Principal Investigator: Dr. Luis A. Botella Sánchez

The research project focuses on collective identities on the Korean peninsula during the Three Kingdoms period (1st century BC – 10th century AD), considering the concept of spatial transition and its utility in this study. The transition of populations and individuals during the Three Kingdoms period is proposed as a tool for studying the mechanisms and outcome of the integration of new communities into the emerging peninsular states. Furthermore, its influence on the consolidation of greater social stratification is also observed. This project proposes to investigate the elites’ conception of political and social boundaries in relation to these expansive and assimilative processes. To do so, it proposes to analyze moments of spatial boundary transition represented in the Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms compiled by Kim Pusik between 1142 and 1146) and the Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms compiled by the monk Iryon during the 1280s). By defining the two spaces that are transitioned and the turning point that marks them, relevant information can be obtained about the assimilation and/or segregation of groups, as well as social segregation during the Three Kingdoms Period. This center-focused view is contrasted with the reality of a border space where state and pre-state societies would be interacting, as in the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula.

ACTIVITIES

SEMINAR ON SLAVERY IN KOREA (16th-20th century)

Between February 8 and April 19, the East Asian Studies Area offers a seminar that will provide, over 5 sessions, a critical approach to the main studies on slavery in the Joseon dynasty along with a review of the documentary typology worked on in the different studies. This seminar aims to familiarize participants with the fundamental bibliography on slavery in Korea during the transition period between the Joseon dynasty and the 20th century, although it will include bibliography from earlier periods to create enough context to understand the evolution of this institution in Korean society and culture.

Responsible Researchers (IPs): Dr. Luis A. Botella, Dr. Antonio J. Doménech, and Dr. Aurelia Martín Casares.

Sessions:

  • Introductory session (February 2): Slavery in Korea, introduction and key debates.
  • Session 1 (February 22): Slavery, society, and economy. Social structure in Joseon and the place of nobi in society and the economy. Social censuses of the Joseon dynasty and Reconstruction of slave markets in perspective.
  • Session 2 (March 3): Slavery and women. Women, gisaengs, and female nobi within Joseon society. 10:00-13:00h.
  • Session 3 (April 26): Liberation attempts and abolitionist discourses in Joseon: from ideas to feelings. Commemorations, emancipations, and political discourses.
  • Session 4 (May 5): The daily life of slaves and cultural discourses about them. Some cases of slaves who wrote and mainly the diaries of the yangban lords, along with judicial documents as sources to approach this reality will be discussed.