Korean History Proficiency Test - Basic flashcards
Korean History Proficiency Test - Basic · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Dangun
- The legendary founder of Gojoseon, traditionally dated to 2333 BCE; the myth of Dangun is recorded in the Samguk Yusa and symbolizes the origin of the Korean people.
- Jeulmun pottery
- Neolithic Korean pottery decorated with comb-pattern incised lines; it is associated with early farming and fishing communities and is found at sites such as Amsadong.
- Dolmen (goindol)
- A Bronze Age megalithic tomb made of large stone slabs; Korean dolmens are concentrated in Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa, which are jointly listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
- Eight Articles of Law
- A legal code attributed to Gojoseon, recorded in Chinese sources; it is known only in fragments and reflects early state formation and social norms.
- King Gwanggaeto
- A Goguryeo king (reigned 391–413) who expanded territory into Manchuria and the Korean peninsula; his achievements are commemorated on the Gwanggaeto Stele.
- Hwarang
- An elite youth corps of Silla that combined military training, education, and Buddhist and Confucian values; it contributed to Silla's unification of the peninsula.
- Bone-rank system
- Silla's hereditary social hierarchy (golpum) that determined official rank and marriage eligibility; it limited access to high office and contributed to Silla's political structure.
- Balhae
- A state founded in 698 by Dae Jo-yeong after Goguryeo's fall; it was called Haedong Seongguk and was destroyed by the Khitan in 926.
- Tripitaka Koreana
- The complete Buddhist canon carved on woodblocks in the 13th century during the Mongol invasions; it is preserved at Haeinsa Temple and is a UNESCO World Heritage item.
- Goryeo celadon
- Green-glazed ceramic ware produced in Goryeo, often decorated with inlaid (sanggam) designs; it is renowned for its jade-like color and craftsmanship.
- Ten Injunctions
- A set of ten political and religious guidelines attributed to Goryeo's founder Wang Geon; they advised rulers on governance, Buddhism, and geomantic principles.
- Military rule of Goryeo
- A period from 1170 to 1270 when military generals dominated the Goryeo court after a coup; it was marked by rebellions and later by Mongol invasions.
- Hunminjeongeum
- The Korean alphabet promulgated by King Sejong in 1443 and published in 1446; it was designed to be easy to learn and is the basis of modern Hangeul.
- Joseon factional politics
- Conflicts among scholar-official factions (bun dang) such as the Sarim and Hungu, and later the Easterners and Westerners; they shaped Joseon politics from the 16th century.
- Imjin War
- The Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598; Admiral Yi Sun-sin's naval victories and the devastation of the peninsula are key features of this war.
- Silhak
- A late Joseon intellectual movement emphasizing practical learning and social reform; scholars such as Jeong Yak-yong criticized rigid neo-Confucianism and advocated institutional change.
- Treaty of Ganghwa
- An 1876 treaty between Korea and Japan that opened Korean ports and granted extraterritoriality; it is regarded as the start of Korea's unequal treaty era.
- Donghak Peasant Revolution
- An 1894 peasant uprising led by Jeon Bong-jun that demanded social reform and anti-foreign measures; it contributed to the Gabo Reforms and foreign intervention.
- Gabo Reforms
- Government reforms in 1894–1895 that abolished slavery and the gwageo examination system and reorganized the state; they were implemented under Japanese and Chinese pressure.
- Korean Empire
- The state proclaimed in 1897 by King Gojong, changing the country's name from Joseon; it ended with the 1910 Japanese annexation.
- March First Movement
- A nationwide peaceful protest for independence on March 1, 1919; it led to the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai in April 1919.
- Korean Provisional Government
- A government-in-exile established in Shanghai in 1919; it organized independence activities and later formed the Korean Liberation Army during World War II.
- Battle of Cheongsanri
- A 1920 battle in Manchuria where Korean independence forces led by Kim Jwa-jin defeated Japanese troops; it is a major symbol of armed resistance.
- Comfort women system
- A system during Japanese colonial rule in which women were forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military; it is a major historical and human-rights issue.
- April 19 Revolution
- A 1960 student-led uprising that overthrew the Rhee government after the rigged March 15 election; it led to the short-lived Second Republic.
- Yushin Constitution
- A 1972 constitutional amendment that centralized power under President Park Chung-hee and restricted civil liberties; it was a key feature of authoritarian rule.
- Gwangju Democratization Movement
- A 1980 uprising in Gwangju demanding democratic reforms; it was suppressed by military forces and is commemorated as a symbol of the struggle for democracy.
- June Democratic Struggle
- A 1987 nationwide protest movement that forced the government to adopt a new constitution with direct presidential elections; it marked a turning point in democratization.
- Seokguram Grotto
- A Buddhist cave temple near Bulguksa in Gyeongju, built in the 8th century; it is renowned for its stone Buddha and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Jongmyo Shrine
- A Confucian royal ancestral shrine in Seoul where Joseon kings and queens are honored; its annual rites and ritual music are UNESCO-recognized heritage.
- Jikji
- A Buddhist text printed with metal movable type in 1377 at Heungdeoksa; it is the oldest extant metal-type printed book and is a UNESCO Memory of the World item.
- Annals of the Joseon Dynasty
- A comprehensive record of Joseon kings compiled by official historians; it is a UNESCO Memory of the World item and a key primary source for Korean history.