Queen+Min

=Queen Min 명성황후 (optional)=

What was Korean society like in the final years of the Chosun (one of many spellings) Dynasty? What was life like for the main characters in the Court of King Kojong? Who was Queen Min? What importance does she have in Korean history?




 * The video below is a montage of photographs from the era of Queen Min (Myung). I believe it does a fair job of telling her story using pictures. The final ones are related to her assassination, destruction of her body and funeral. Great photographs!**

media type="youtube" key="8t56FNR1p5I" height="390" width="480"

Like Taewon Gun, Queen Min (and her family) had considerable impact on Korean efforts to modernize. She might be seen by some to be the human embodiment of Korea's experience in this important era. She tried with great effort to make a difference in her nation, was convinced of the need to modernize, was pulled in directions that might not have been her choice and ultimately lost her life at the hands of Japanese. Lesson taken from David M. Hanna from [|Asia for Educators] Procedure Read the following two readings on Queen Min, then in your groups answer the following questions.

Questions of Reading #1 a. Who was Queen Min? b. Why was she chosen to be queen? c. Was this a wise choice? From whose viewpoint? d. How did she try to maintain Korea's independence? Did she succeed? e. What can her death tell us about the measures imperialists will take to ensure their interests? f. Do you admire her? Why or why not?

Questions for Reading #2 a. Who was [|Isabella Bird]? b. What were Ms. Bird's first impressions of Queen Min? c. What might the clothes and jewelry worn by Queen Min tell us about her view of her place in Korean society? d. Which personal characteristics of the Queen tell us about what kind of woman she was? e. Which personal characteristic of the Queen's do you feel is the most revealing? Why? f. Would you like to have met Queen Min? Why or why not?


 * Homework**

Read pp.135-140 (and p. 142 the Kabo Reforms) and write a brief response to the following questions
 * 1) Why was Korea referred to as the Hermit Kingdom?
 * 2) How were the Tonghaks like the Taipings?
 * 3) What were the reasons for peasants to revolt against their //yangba//n overlords? What made the Tonghaks attractive to the peasants?
 * 4) How was the Treaty of Kanghwa like the Treaty of Kanagawa? How did this treaty create the conditions for revolt in Korea?
 * 5) How did the failure of the Kapsin Coup lead to the Japanese seeking more overt methods to control Korea?
 * 6) What were the conditions of the Treaty of Shimonoseki that enlarged the Japanese empire? What element in it sounded the death knoll of Korean independence?
 * 7) Why did Russia seek to become involved in Korean affairs?