|
Before Fusion: Japan & Korea
If Japan's civilization had to be described by one visualisation, the famous picture of the huge wave over Mount Fuji would probably work best. Thus, it could be argued that it has attained its unparalleled cultural refinement (which is likely our best hope for long term survival in the cosmic world) and military might (necessary to maintain our independence) through the natural facts of its existence. Japan is once again prioritising its defense.
Korea's location between China, Russia and Japan forces it to balance between greater forces. In the face of changing generational preferences North Korea is changing its peninsular policy, while South Korea is increasing its regional influence, expressing willingness to work with "not like minded" states and is proactively seeking a renewal of the international order.
Japan
Between 3,000 and 2,800 years ago cultural and technological changes brought from the mainland lead to increased population density in Japan, increased stratification of society and tribal warfare. Gradually tribal formations were replaced by early kingdoms. During the 2nd century a civil war led to an establishment of a stronger state and a consolidation of chiefdoms.
The Japanese ideology has its roots in the Shinto religion, a decentralized, polytheistic and anamistic set of beliefs. It focuses on the harmony between humans and spirits through rituals, with a particular focus on cleansing. It doesn't focus on particular moral codes or afterlife outcomes of one's behavior during life. Starting with the 6th century Buddhism entered Japan and merged with Shinto. Initial introduction led to religious warfare.
Kofun & Asuka periods
Probably starting in the 4th century an alliance of tribal nobles was formed as the first unified state in central Japan.
In the late 4th and early 5th centuries Japanese troops participated in a war in Korea, fought between competing Korean fractions. In the mid 7th century a war against an expanding peripheral ethnic group was successfully fought by the state. Also in the mid 7th century Japanese troops participated in another Korean conflict.
After the introduction of Buddhism from Korea, Japan was de facto controlled by the Buddhist faction from late 6th to the early 7th century. In the mid 7th century a coup led to a series of reforms interrupted by a war of succession in the late 7th century. These reforms led to a creation of a centralized government and institution of the former title of Emperor.
Nara & Heian Periods
In the early 8th century first written records of the Japanese creation myth appeared, describing imperial line as being descendants of the gods. During the 8th century there was an intense struggle for influence between the Imperial monarchs, leading nobile clans and Buddhist priests. This struggle led to the start gradual removal of control from the Imperial monarchy to the leading clan in the mid 9th century which continued until the late 11th century.
In the mid 8th century Japan suffered a series of natural disasters and outbreaks of disease which killed over a quarter of the population. Another disease outbreak in the early 9th century killed almost half of the population.
From the late 8th century to the early 9th century the Thirty-Eight Years' War of successful imperial expansion was fought.
In the mid 11th century a war of succession continued the struggle for control between the samurai clans and led to Imperial victory. In the late 11th century another war continued open hostilities between the clans.
By the end of the period in the late 12th century the struggles for internal influence weakened the central state and led to creation of regional centers with their own armies.
In the late 12th century a civil war resulted in the establishment of a military dictatorship - Shogunate, which largely controlled the country until the late 19th century, with the Imperial monarchy being reduced to being only a symbolic leadership as a source of legitimacy.
Kamakura period
The Kamakura period of the shogunate dynastical rule saw the emergency of the warrior caste of samurai and the establishment of feudalism in Japan, with the adoption of Japan's first military code of law in the early 13th century. Vassals were allowed to maintain their own armies and institute their own regional law and order. Also during this period Buddhist ideology was expanded into Old Buddhism and New Buddhism and widely spread among the samurai class.
In the early 13th century an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the shogunate led to a civil war.
In the late 13th century all of the armies of Japan were mobilised to fight two wars against a naval invasion by the forces of the Mongol Empire. The war led to victory but overextended the Japanese state. It failed to compensate its vassals for their service which led to permanent deterioration of ties between the shogunate and the samurai class.
The conflict with the vassals ultimately led to a war in the early 14th century which ended the Kamakura shogunate.
