of deep-rooted love from the Emperor as well as the Empress's drive and ambitions.

5 Mr. Queen (2020): 8.6

Mr. Queen is a historical comedy that will have anyone on the floor laughing at its comical displays and dialogue. The 2020 drama ties the present and the past all in one. An up-and-coming chef suffers an accident and wakes up in a different era. Not only does he wakes up in the Joseon era but also as a woman.

Not just any woman, but the queen. The current King is a gentle and easy-going person but in reality, has a dark and secret side the Queen is starting to uncover. While there's corruption in the kingdom, the Queen's modern life and that of the Joseon era are melding. It makes for comical and awkward encounters.

4 Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016): 8.6

This drama is for fans who want a bit of fantasy and time travel tied in with their historical romance. The show did averagely well but gained mass success overseas. This is another body swap story through time. A young 25-year-old woman gets transported to the year 941. During the Goryeo Dynasty and amongst the prince of the Wang family.

The drama wouldn't be without its love triangle, a good guy and bad boy. The woman falls for one of the kindhearted princes but is also allured by another who hides his face with a mask. In between love, she finds herself amongst dangerous palace politics and a rivalry for the throne.

3 Mr.Sunshine (2018): 8.8

Mr.Sunshine is a favorite amongst K-drama fans for its melodrama, swoon-worthy love triangle, and its riveting use of historical facts. Fans applauded the show's accurate portrayal of historical events as well as its time period setting. Unlike other dramas, this takes place before the Japanese Annexation of Korean in the late 1800s.

RELATED: Netflix's 10 Best K-Dramas of 2020, Ranked According To IMDb

Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun) was once a slave but escaped to the U.S. and became a Marine Corps officer. He returns to Joseon on a mission but soon falls for an aristocrat's granddaughter. She's no ordinary aristocrat as she hides her identity as part of the Righteous Army. Along the way, he uncovers a plot for the colonization of Korea and a fight for sovereignty.

2 Queen Seondoek (2009): 8.8

Queen Seondoek still holds up as being one of the highest-ranking historical K-dramas and for good reason. The drama is full of political unrest and turmoil that had fans on the edge of their seats. Princess Deokman (Lee Yo-won) is sent away as a child for her safety against the royal concubine hungry for power and desire to become queen.

As she's raised by a loyal servant, she comes to learn of her true identity. She not only seeks to reclaim her rightful place on the throne and take down the concubine but seeks justice for her twin sister. The drama takes viewers on her journey as queen and her struggles behind closed doors.

1 Six Flying Dragons (2015): 8.9

With the highest rating is the 2015 K-drama, Six Flying Dragons. It's seen as a loose prequel to the 2011 drama, Deep Rooted Tree. This is due to the storyline focused on real fictional characters and their foundations in the rise of the Joseon Dynasty.

The drama focuses a bit more on the character Yi Bang-won (Yoo Ah-in), a prince and future king who helped his father establish the dynasty. The drama has everything from the rise and fall of characters, action sequences, drama, and compelling political conflicts.

NEXT: 10 K-Drama Characters That Have Every Fan Feeling “Second-Lead Syndrome”

10 Historical K-Dramas To Binge, Ranked (According To IMDb) from https://ift.tt/3ifEncT

[really-good-inc]

The Last Princess (2016)

Hello,

It’s been a while.

I’ve been wanting to go back to posting on this blog again for quite some time now but frankly, I haven’t watched a good enough movie worthy of a blog post. This is mostly because I have been busy with life but I have also noticed that the cinema industry has been rather mild these days. So if anyone has good film reccommendations, feel free to let me know!

Okay so, I watched this movie upon the reccommendation of a friend and it was a great decision. The Last Princess, directed by Hur Jin-Ho, is a period drama about the last princess of the Korean Empire, Deok Hye. It is based on the book by Kwon Bi-Young.

