King Sejong the Great

“If the people prosper, how can the king not prosper with them? And if the people do not prosper, how may the king prosper without them?”

- King Sejong, ruler of Choson Dynasty, Korea, 1418 CE-1450 CE

King Sejong’s Philosophy

“To share in the joys of living with Heaven’s people.”

How would this affect the way he reigned?

A New Dynasty

The end of the Koryo dynasty was turbulent.

The Choson dynasty ascended and brought order to Korea.

Sejong’s Accomplishments

1) Devotion to learning: Established “Jade Hall,” which was a royal institute for research.

2) Revised and improved the laws. Ensured they were made known to the people.

3) Reformed the criminal justice system.

Sejong’s Accomplishments

Reformed the land tax system

Improved music

Instrumental in improving medicine

Sejong’s Accomplishments

Increased population (through better medicine) necessitated better farming techniques.

Inventions during his reign: Rain gauge, astronomy observatory, sundial, water clock, recalculated standards of measurement (1 minute = 60 seconds, 360 degree circumference).

Sejong’s Accomplishments

Improved the printing process– Through a new font that increased the

speed of printing– Movable type printing reached its peak

during Sejong’s reign.

The Korean Alphabet

The spoken language of our country is different from that of China and does not suit the Chinese characters. Therefore, amongst uneducated people there have been many who, having something that they wish to put into words, have been unable to express their feelings in writing. I am greatly distressed because of this, and so I have made twenty eight new letters. Let everyone practice them at their ease, and adapt them to their daily use.

--King Sejong’s Preface to Hunmin Chongum

Sejong’s Greatest Accomplishment

Hangul was created in 1443.

Vowels and consonants are visually different

The 28 symbols reflect the shape of the articulators.– Example: The symbol for /k/ looks like the tongue

blocking the back of the mouth

Opposition to Hangul

While today Hangul is celebrated as an amazing literary achievement, King Sejong met opposition after he created it.

Members of the court and Jade Hall were concerned that the simplicity of the alphabet lessened its importance.

Sejong was persistent because he wanted to give all people a means of writing. Slowly, the Koreans embraced the alphabet.

Which influenced King Sejong?

Legalism

Daoism

Confucianism