Chinese Influences in Korea 

Korea and China

• Temporary Chinese conquest of northern Korea during Han Dynasty & colonization by Chinese settlers
• Bitter rivals
• Korea generally maintained political independence
• Korea participated in Chinese’s tribute system
• Korea wanted to copy Chinese administrative techniques
• Confucianism, brought by the Chinese, was studied in Korea
• Negative impact on Korean women
• Examination system never caught on

  Regarding Women:

• Korean women originally had children and stayed with their families
• Unfair for widowed women (no remarriage, divorce, property rights)
• Men were allowed to have several wives
  • Chinese culture had little influences outside of aristocracy
  • Korea had many slaves; 1/3rd of population
• Buddhist monasteries used slaves to cultivate land