The story starts when the Princess was a little girl in 1910s and Korea has been annexed by the Japanese. King Gojong, Deokhye’s father, wants to protect his daughter from the Japanese as they want to bring her to Japan and eventually marrying her to a Japanese men to assimilate the Korean imperial family. The movie shows Deokhye’s life in Korea and Japan and the hardships she had to face. One thing to know is that this movie does NOT have a happy ending. Deokhye wasn’t granted entry to Korea until very late in her life due to the Korean government fearing the reinstatement of the empire if the royal family were to be in Korea. Deokhye enters Korea in 1962 and dies in Changdeok Palace in 1989.

I love watching and reading about Korea under Japanese rule, I think it was such an important and interesting era in Korean history. Unfortunately not many works gets translated into English about the colonial era. I can’t wait to be fluent enough to read the book this movie was based on. That being said, I have a couple of things I want to discuss about this movie.

First of all, it had stellar cast and acting. I was completely immersed in the storyline, I cried so many times over the simplest things. It had a great balance of melancholy and hope and misery. However, the socialist in me made sure that I didn’t forget that Deokhye also had a pretty decent life. When you think about it, and think of all the people who were taken as slaves and workers and all those who sacrificed their lives for the Korean independence, Deokhye does seem like just a “princess”. I believe that she had a difficult life and people’s struggles aren’t a competiton of who had it worse but I also think that one should be aware of these things, specially when watching a story of this kind.

While I loved this movie I should also mention that Princess Deokhye is,by no means, my favourite character of this story. And she doesn’t have to be. She seems to be too focused on her own worries and pain and doesn’t consider the bigger picture of the Japanese rule until she is shown by her nephew. She hates the Japanese but not for the truly patriotic reasons. She wants to return to her country, but because Japan is foreign and she misses her mother. She is not a hero. She isn’t strong, but she had potential which was wasted.

I don’t support the existence of monarchies so I couldn’t relate to her pain when she couldn’t enter Korea as a princess. It is a title she never gave up. But I did feel her despair as a woman being unable to return to her home she longer for.

The Last Princess, while being about Deokhye’s life, is also a source of discussion about patriotism, democracy and foreign occupation. The same thing has happened in my own country and the last monarchs but who could blame the people who died for their country when they say “These people haven’t done anything to help us. Why should they be allowed to come in after the war and rule us again as if nothing happened?”.

If you watch The Last Princess, let me know your thoughts about it. We can also discuss the amazing Park Hae Il playing Kim Jang Han as I can’t give any information about him in order not to spoil the movie. It is a good introduction to the era and the history, it is rather light on the subjects it touches compared to other movies and dramas I have seen. Overall, The Last Princess deserves 8 potatoes out of 10. I wish it could reach a bigger audience.

[duncanbarker-blog]

There’s more to Hawaii than just beautiful beaches and Mai Tais, and these Hawaii books are the best way to prepare for your trip. The islands have a rich culture, multi-cultural people, and turbulent history including the overthrow of their monarchy and annexation by the USA in 1898.

I think it’s important to learn more about these seemingly paradise islands before you visit. As usual with my pre-travel , I focused on fictional books set in Hawaii rather than dry histories, and I learned a lot while enjoying engaging stories.

These historical and contemporary Hawaii novels and short stories are a mix of fascinating, tragic, and entertaining.

1) Shark Dialogues by Kiana Davenport

If you only read one book set in Hawaii, make it this one by Hawaiian writer Kiana Davenport. It's one of my favourite books ever!

Shark Dialogues is an epic, complex, multi-generational family saga that weaves the history of Hawaii with the story of powerful matriarch Pono and her four granddaughters. You’ll learn about the Polynesian ancestors, whaling industry, sugar plantations, different immigrant groups (Japanese, Chinese, Filipino), annexation by the US, leper colony, and the fight for sovereignty.

The language is luscious and poetic with magical realism elements that reminded me of Isabel Allende. The novel features Hawaiian myths and language (with a glossary) and some characters use Hawaiian Pidgin, so it feels very immersive and you can pick up some of the local language.

It’s set mostly on the Big Island but also features Oahu, Maui, and Molokai. It does awaken you to the impact of tourism on the islands, so while you may be left feeling guilty for visiting, I think it’s important to be aware of the reality.

