Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 583

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CHOSEN (COREA)

Chosen (formerly Corea), by peaceful annexation in August, 1910, became an integral part of the Japanese Empire. It is a peninsula situated to the north of China which hangs down between that Empire and Japan, separating the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea, between the 34th and 43rd parallels north. It is bounded on the north by Manchuria, on the north-east by Siberia, on the east by the Sea of Japan, on the west by the Yellow Sea, and on the south by the Channel of Corea. It has a coastline measuring 1,740 miles, and with its outlying islands is nearly as large as Great Britain. The name Corea is derived from the Japanese Korai (Chinese Kaoli); and the Portuguese, who were the first navigators in the Yellow Sea, called it Koria. Chosen is translated into "Morning Calm." The eastern half of the peninsula is a sinuous range of mountains of which Western Corea is the slope. The chief rivers of importance are naturally to be found on the western side, and most of the harbours are situated on that coast. Chosen is divided into thirteen do or provinces, named Ping-an, Whang-hai, Kyong-kyoi (which contains the capital), North and South Chung-chong, Cholla, North and South Kyong- sang, Kang-won, and North and South Ham-kong. The climate is healthy and temperate, bracing in the north and milder in the south, where it is more exposed to summer breezes. The Han river at Seoul is often frozen for two months in the year. The fauna includes tigers, leopards, wild deer, wild hogs, and in the south monkeys are to be found. A stunted breed of horses exists, and immense numbers of oxen are raised as food; goats are rare. Sheep are imported from China and the Government is now beginning to pay special attention to the sheep-raising industry. The pheasant, eagle, falcon, crane, and stork are common. A great portion of the soil is fertile and the mineral wealth of the kingdom is believed to be considerable.

The history of Chosen, like that of its neighbours, is lost in the mists of obscurity, but according to native and Chinese tradition a Chinese noble named Kishi, or Ki-tsze, who migrated with his followers to Corea in 1122 B.C., was the founder of the Corean social order and the first monarch. His descendants are said to have ruled until the fourth century before the Christian era. In November, 1905, the Corean Government agreed to give to Japan the control and direction of the foreign relations and affairs of the country, and the Japanese Government was given the right to appoint, under His Majesty the Emperor of Corea, a Resident- General as its representative to reside in Seoul chiefly to direct diplomatic affairs and having the right of private audience with the Emperor of Corea. To this responsible post Marquis (the late Prince) Ito, the maker of modern Japan, was appointed, and, inas- much as by an earlier agreement Corea had pledged herself to accept the advice of Japan with regard to administrative reforms, the Resident-General had practically full direction of the government of the country. A large and comprehensive scheme for the reform of the administration was drawn up and put into operation by the late Prince Ito; but after nearly five years of labour, directed by three successive Residents- General-namely, Prince Ito, Viscount Sone, and Count Terauchi, the conclusion was reached that fundamental changes in the régime were necessary to preserve public order and tranquillity, and to advance the welfare of the people, and so a Treaty was concluded with the Emperor of Corea providing for the complete annexation of the country to the Empire of Japan. The Emperor Yi Fin, the twenty-eighth sovereign of the Yi dynasty, abdicated the throne in August, 1907, in favour of his son Heui, who thus reigned for just three years. In accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of annexation the late Emperor and his father as well as the Crown Prince and their consorts and heirs have been accorded titles, dignity, and honour appropriate to their respective ranks, and also the funds necessary to maintain these dignities. During 1918-19 there was a widespread movement amongst the Coreans to recover their inde- pendence and a deputation proceeded to Paris to place their claim before the Peace Conference, but arrived too late. Grave complaints were made in the meantime ofth e severity of the Japanese in suppressing the movement in Corea.

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