The Transformation Of Modern Korean Civilization Consciousness And The Change Of Their Understanding Of China

After the middle of the 19^th century,with the eastward spreading of Western forces,the traditional East Asian order with Chinese civilization as its core was gradually disintegrating.Facing this unprecedented external shock,East Asian society experienced a series of ideological conflicts and revolutions.This process was particularly complicated and difficult for the Joseon dynasty.Before the eastward spreading of Western forces,the dynasties of the Korean peninsula established a unique system of self-worth based on the acceptance of“Chinese civilization”as a universal value and through their close relationship with China.So‘Chinese civilization’and‘China’were two major issues that needed to be addressed during the reconstruction of the self-worth system of the Joseon Dynasty at the end of the 19^th century and the beginning of the 20^th century.This essay is based on"civilization theory"and is focused on the Joseon dynasty’s changes during the second half of the 19^th century to the beginning of the 20^th century.It goes over their transition from traditional Chinese values and their changes in perception towards China.It also outlines Korea’s culture and values in modern times and the establishment of Korea as a nation-state.Observing the Korean Peninsula and China-Korea relations before and after modern times from the perspective of"civilization"can clearly show the"commonality"and"individuality"between China and Korea under the same civilization（i.e.,"Chinese civilization"）before modern times.It is also helpful to grasp the rapid separation of the"commonality"between China and Korea caused by the deconstruction of Chinese civilization when it was impacted by Western heterogeneous civilizations before and after modern times,as well as the prominence of Korea’s own"personality".This research divides the differences between Eastern and Western civilizations through the Korean perspective also"relativizes"and"otherizes"the"Western civilization"to some extent.It removes the historical narrative framework of"Western-centrism"or"progress theory and development theory"that we have been accustomed to.Chapter one starts with clarifying the two concepts of‘Chinese civilization’and‘Chinese order’,and then investigates the dynasties of the Korean peninsula’s acceptance of‘Chinese civilization’and the entire process of joining the‘Chinese order’.The author focuses on the changes in‘the consciousness of Chinese civilization’and‘the cognition of China’of the Joseon Dynasty after the replacement of Ming Dynasty by Qing Dynasty in the 17^th century.Through this analysis,it can be seen that‘the consciousness of Chinese civilization’and‘the cognition of China’of the Joseon Dynasty throughout the pre-modern period was extremely complicated.Chapter two covers a series of measures taken by the ruling class of the Joseon Dynasty during the middle of the 19^th century when the Western forces were getting closer,as well as the ideological changes experienced in the process.Through analysis and research,we can see that from the 1840s to 1880s,the Joseon Dynasty began to break away from the traditional consciousness of Chinese civilization and Chinese order.In other words,Chinese civilization was no longer the sole supreme criterion,and Joseon was no longer bound to the suzerain-vassal relationship with China（Qing Dynasty）.Chapter three takes the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894 as the dividing line,and studies the ideological innovation of the Joseon Dynasty after the war with the abolition of suzerain-vassal relationship between the Qing and Joseon,as well as the establishment of the Korean Empire.The author analyzed the division of the consciousness of civilization in the Joseon society during that time.We can see that there are two characteristics in the ideological consciousness of the Joseon Dynasty at this stage:one is the establishment of‘the thought of independence’and the popularization of‘the idea of Western civilization’,the other is to reject and alienate China based on new values.Chapter four analyzes the changes in Korean Empire’s after the signing of the Japan–Korea Protectorate Treaty in 1905.In particular,the author focuses on a series of‘Patriotic Enlightenment Movement’launched by intellectuals of the Korean Empire to save the nation and survive with the establishment of Japan’s supervision system in Korea,and the formation of the concept of"nation"and the establishment of the thought of"nationalism"in modern Korea in this process.Through the analysis of various newspapers and magazines published during this period,it can be seen that the nation-state ideology formed during this period and exerted a far-reaching influence on future Korean society and China-South Korean relations.In conclusion,the author summarizes and comments on the transformation of Korean consciousness of civilization and the change in sentiment towards China due to the expanding sphere of influence of Western forces during the late 19^th century.