Glossary of Korean words

ajŏn local officials, also called sŏri

amgŭl “female letters,” another name for han’gŭl (see below)

anbang “inner room” (see anch’ae)

anch’ae the section of the house for women also called the anbang

ang changgun grand general, top military post in Koryŏ

Chaech’u Privy Council in Koryŏ later called Todang

changgun general called

chapkwa specialized technical exams

ch’arye holiday commemorations to ancestors

chesa rites to ancestors

chesul ŏp Composition Examination in Koryŏ

ch’ilgŏjiak “seven evils,” legitimate grounds for divorcing a wife

chikchŏn “office-field” allocated to officials

Ch’ilsŏng Big Dipper, widely worshiped Korean spirit

ch’im acupuncture

ch’in Confucian principle of cordiality or closeness between parents and children

chin’gol true bone or true-bone, hereditary elite of Silla

chinsa literary exam in Chosŏn

Chiphyŏnjŏn Hall of Worthies

Chipsabu Chancellery Office during Silla period

chisa wandering geomancers

Chisin Earth God

cho “progenitor,” used as an element in Korean royal names

choch’ŏn tribute missions to China also called yŏnhaeng

chok a large descent group in Silla

chokpo books kept by lineages where births, marriages, and deaths were recorded

ch’on villages

chondaeŏ or chondaemal Korean speech style for addressing superiors

chong “ancestor,” used as an element in Korean royal names

Chŏngbang Personnel Authority political institution during military period of Koryŏ

chŏngbyŏng conscripts

chŏnghye ssangsu twofold training in quiescence [meditation] and activity

chongja first son

Ch’ŏngjegam Directorate of Sanitation

chŏngjŏnje “able-bodied land system”

ch’ŏn’gŏ recommendation system

ch’ŏnmin “base people”

ch’ŏnmyŏng Mandate of Heaven

chŏnsi palace exam

chŏnsi-kwa Field and Woodland, system during the Koryŏ by which officials received fixed incomes from certain lands

ch’ŏp commoner or slave concubine (also called a “secondary wife”)

chosang ancestors or ancestral spirits

ch’osi preliminary exam

Chosŏn (Chinese: Chaoxian), lit. “Land of the Morning Calm,” name of an early kingdom and of the Korean state from 1392-1910

Chowang Kitchen God, one of the Korean household gods

ch’ugugi system of rain gauges

ch’ulga oein “one who left the household and became a stranger”: term for daughter who left her natal home after her marriage

chŭlmun prehistoric comb-patterned Korean pottery (also known as pitsal munŭi)

ch’ung loyalty

Chungbang Supreme Military Council

Ch’ungch’uwŏn Royal Secretariat in Koryŏ, later called the Ch’umirwŏn

chungin “middle men,” a subelite class of technical specialists in Chosŏn

chungsi chief minister in Silla

Chungsŏ-Munhasŏng combined Secretariat-Chancellory in Koryŏ

Chungsŏsŏng Secretariat in Koryŏ

han’gŭl the indigenous Korean alphabet (lit. “Korean writing”)

hanmun Chinese characters, also called hanja

hanyak Chinese medicine

hojang local headmen

hop’ae identification system using special tags in Chosŏn

hunmin chŏngŭm “correct sounds for the instruction of the people,” another term for the indigenous Korean alphabet (han’gŭl)

Hwaŏm “Flower Garland,” a school of Buddhism

Hwabaek Council of Notables

hwarang lit. “flower boys,” military bands of aristocratic youth that served as elite units in the Silla army

hwarangdo the way of the hwarang

hyangan local yangban associations

hyangban rural yangban

Hyangch’ŏng Local Agency

hyangga a form of Korean-language poetry

hyanggyo state-sponsored local schools

hyangyak isul medical prescriptions

hyangni the local hereditary elite

hyo Confucian principle of filial piety

hyŏnhakkŭm “black crane zither,” a modified Chinese seven-string instrument

idu or kugyŏl transcription system used to facilitate the reading of the Chinese classics

isagŭm “successor princes,” rulers of early Silla

kadong house slaves

kaekchu wholesale merchants in Chosŏn, also called yŏgak

kamugwan a central government office that oversaw rural jurisdictions

kasa a genre of Korean poetry

kayagŭm a kind of zither

ki (Chinese: qi), the primal matter-energy of the universe

kije death anniversary commemorations

kijŏn format used in official histories

kimch’i pickled cabbages or other vegetables in garlic and fermented fish or shrimp seasoned with chili peppers

