Corea, the Hermit Nation
Cambridge Library Collection - East and South-East Asian History Series

Described as a 'hermit nation' because it isolated itself from the rest of the world, Korea remained very little known to English speakers in the late nineteenth century. During his time in Japan, the American author and educator William Elliot Griffis (1843?1928), who did much to foster understanding between the United States and Japan, became fascinated by Korea and its influence on Japanese history and culture. This historical outline of Korea is compiled from printed sources and eyewitness accounts rather than from personal experience since Griffis was yet to visit Korea at this point. Despite this, and the fact that he was sometimes criticised for presenting Korea in comparison with Japan, this book was well received. First published in 1882, it contains an annotated bibliography and features maps and illustrations throughout. Griffis' most famous work on Japan, The Mikado's Empire (1877), is also reissued in this series.

Preface; Bibliography; Part I. Ancient and Mediaeval History: 1. The Corean peninsula; 2. The old kingdom of Cho-sen; 3. The Fuyu race and their migrations; 4. Sam-han, or southern Corea; 5. Epoch of the three kingdoms - Hiaksai; 6. Epoch of the three kingdoms - Korai; 7. Epoch of the three kingdoms - Shinra; 8. Japan and Corea; 9. Korai, or united Corea; 10. Cathay, Zipangu, and the Mongols; 11. New Cho-sen; 12. Events leading to the Japanese invasion; 13. The invasion - on to Seoul; 14. The campaign in the north; 15. The retreat from Seoul; 16. Cespedes, the Christian chaplain; 17. Diplomacy at Kioto and Peking; 18. The second invasion; 19. The siege of Uru-san castle; 20. Changes after the invasion; 21. The Issachar of eastern Asia; 22. The Dutchmen in exiles; Part II. Political and Social Corea: 23. The eight provinces; 24. The king and royal palace; 25. Political parties; 26. Organization and methods of government; 27. Feudalism, serfdom, and society; 28. Social life, woman and the family; 29. Child life; 30. Housekeeping, diet, and costume; 31. Mourning and burial; 32. Outdoor life, characters and employments; 33. Shamanism and mythical zoology; 34. Legends and folklore; 35. Proverbs and pithy sayings; 36. The Corean tiger; 37. Religion; 38. Education and culture; Part III. Modern and Recent History: 39. The beginnings of Christianity; 40. Persecution and martyrdom, 1801–34; 41. The entrance of the French missionaries, 1835–45; 42. The walls of isolation sapped; 43. The French expedition; 44. American relations with Corea; 45. A body-snatching expedition; 46. Our little war with the heathen; 47. The ports opened to Japanese commerce; 48. The year of the treaties; Appendix; Index.