As an avid fan of Korean dramas, I became mesmerised by everything Joseon after watching a series of fascinating historical dramas that are termed as Saguek. The inspiration to write my story came from the tiered organisation of the Joseon societal structure that followed a stringently strict hierarchy segregating men and women. My creative juices were triggered by a 2023 drama series, 'Our Blooming Youth' which has the female protagonist challenge the fictional Crown Prince with "Has Joseon ever allowed its women to be anything?" To which the Crown Prince replies, "I allow it. Try it. You can do it."
And the world of possibilities opened.
What follows is a turbulent mystery story sprinkled with a slow-burn romance (you can check it out on viki.com). I know I am digressing a bit, but hey! I am, at heart, a romance writer, so this is important.
Now, some trivia on the backdrop of my book Song Of The Fate:
Quote: "Joseon[a] (Korean: 조선; Hanja: 朝鮮; MR: Chosŏn; [tɕo.sʌn]), officially Great Joseon State (대조선국; 大朝鮮國; [tɛ.tɕo.sʌn.ɡuk̚]) was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years: 1392 to 1910" Unquote (WIKI)
Background: Yi Seong-gye (Taejo of Joseon) overthrew the Goryeo dynasty in July 1392 in Kaesong, their capital, and established the Joseon dynasty (also written as Chosŏn). The capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul and named Hanyang. The rivers of Amrok and Tuman formed the northernmost boundaries after the centuries-long subjugation of the Jurchens (today, these rivers divide North Korea from China and Russia, and their valley has been the location of many important battles throughout Korean history dating all the way back to sometime in 500 BC).
During its rule of more than 500 years, Neo-Confucianism became the dominant ideology of the new Joseon state. Despite Joseon's establishment of firm control over the Korean peninsula and the flourishing of classical Korean culture, trade, literature, and advancements in science and technology, the status of women declined, relegating them to secondary citizenship. The women had no identity and were only referred to as an extension of their husbands or sons (his wife, his mother, etc).
The civil service examinations, known as Gwageo, open only to men, served as the gateway to the seat of prestige and power in the Joseon Dynasty. Those who cleared the revered examination became a part of the elite known as Yangban. Simply put, the Yangban of Joseon would be equivalent to the English aristocracy in the Regency or Victorian periods. The difference is that Yangbans did not have hereditary titles and had to work hard through generations to keep their status.
Cons of being a Yangban: Only male heirs could carry the family's legacy forward. Inheritance and owning of property were only limited to male heirs. Widows and divorcees were not allowed to remarry, and if they did, the offsprings could not join the Yangban ranks. Men, of course, could remarry. If an heir of the family failed to secure a spot in the Gwageo examinations for four generations, the family lost their Yangban status. They could also lose their status if they lost the favour of the king, though it happened in rare cases.
Pros of being a Yangban: This ten per cent elite ruled over the ninety per cent population of Joseon. They paid no taxes and enjoyed the most privileged lives. Men could have several concubines. The ministers came from the scholars of the Yangban schools of Confucian learning and were divided into several factions, and at various points, they wielded more power than the king.
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The following events shape the story of Song Of The Fate:
1) In the 1590s, the kingdom was severely weakened due to the two failed Japanese invasions of 1592 and 1598.
2) Several decades later, this led to a coup, installing King Injo on the Joseon throne by the Sarim scholars of Western faction. According to wiki: 'On April 11, 1623, Gwanghaegun was deposed in a coup by the Westerners faction. The coup directed by Kim Yu took place at night, Gwanghaegun fled but was captured later.[4] He was confined first on Ganghwa Island and then on Jeju Island, where he died in 1641'
3) This led factional disputes and eventually to an internal rebellion by a General named Yi Gwai in 1624. He failed and was killed. However, this significantly weakened the Joseon army, leaving them vulnerable to outer forces.
5) Invasion of 1627, during the rule of King Injo: Later Jin dynasty invaded Korea with the target of wiping out the Ming dynasty in China, Joseon's closest ally.
6) Invasion by the Qing dynasty led by the indomitable Hong Taji in 1636–1637, who defeated the Ming once and for all.
7) Joseon faced a brutal defeat in 1637. Injo bowed to Hong Taji nine times to save the future of his kingdom.
King Injo, who has been viewed by historians as a weak, incompetent king, produced two spectacular sons:
a) Incredibly open-minded and forward-thinking Crown Prince Sohyeon
b) Tactical military strategist and warrior Prince Bongrim, who later became the Crown Prince and then King Hyojon after the murder of his older brother.
Both brothers lived as captives of the Qing dynasty for nine years to ensure Joseon toed to their bidding. During this time, Grand Prince Bongrim fought battles on behalf of the Qing against the Muslims and Russian fringe groups.
Their worldview opened, and Crown Prince Sohyeon picked up many Western ideas that caused him to directly clash with his father, ultimately leading to his murder by poison and execution of his extraordinary wife.
Fun fact: Remember the Jurchens who were subjugated and pushed back by the early Joseon Kings? Yes, them. They came back to bite a big piece of a very unprepared Joseon's behind.
The Jurchens were a rag-tag group of nomadic tribes that inhabited the Koreon-Chinese-Russian borders and were greatly influenced by the Mongols, ultimately producing the Machu Empire, the last imperial kingdom of China.
Quote: "They produced the Jin (1115–1234) and Qing (1616/1636–1912) conquest dynasties on the Chinese territory. A Jianzhou commander, Nurhaci (r. 1616–26), unified most Jurchen tribes, incorporated their entire population into hereditary military regiments known as the Eight Banners, and patronised the creation of an alphabet for their language based on the Mongolian script. The term Manchu, already in official use by the Later Jin at that time, was in 1635 decreed by Hong Taji to be the sole acceptable name for that people" Unquote (WIKI).
To those reading a work on the Joseon era for the first time, some of the words used to get the feel of the period might be confusing, so I will update this with as much information as possible. Please feel free to ask me questions.