kisaeng female entertainers

Kyojŏng Togam Office of Decree Enactment

kobuksŏn “turtle ship,” early Korean iron-clad warship

kogok “curved jewel,” stylized bear claws that served as signs of royal authority in Silla

kolp’um bone-rank system of Silla

kongan tribute ledgers

kongin tribute men

kongjŏn public land

kongnobi government slaves

kosa offerings to household gods

kut Korean shamanist ceremony

kun-hyŏn prefecture-county, administrative unit under the Koryŏ

Kukhak National Academy

kuksok “national practice,” term used to distinguish Korean from non-Korean customs

kun administrative subdivision of province often translated as county

kun commandery in Chinese-ruled Korea

kwagŏ civil service examinations

Kwanggun Resplendent Army

kwisin spirits

kye informal loan associations

Kyo Textual Buddhism

Kyojŏng Togam Office of Decree Enactment

Kyŏngjaeso Capital Liaison Office

Kyŏngsigam Directorate of Capital Markets

Kyŏngguk Taejŏn official legal code dating from the fifteenth century

Kyŏngyŏn Classics Mat

kyuban or naebang kasa inner room kasa, women’s writings about family life

kyunyŏkpŏp Equalized Service Law

mansin another term for shaman

maripkan a title for early Silla rulers

mimangin “a person who has not died yet,” said of a widow

minhwa folk paintings

minmyŏnuri a girl bride

mogok wastage charge, fees charged by state granaries

muban military officials

mudang shaman

muhak military schools

mumun plain pottery style of early Korea

munban civil officials or civil aristocracy

mun’gaek retainers

Munha-sijung supreme chancellor

Munhasŏng Chancellery

munjung name for ancestral lineages

munkwa highest level of civil service examinations

Munmyo National Shrine to Confucius

myoje graveside commemorations to ancestors

myŏnggyŏng ŏp Classics Examination in Koryŏ

Namin “Southerners,” political faction in Yi Korea

Nogŭp stipend villages in Silla

nongjang landed estates

Noron Old Doctrine political faction in Yi Korea

oegŏ nobi out-resident slaves

ŏndol style of heated floors in Korean houses

ŏnmun vernacular script (another term for the indigenous Korean alphabet, han’gŭl)

oryun the five ethical norms of Confucianism

Ŏsadae censorate in Koryŏ

Owi Toch’ongbu Five Military Commands Headquarters

paduk Korean name for the game of go, also used to designate a style of dolmen in early Korea.

p’aedo a suicide knife

paekchŏng outcaste group

paem sul snake wine

paem t’ang snake soup

pando lit. “half island,” peninsula

panmal Korean speech style for addressing inferiors

pangnap (or taenap) tribute contracting

p’ansori distinctive Korean form of folk tales presented by a singer/dancer accompanied by a drummer

p’ansu blind exorcists

pap cooked rice

pinyŏ a long pin used by Korean women to tie hair

Pumaguk “Son-in-law Nation,” term used for Korea during Mongol period

pobusang itinerant peddlers

pon’gwan clan-seat system under the Koryŏ

Ponhyang Sansin Mountain God, one of the Korean household gods

Popŏp Paired Provisioner system

pu rhyme-prose

Pugin “Northerners,” political faction in Chosŏn

Pukhak Northern Learning term for late Chosŏn reform minded writers

pulch’ŏnjiwi “never removed tablets” containing names of ancestors

punch’ŏng predominant ceramic ware from the 1390s to the 1590s

p’ungsu geomancy

pyŏl distinction between husbands and wives

Pyŏlmuban special military force developed to defend Korea against invading Jurchen

p’yŏngin “good people” or socially respectable people

p’yŏnnyŏn annalistic format

Pyŏso Kakssi Toilet Maiden, one of the Korean household gods

sach’ang village granary system

sadaebu derived from the Chinese term shidafu, meaning scholar-official

saenae-mu mask dances in Silla

saengwŏn classics exam in Chosŏn

Saeng yuksin Six Ministers Who Lived

Saganwŏn Censor-General

Sahŏnbu Office of Inspector-General

Sajŏn “private land”

sama lower-level civil service examinations

Sambyŏlch’o Three Elite Patrols

samgang “three cords” or basic principles of Confucianism

Samsa “three institutions,” the censorate organs in Chosŏn

Samsin Halmŏn Birth Grandmother, one of the Korean household gods

Samsŏng Three Chancelleries term for the three highest administrative organs in Koryŏ

sangdaedŭng the chief of the Hwabaek

Sangp’yŏngch’ang “Ever-Normal Granaries”

