The Tonghak Rebellion (1894-1895)

Ancillary Causes

Japanese aggression toward Chinese in Korea

Japanese desire for a unified, and modern

Asia

MAIN CAUSE

The Tonghak Rebellion (1894-1895)

The Tonghak Rebellion took it’s name from the teachings of Ch’oe Che-u. A demonstration by 20,000 Tonghak in 1893, in front of the royal palace in Seoul gives the first clues to peasant disapproval of the Korean government, specifically the yangban’s involvement with foreign powers. This sentiment against the government allowed Chon Pong-jun, leader of the Tonghak Parish in Kobu county, to take action. After the Korean government reacted to the action taken by the rebels in Kobu (dispersion of tax collected rice to peasants, seizure of weapons, and the taking of the county office) the Tonghaks released a call to arms among the peasantry of Korea. The rebellion achieved multiple early victories, and with each victory, their numbers increased. The Korean government quickly called for military aid from Yuan Shi-kai and the Chinese.

Japanese Aggression

Via the Tientsin Convention of April 18, 1885, the “recognition of an equal right for Japan with China to send in troops in the case of necessity,” was achieved. When China informed Japan of her intention to aid in the suppression of the Tonghak Rebellion, the Meiji court offered Japanese assistance. China declined, and the Japanese decided to send their troops to the Korean peninsula anyway. The Japanese chose to attack Chinese forces without a formal declaration of war, thus starting the first Sino-Japanese War.

Payson J. Treat, “China and Korea, 1885-1894,” Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 49,

No. 4 (Dec., 1934): 506-543, JSTOR (accessed April 15, 2010).

The Japanese Agenda?

The Japanese absolutely had ulterior motives in taking part in the first Sino-Japanese war. As a recently modernized nation, they clearly desired to gain the respect of the western powers, however, the reputation of the East Asians was one of a weak and inferior people who presented no threat to the western powers. Perhaps the Japanese took it upon themselves to civilize both China and Korea, through warfare, in an effort to unify a modern East Asia, similar to Europe. To further this argument, the Japanese feared foreign control over Korea, which functioned as a “dagger pointing at the heart of Japan.” If the fellow East Asian nations were as weak as the foreigners viewed them, then the western powers would have no trouble taking the “dagger” and imposing their will upon Japan.

Tonghak

Tonghak, and indigenous Korean religion, emerged in the 1860’s under the guidance of Ch’oe Che-u. Che-u’s teachings were based on “the main religious or philosophical ideas of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Korean spirit worship, plus some limited Christian aspects.” These teachings were focused toward the fair treatment of peasant farmers.

Robert A. Kinney, “Students, Intellectuals, and the Churches: Their Roles in Korean Politics,” Asian

Affairs, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Jan. - Feb., 1981): 180-195, JSTOR (accessed April 15, 2010).

Tonghak Call to Arms

The people are the root of the nation. If the root withers, the nation will be enfeebled. Heedless of their responsibility for sustaining the state and pro­viding for its people, the officials build lavish residences in the countryside, scheming to ensure their own well-being at the expense of the resources of the nation. How can this be viewed as proper? We are wretched village people far from the capital, yet we feed and clothe ourselves with the bounty from the sovereign's land. We cannot sit by and watch our nation perish. The whole nation is as one, its multitudes united in their determination to raise the right­eous standard of revolt, and to pledge their lives to sustain the state and provide for the livelihood of the people. However startling the action we take today may seem, you must not be troubled by it. For as we felicitously live out the tranquil years ahead, each man secure in his occupation - when all the people can enjoy the blessings of benevolent kingly rule, how immeasurably joyful will we be!

Korean History.info, “The Tonghak (Donghak) Rebellion, 1894,”

http://koreanhistory.info/Tonghak.htm (accessed April 15, 2010).