Muromachi period
The following shogunate started with a long period of instability and civil war during the mid and late 14th century, with the shogunate finally restoring unity by the end of the century. Subsequently the regional rulers (daimyos) increased in influence. This led to a balance for control over the state between these regional rulers and the shogunate.
In the early 15th century the forces of the Korean Joseon state attempted an invasion against Japanese pirate bases in the middle of the Tsushima Strait between Korean and Japan. Militarily inconclusive, it resulted in new trade agreements between Korea and Japan.
In the late 15th century a regional dispute escalated into a nationwide civil war. This resulted in a century of anarchy with widespread revolts of peasants and samurai. During this period a greater multitude of more fragmented daimyos struggled to dominate the entirety of Japan. This was the period with a pronounced despotism of the nobility against the peasantry, resulting in the increased armament of the latter.
Azuchi-Momoyama period
In the mid 16th century the Portuguese arrived, with a subsequent arrival of missionaries, starting a period of Western colonialism which lasted until the early 17th century. The Spanish trade colonizers arrived in the late 16th century, followed by the Dutch in the early 17th century.
In the mid 16th century the first recorded naval battle between Europeans and Japanese took place, with a victory of the Portuguese, who gained increased influence as a result.
In the late 16th century Japanese pirates (along with Chinese and Koreans) participated in a battle with Spanish forces in the Philippines. This resulted in Spanish victory and reduction of pirate activity in the area.
In the late 16th century two Japanese invasions of Korea took place, with an intent to conquer the Korean Peninsula as well as China. They resulted in a military stalemate between the Chino-Korean alliance and the Japanese forces and the withdrawal of Japanese forces.
By the late 16th century the continuous civil war resulted in a period of consolidation of central control over the country. At the turn of the 17th century a decisive victory of the "Western Army" over the "Eastern Army" led to the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Korea
Per existing (widely accepted) archaeological evidence, the first agricultural societies in Korea started to appear about 3500 years ago.
Gojoseon
According to mythology, the first Korean kingdom of Gojoseon was founded in the north about 4,450 years ago and certainly existed as a centralized kingdom since at least 2,400 years ago and was well known in China. Around 2,300 years ago the Jin state in South Korea was formed as (likely) a federation of smaller states. By 2,100 years ago North Korea was conquered by the Han dynasty of China and Jin state in the South evolved into a confederacy. Subsequently the Proto-Three Kingdoms period started before the subsequent Three Kingdoms were fully formed.
Around 2300 years ago Gojoseon lost territory to the Yan dynasty of China as a result of a war. As a result of another war around 2200 years ago Gojoseon gained more autonomy from Yan. Finally around 2100 years ago Gojoseon was defeated and annexed by the following Han dynasty, which created four commanderies in its territory.
During its existence Gojoseon maintained close relations with Japan.
After the fall of the Gojoseon and before maturation of the following Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla kingdoms Korea entered into the Proto-Three Kingdoms period. It lasted until the turn of the 4th century when the Three Kingdoms began to dominate the peninsula.
Three Kingdoms
Among other kingdoms like Gaya the three kingdoms share a similar culture and language. In the 3rd century Buddhism was introduced in Korea from China, soon becoming the state religion, starting with Goguryeo in the late 4th century. Prior to that Korea largely held shamanic beliefs, which survive to this day.
Approaching 2100 years ago (subsequent to the destruction of Gojoseon) the northern kingdom of Goguryeo was founded, growing with the gradual retreat of the Chinese commanderies and conquering neighboring tribes. After the fall of the Chinese Han dynasty and initial cooperation with the new Cao Wei dynasty against a commandery, Goguryeo lost a war against the Cao Wei in the mid 3rd century. Goguryeo temporarily lost its capital and was nearly destroyed. In the early 4th century Goguryeo conquered the remaining Chinese commandery. In the mid 4th century Goguryeo was at war with the Xianbeis nomads.