Shark Dialogues is a tremendous book and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

2) Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Moloka’i is one of the most popular books about Hawaii. This captivating novel tells the story of Rachel, a young Native Hawaiian girl who is sent to the leper colony on Molokai at the very end of the 19th century.

It’s fascinating to read what life was like in the Kalaupapa colony, both the horrors and how it became a strong and supportive community over the years as the residents embraced life in the face of death.

There’s information about traditional Hawaiian culture as well as a historical backdrop—the introduction of planes, World War II, and the changes to Honolulu after the war.

Although it’s fiction, it’s inspired by the real leper colony, which you can now visit and still houses a few elderly residents (voluntarily).

If you enjoy Moloka’i, don’t miss the new sequel, Daughter of Moloka’i, which follows Rachel’s daughter. Although it’s mostly set in California with a focus on the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, it also features Honolulu and Maui.

3) This is Paradise: Stories by Kristiana Kahakauwila

This is a powerful, beautiful collection of short stories that depict the glories and struggles of contemporary Hawaiian life on Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island.

The stories are all very different with a wide range of characters, but common themes are identity, family, love, home, and death. The use of Pidgin in the dialogue immerses you in the culture.

I especially loved the first eponymous story which cleverly uses the voices of three groups of Hawaiian women (young surfers, hotel cleaners, professionals) in Waikiki, Honolulu to tell the story of a young tourist whose vacation takes a dark turn.

4) Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers by Sara Ackerman

This Hawaii novel is an enjoyable, easy read, although the subject matter is serious. It’s set during World War II in a small town on the Big Island where most residents are of Japanese heritage. Soldiers set up a base nearby and some of the local women befriend them and their mascot lion (which is based on a real lion!).

One of the women’s husband has gone missing and another’s is sent to a Japanese internment camp. The women come together to get through the tough times and bake pies for the soldiers to earn extra money.

The story is partly told by 10-year-old Ella who knows what happened to her father but is too scared to tell.

I also enjoyed Ackerman’s latest novel, The Lieutenant’s Nurse, about a nurse who arrives in Honolulu just before the Pearl Harbour attack during WWII.

5) The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings

The Descendants is set in contemporary Hawaii on Oahu and Kauai (Hanalei). It’s a moving novel about Matthew King, a descendant of Hawaiian royalty who struggles to deal with his two girls as his wife lays in a coma. At the same time he has to make a decision about selling the land he has inherited on Kauai.

I enjoyed the book and it covers some important issues in Hawaii as well as grief and forgiveness. It has also been made into a good movie starring George Clooney.

6) House of Many Gods by Kiana Davenport

If you enjoyed Shark Dialogues, I also recommend this novel by Kiana Davenport. House of Many Gods tells the story of a Hawaiian family on the impoverished Waianae Coast on Oahu from the 1960s to current day.

They have to deal with traumatised and injured war veterans, drugs, parents abandoning their kids, and limited opportunities. At first I found it bleak, but I soon became engaged by the story of Ana, who was abandoned by her mother but goes on to become a doctor.

As with Shark Dialogues, the writing is lyrical and the book is a fascinating insight into Hawaiian language, culture, traditions (especially during pregnancy and childbirth), and the wisdom of elders. Environmental justice is a major theme.

There’s also a short section set in Kauai that includes a helicopter ride over the island and is worth if you are planning to do that.

7) Honolulu by Alan Brennert

Honolulu is another engrossing historical novel set in Hawaii by Alan Brennert. It takes place in the early 20th century in pre-WWII Honolulu and focuses on the Asian immigrants who were brought to the island to work on sugar and pineapple plantations.

The main character is Jin, a young Korean girl who comes to Hawaii as a picture bride (like a mail-order bride) and is shocked to discover that her arranged marriage is to a poor and violent plantation worker.

The book follows the tragedies and triumphs of immigrant life and features some real-life characters such as Queen Liliʻuokalani and Duke Kahanamoku (a swimmer who popularised surfing).

8) The Last Aloha by Gaellen Quinn

I didn’t find this novel as well written as the ones above, but it is enjoyable and tells the important story of how Hawaii’s queen was dethroned.

