Redefining the Sky of Joseon – The Scientific Brilliance of Chiljeongsan Naeoe-pyeon (from Volume 156 of the Veritable Records of King Sejong) During the Goryeo Dynasty, Choi Seongji accompanied King Chungseon on a visit to the Yuan Dynasty in China. There, he obtained a copy of the Shoushili Calendar (授時曆法) and brought it back to Korea, where it was adopted for the first time. However, at the time, local calendar officials only understood how to construct the calendar itself. They lacked the knowledge to calculate solar and lunar eclipses or determine the positions of the five planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. In response, King Sejong commissioned Jeong Heumji, Jeong Cho, and Jeong Inji to conduct astronomical research and refine the calendar system. These scholars successfully unraveled the underlying principles. Where their understanding fell short, King Sejong himself, with his keen insight, discerned the correct interpretations. Moreover, the Joseon cou...
Generational Names and Characteristics in South Korea: Understanding Our Diverse Eras South Korea has undergone rapid economic growth and profound social changes, resulting in each generation developing unique characteristics. From the post-war reconstruction period through industrialization, democratization, and the digital revolution, every generation has experienced a distinct era that shaped its values and culture. These generational traits reflect South Korea’s singular development process. In recent times, stark differences in upbringing and environment have sometimes caused generational conflicts. In this article, we explore the characteristics of each generation, aiming to foster understanding of their lived experiences and build bridges for harmonious coexistence. Generational Names and Characteristics in South Korea Generational Names and Features in South Korea 1. Baby Boomers (Born 1955–1963) – “The Generation Raised Amidst War’s Aftermath” Historical Background...
The Ice Storage Legacy of Korea — The Stone Icehouse (Seokbinggo) Today, thanks to refrigerators, we can make ice and enjoy chilled drinks at any time of the year. But in the past, especially in the height of summer, eating ice was a rare luxury. Remarkably, our ancestors had already developed an ingenious system to preserve winter ice well into the summer months. At the heart of this system was the Seokbinggo (石氷庫), or stone icehouse. What is a Seokbinggo? A Seokbinggo was a stone-built storage facility designed to preserve ice harvested from rivers and streams in winter. It did not produce ice like modern refrigerators but served as a long-term storage chamber, keeping ice intact until the hottest days of summer. Historical records also mention Mokbinggo (wooden icehouses), but none have survived; today, only stone icehouses remain as physical evidence of this ancient practice. Seokbinggo (Stone Ice Storage) Historical Records — Origins of the Icehouse Three Kingdom...
Comments
Post a Comment