Sangsŏsŏng Secretariat for State Affairs in Koryo

sangsuri Silla system of having non-Sillan tributaries send hostages to serve at court in rotation

sanobi private slaves

Sansin the Mountain Spirit

sarang ch’ae the section of the house for men

sasaek four colors, another term for the major political factions in Chosŏn

sasŏl sijo later expanded form of sijo

Sa yuksin Six Martyrs

sedo chŏngch’i “in-law government,” term used for nineteenth domination of court politics by royal consort families

Sibi to Twelve Assemblies, private schools that trained young men for civil service examinations in Koryŏ

Sigŭp tax villages in Silla

sijo a “short, suggestive poem” consisting of three lines, each with fifteen syllables

sijŏn licensed shops

Sillok Veritable Records, the official history of the reign of a Korean king

sin Confucian principle of trust between friends

Sinŭigun Army of Transcendent Righteousness

sip chŏng ten garrisons

Sirhak “Practical Learning,” modern term for reform minded scholars in late Chosŏn

Confucian principle of order between elders and juniors

Sŏbang Household Secretariat

sŏdang oath banner Silla military units, see also sŏjae

Sŏin “Westerners,” political faction in Yi Korea

Sŏhak “Western Learning,” Korean term for Christianity

sŏja children born to a ch’ŏp (see above)

sok subordinate prefectures in Koryŏ

sŏjae or sŏdang village schools

solgŏ nobi household slaves

Sŏn meditative Buddhism (Japanese: Zen)

sŏnggol hallowed bone or sacred bone, ruling elite of early Korea

Sŏnggyun’gwan National Confucian Academy

Sŏnghwang a local guardian god

Sŏngju walled towns

Sŏngju House Lord, one of the Korean household gods

sŏŏl another term for sŏja

sŏri local officials, also called ajŏn

Soron Young Doctrine, political faction in Yi Korea

sŏsa general supervisory authority possessed by Censorate

sŏwŏn private academies in Chosŏn

ssirŭm Korean-style wrestling

Sumun Door Guard, one of the Korean household gods

Sŭngjŏngwŏn Royal Secretariat in Chosŏn

taedongpŏp tribute replacement tax

taekwa a name for the highest-level civil service examinations (see also munkwa)

T’aep’o Festival of Wine

t’akja “table” style of dolmens in early Korea

tan’ga “short song,” another word for sijo

tangsanggwan those of senior third rank and above

tan’o chomsu sudden enlightenment and gradual cultivation taught by Chinul

tchok long, braided hair worn by women

teril-sawi boy child grooms

todŭngnyŏ “robber woman,” said of a daughter

Tohwasŏ Bureau of Painting

T’ŏju Taegam Site Official, one of the Korean household gods

Tonghak “Eastern Learning,” nineteenth-century religious movement

Tongin “Easterners,” political faction in Chosŏn

tongnyŏnhoe classmate organizations

toryŏng military commander

ttŭm moxibustion

tup’um head-ranks, a heredity status system of Silla

ŭi righteousness and justice

ŭibyŏng “righteous armies,” resistance bands during the Japanese invasions of Korea

Ŭigŭmbu State Tribunal

Ŭihŭng Samgunbu Three Armies Headquarters

Ŭijŏngbu State Council of Chosŏn

ŭm privilege by which sons received automatic appointment to office

Waegu term for Japanese pirates

wang Korean term for king

wŏnhwa lit. “original flowers,” female leaders of the hwarang

yangban lit. “two sides,” the aristocratic elite of Korea

yangin “good people,” not slaves or outcastes

Yemun’gwan Office of Royal Decrees

Yi (Chinese: li), the patterning principle of the universe

yŏl Confucian principle of distinction between men and women

yŏmbul recitation of the name of Buddha

yŏnhaeng mission to Beijing

yuhak student status that included exemption from military duty and eligibility for taking the civil service exams

yuil people of merit and integrity, civil service appointees through recommendation system

Yukcho Six Ministries

Yukpu Six Ministries

yuktu-p’um head-rank six, highest of the head-ranks of Silla

Yurang chisigin wandering scholars

yut popular game played with wooden sticks