It’s told through the eyes of Laura, a young American woman who moves from San Francisco to the islands to live with relatives after her father dies. Her uncle came from a missionary background but is now part of the wealthy elite making enormous amounts of money from the sugar industry. He and others plot to overthrow the queen to protect their business interests.

Laura ends up working for the royal family and is close to them as they struggle to save their kingdom.

For a more authentic account of these events, you might want to read Hawai’i’s Story by Hawai’i’s Queen, which was written by the last monarch Queen Liliʻuokalani herself. I found the book rather dry and difficult to get through, though.

9) The Goddesses by Swan Huntley

If you are looking for an easy beach read set in Hawaii, try The Goddesses. Nancy, a 48-year-old American woman, moves to Kona on the Big Island with her teenage sons and husband as they try to rebuild their marriage after his infidelity.

Nancy becomes swept up in a dangerous friendship with her charismatic yoga teacher and things start going wrong. There are lovely descriptions of the island, but you won’t learn much about Hawaiian culture.

I hope you enjoy these Hawaii books and that they give you more insight into the islands’ unique culture and history. 

If you are looking for a Hawaii travel guidebook, I recommend the detailed Hawaii Revealed series by local Andrew Doughty. We used the Maui and Kauai guides and there are also books on Oahu and the Big Island. 

You can also read these other posts about Hawaii: 

The Ultimate Maui Itinerary

The Best Road to Hana Stops 

Where to Stay in Kauai

17 Unmissable Things to do in Kauai

Do you have any other recommendations for books about Hawaii? We’re already planning our next trip and I need to add to my list!

Enjoyed this post? Pin it for later!

[release-info]

