Koguryo in the Collective Memories of the Korean People
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Duncan, John B
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
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UCLA
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2012
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Body granting the degree
UCLA
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2012
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
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ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATIONAn Ancient and Glorious Past:Koguryo in the Collective Memories of the Korean PeoplebyHyung-Wook KimDoctor of Philosophy in East Asian Languages and CulturesUniversity of California, Los Angeles, 2012Professor John B. Duncan, ChairScholars generally agree that nationalism first emerged in the late eighteenth century, andthat collective memories shared by members of a society contributed to the formation of modernnationalism. It does not mean, however, that collective memories did not exist before the modernperiod. In contrast to some modernist arguments, long before modern nationalism appeared inKorea, there was distinct evidence of the existence of certain collective memories among literati.Literati's memories of Koguryo throughout the pre-modern period and the influence of Koguryomemories on the formation of Korean nationalism after the late nineteenth century stronglyindicate that collective memory should not be tied to the notion of modern nationalism.It is apparent that since as early as the tenth century, Koryo literati considered Koguryo apart of Korean history, and their recognition of Koguryo appeared in political, cultural, andethnic perspectives. The dynastic change from Koryo to Choson in 1392 did not cast doubt onthe literati's affirmation of Koguryo's position in Korean heritage, and elevated the status ofConfucianism in Choson, even contributing to consolidation of Koguryo memories among theliterati due to Koguryo's connection to the Kija tradition. Although memories of this ancientkingdom were affected by the political situation of the time, especially during the early years ofthe Choson-Ming relationship, Koguryo's status in Korean history was not questioned, and it stillremained historically viable after the notion of the so-called "last bastion" of Confuciancivilization emerged following the Ming's collapse.Unquestionably, it was since the late nineteenth century when Koguryo memories werearguably embedded in the collective memory of Koreans, as Korean nationalists ardently tried totake advantage of Koguryo memories for their independence movements. In this period,Koguryo memories, which had survived since the tenth century, fit well into the model ofcollective memory as presented by Maurice Halbwachs. Additionally, its projection in the lastfew decades, including in the relationship between North and South Korea, as well as Korea andChina regarding the ownership of Koguryo history, demonstrates how the collective memory ofKoguryo has been maintained and still operates vigorously today.