Also at about the same time the western kingdom of Baekje was founded. It became a great maritime state, helping to spread Buddhism throughout East Asia, including Japan.
At about the same time the eastern kingdom of Silla was founded, starting from a city-state and incorporating people fleeing from a chinese commandery and later the supponding native tribes. Being the least numerous and weakest state it built pacts and alliances with more prominent states.
Around the turn of the 5th century, the alliance of Goguryeo and Silla won a war against the alliance of Baekje and Gaya states and Japan. As a result Japan was expelled from Korean affairs and Silla became a protectorate of Goguryeo.
Between the late 1st and the mid 6th century Silla was in a long term armed conflict with Gaya and Baekje. Final result was Gaya being absorbed into Silla and Baekje.
Around the turn of the 6th century and in the early 7th century Goguryeo won a war against the Sui of China, which was the aggressor, greatly contributing to the end of the rule of the Sui dynasty.
North and South States
In the mid 7th century the alliance of Goguryeo, Baekje, Japan and Mohe lost to the alliance of the Tang dynasty of China and Silla. This resulted in the fall of Goguryeo and Baekje and their annexation by Tang, creation of Unified Silla and beginning of territorial disputes between Silla and Tang. In the north the Balhae state expanded into Manchuria.
In the late 7th century Silla and its Goguryeo and Baekje vassalages started a war against the Tang dynasty, winning it and unifying most of the Korean peninsula. Unified Silla carried on the maritime legacy of Baekje, becoming a trade empire of East Asia. Buddhist ideology was most prominent during this time. Unified Silla began to decline in the late 8th century and surrendered to Goryeo in the early 10th century.
The northern Balhae was at a military conflict with the Tang dynasty until the end of the 8th century. In the early 10th century it was conquered by the Chinese Liao dynasty.
Goryeo dynasty
Goryeo was founded in the early 10 century, deemed to be the successor of Goguryeo and by mid 10th century was the ruling dynasty of Korea. It lasted until the late 14th century, with a period of military control from late 12th to the late 13th centuries. During Goryeo rule Buddhism continued to spread throughout Korea.
In the late 10th and the early 11th centuries the Goryeo state was at war with the Liao dynasty of China, which invaded Goryeo and was defeated. As a result Liao seeded territory, in return for tribute and establishment of diplomatic relations, leading to lasting peace.
Between the 10th and the 14th centuries Goryeo was involved in a number of inconclusive border conflicts with the Jin dynasty and the Jurchens.
In the early to mid 13th century the Mongol Empire conquered Goryeo, making it a vassal state from the late 13th and the mid 14th centuries. As a vassal Goryeo participated in the failed invasions of Japan by the Mongol Empire, in the late 13th century.
In the mid 14th century the Red Turban rebels of China invaded Goryeo and were defeated. Subsequently Goryeo defeated an invading Yuan army. The invasions were repelled and led to eventual the end of Goryeo rule and severe loss of life.
Early and Middle Joseon dynasty
Goryeo was overthrown by the Joseon dynasty in the late 14th century, which lasted until the late 19th century. It institutionalized Neo-Confucianism over the previously dominating Buddhism and consolidated rule over the Korean peninsula.
In the late 14th century Goryeo organized an expedition against Japan's Tsushima province, making it a tributary state. In the early 15th century a subsequent expedition temporarily ended nearby piracy. In the early 16th century after Japanese riots in Korean port cities the economic relationship between the two countries was greatly reduced.
In the mid 15th century a northern expedition led to the expansion of Korean borders to what they are presently.
In the late 16th century the Joseon Dynasty aligned with the Ming dynasty of China (being its imperial tributary and an ally) repelled two large scale Japanese invasions. The war resulted in heavy devastation, war atrocities and severe loss of life.
In the early to mid 17th century during the rise of the Manchu influence in China, Korea was twice invaded by the Manchu, forcing it to submit to the new dynasty in China, over the previously preferred Ming.