Because of South Korea’s tumultuous history, construction and destruction has been repeated endlessly, resulting in an interesting melange of architectural styles and designs.[374] Korean traditional architecture is characterized by its harmony with nature. Ancient architects adopted the bracket system characterized by thatched roofs and heated floors called ondol.[375] People of the upper classes built bigger houses with elegantly curved tiled roofs with lifting eaves. Traditional architecture can be seen in the palaces and temples, preserved old houses called hanok,[376] and special sites like Hahoe Folk Village, Yangdong Village of Gyeongju and Korean Folk Village. Traditional architecture may also be seen at the nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Korea.[377] Bulguksa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site Western architecture was first introduced to Korea at the end of the 19th century. Churches, offices for foreign legislation, schools and university buildings were built in new styles. With the annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910 the colonial regime intervened in Korea’s architectural heritage, and Japanese-style modern architecture was imposed. The anti-Japanese sentiment, and the Korean War, led to the destruction of most buildings constructed during that time.[378] Korean architecture entered a new phase of development during the post-Korean War reconstruction, incorporating modern architectural trends and styles. Stimulated by the economic growth in the 1970s and 1980s, active redevelopment saw new horizons in architectural design. In the aftermath of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korea has witnessed a wide variation of styles in its architectural landscape due, in large part, to the opening up of the market to foreign architects.[379] Contemporary architectural efforts have been constantly trying to balance the traditional philosophy of “harmony with nature” and the fast-paced urbanization that the country has been going through in recent years.[380] Cuisine Main article: Korean cuisine Bibimbap Korean cuisine, hanguk yori (한국요리; 韓國料理), or hansik (한식; 韓食), has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Ingredients and dishes vary by province. There are many significant regional dishes that have proliferated in different variations across the country in the present day. The Korean royal court cuisine once brought all of the unique regional specialties together for the royal family. Meals consumed both by the royal family and ordinary Korean citizens have been regulated by a unique culture of etiquette. Korean cuisine is largely based on rice, noodles, tofu, vegetables, fish and meats. Traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of side dishes, banchan (반찬), which accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice. Every meal is accompanied by numerous banchan. Kimchi (김치), a fermented, usually spicy vegetable dish is commonly served at every meal and is one of the best known Korean dishes. Korean cuisine usually involves heavy seasoning with sesame oil, doenjang (된장), a type of fermented soybean paste, soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger, and gochujang (고추장), a hot pepper paste. Other well-known dishes are Bulgogi (불고기), grilled marinated beef, Gimbap (김밥), and Tteokbokki (떡볶이), a spicy snack consisting of rice cake seasoned with gochujang or a spicy chili paste. Soups are also a common part of a Korean meal and are served as part of the main course rather than at the beginning or the end of the meal. Soups known as guk (국) are often made with meats, shellfish and vegetables. Similar to guk, tang (탕; 湯) has less water, and is more often served in restaurants. Another type is jjigae (찌개), a stew that is typically heavily seasoned with chili pepper and served boiling hot. Popular Korean alcoholic beverages include Soju, Makgeolli and Bokbunja ju. Korea is unique among Asian countries in its use of metal chopsticks. Metal chopsticks have been discovered in Goguryeo archaeological sites.[381] Entertainment Main articles: Korean Wave, Music of South Korea, Cinema of South Korea, and Korean drama Rain, one of the most popular music artists in South Korea, found international fame by reaching a global audience through his music and films. In addition to domestic consumption, South Korea has a thriving entertainment industry where various facets of South Korean entertainment including television dramas, films, and popular music has generated significant financial revenues for the nation’s economy. The cultural phenomenon known as Hallyu or the “Korean Wave”, has swept many countries across Asia making South Korea a major soft power as an exporter of popular culture and entertainment, rivaling Western nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom.[382] Until the 1990s, trot and traditional Korean folk based ballads dominated South Korean popular music. The emergence of the South Korean pop group Seo Taiji and Boys in 1992 marked a turning point for South Korean popular music, also known as K-pop, as the genre modernized itself from incorporating elements of popular musical genres from across the world such as Western popular music, experimental, jazz, gospel, Latin, classical, hip hop, rhythm and blues, electronic dance, reggae, country, folk, and rock on top of its uniquely traditional Korean music roots.[383] Western-style pop, hip hop, rhythm and blues, rock, folk, electronic dance oriented acts have become dominant in the modern South Korean popular music scene, though trot is still enjoyed among older South Koreans. K-pop stars and groups are well known across Asia and have found international fame making millions of dollars in export revenue. Many K-pop acts have also been able secure a strong overseas following following using online social media platforms such as the video sharing website YouTube. South Korean singer PSY became an international sensation when his song “Gangnam Style” topped global music charts in 2012. Since the success of the film Shiri in 1999, the Korean film industry has begun to gain recognition internationally. Domestic film has a dominant share of the market, partly because of the existence of screen quotas requiring cinemas to show Korean films at least 73 days a year.[384] South Korean television shows have become popular outside of Korea. South Korean television dramas, known as K-dramas have begun to find fame internationally. Many dramas tend to have a romantic focus, such as Princess Hours, You’re Beautiful, Playful Kiss, My Name is Kim Sam Soon, Boys Over Flowers, Winter Sonata, Autumn in My Heart, Full House, City Hunter, All About Eve, Secret Garden, I Can Hear Your Voice, Master’s Sun, My Love from the Star, Healer, Descendants of the Sun and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. Historical dramas have included Faith, Dae Jang Geum, The Legend, Dong Yi, Moon Embracing the Sun, and Sungkyunkwan Scandal.[385] Holidays Main article: Public holidays in South Korea There are many official public holidays in South Korea. Korean New Year’s Day, or “Seollal”, is celebrated on the first day of the Korean lunar calendar. Korean Independence Day falls on March 1, and commemorates the March 1 Movement of 1919. Memorial Day is celebrated on June 6, and its purpose is to honor the men and women who died in South Korea’s independence movement. Constitution Day is on July 17, and it celebrates the promulgation of Constitution of the Republic of Korea. Liberation Day, on August 15, celebrates Korea’s liberation from the Empire of Japan in 1945. Every 15th day of the 8th lunar month, Koreans celebrate the Midautumn Festival, in which Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns and eat a variety of traditional Korean foods. On October 1, Armed Forces day is celebrated, honoring the military forces of South Korea. October 3 is National Foundation Day. Hangul Day, on October 9 commemorates the invention of hangul, the native alphabet of the Korean language. Sports Main article: Sport in South Korea http://bit.ly/2Wq38LD

[newstfionline]

Headlines

With spreading virus comes fears--and lots of stockpiling (AP) COVID-19, the disease that has sickened more than 100,000 people worldwide and killed more than 3,400 people, has created legions of nervous hoarders who are loading up on canned goods, frozen dinners, toilet paper, and cleaning products. Many want to be prepared as they hear warnings about quarantines and watch a growing number of companies like Twitter, Microsoft and Amazon ask their employees to work from home. Such stockpiling is expected to last for weeks, resulting in a boon for discounters and grocery stores as well as food delivery services.

Italy Orders Lockdown of Rich North to Try to Halt Coronavirus (Reuters) Italy imposed a virtual lockdown across a swathe of its wealthy north on Sunday, including the financial capital Milan, in a drastic new attempt to try to contain a rapidly growing outbreak of coronavirus.

Pope cancels main appearances in public to avoid crowds gathering amid coronavirus (Reuters) Pope Francis has canceled his regular appearances in public to avoid crowds gathering to see him and will stream them on the internet from inside the Vatican because of the coronavirus outbreak in Italy.

Tear Gas Sprayed Across Migrants at Turkey-Greece Border (AP) A group of migrants on Saturday tried to bring down a fence in a desperate attempt to bust through the border into Greece while others hurled rocks at Greek police. Greek authorities responded, firing volleys of tear gas at the youths.

South Korea suspends visas for Japanese in tit-for-tat coronavirus curbs (Reuters) South Korea said on Friday it would suspend visas and visa waivers for Japan in response to Tokyo’s own travel restrictions on Koreans, as fears over the spreading coronavirus rekindled a feud between the neighbors dating back to before World War Two.

Villagers flee to escape shootings in Indonesia’s Papua (AP) A weeklong shootout between security forces and a rebel group near the world’s largest gold mine in Indonesia’s easternmost Papua region has caused nearly 2,000 villagers to flee, officials said Saturday. Rebels in Papua have been fighting a low-level insurgency since the early 1960s, when Indonesia annexed the region that was a former Dutch colony. Papua was formally incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a U.N.-sponsored ballot that was seen as a sham by many.

Crisis-Hit Lebanon to Default on $1.2 Billion Loan Payment (AP) Lebanon’s prime minister said Saturday the government will suspend payment of $1.2 billion in loans, marking the crisis-hit country’s first-ever default on its sovereign debt amid ongoing popular unrest. Formal debt restructuring talks between Lebanon and its bond holders are expected to begin in about two weeks, a source familiar with matter said on Sunday.

Heavy police raids leave east Jerusalem neighborhood on edge (AP) Nearly every day for the last nine months Israeli police have stormed into the Palestinian neighborhood of Issawiya in east Jerusalem in a campaign they say is needed to maintain law and order. Rights groups say that in addition to searching houses and issuing fines, they have detained hundreds of people--some as young as 10--on suspicion of stone-throwing. The operations frequently ignite clashes, with local youths throwing rocks and firebombs, which police say justifies their heightened presence. But residents and human rights groups say the raids themselves seem intended to provoke confrontations and have created an atmosphere of terror, with parents afraid to let their children play outside. Last month, a 9-year-old boy was shot in the face by police, losing an eye in an incident authorities say they are still investigating. It’s unclear what prompted the crackdown, but many residents feel police are making an example out of Issawiya so that Israel can cement its control over east Jerusalem, which it seized in the 1967 war and later annexed.

Saudi Prince Detains Senior Members of Royal Family (NYT) In a fresh episode of Saudi palace intrigue, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has detained three members of the royal family, including a brother of the king and a former crown prince who had been potential obstacles to his power. The detentions were the latest demonstration of the crown prince’s willingness to take extraordinary measures to quash any perceived rival.

[shitonionsays]

He also claimed that the korean royal family begged for Japanese annexation. Yeah, we wanted it so much that we fucking incited an invasion force from China to stop the Japanese because our own ones had been disarmed.

https://twitter.com/oniontaker/status/1157487675273707522 , in reply to https://twitter.com/oniontaker/status/1157487131540914176