There are various 'names of Korea' in use today, derived from ancient kingdoms and dynasties. The English name '
Korea' is an
exonym derived from the
Goryeo period and is used by both
North Korea and
South Korea in international contexts. In the
Korean language, the two Koreas use different terms to refer to the nominally unified nation: '
Chosŏn' () in North Korea and 'Hanguk' () in South Korea.
History
''See also:
History of Korea''
The earliest records of Korean history are written in
Chinese characters, despite the languages being unrelated. Even after the invention of
hangul, Koreans generally recorded native Korean names with
hanja, by
translation of meaning,
transliteration of sound, or even combinations of the two. Furthermore, the pronunciations of the same character are somewhat different in Chinese and Korean, and have changed over time.
For all these reasons, in addition to the sparse and sometimes contradictory written records, it is often difficult to determine the original meanings or pronunciations of ancient names.
Ancient history
Joseon
Until about 2000 years ago, northern Korea and southern
Manchuria were controlled by
Gojoseon. In
Chinese records, it was written as 朝鮮, which is pronounced in modern Korean as ''
Joseon'' (조선). ''Go'' (古), meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later
Joseon Dynasty.
The
Chinese characters phonetically transcribed a native Korean name, thought to have been then pronounced something like "Jyusin" (pronounced JyuShin) Since "Jyusin" sounds and means "given," This may refer to the korean Trinity of Deities religion dominating philosophic thought at the time, where the common belief is that their land is "given", bestowed or gifted to them by the 3 heavenly Gods. Some speculate that it also corresponds to Chinese references to 肅愼 (숙신,
suksin), 稷愼 (직신, jiksin) and 息愼 (식신, siksin), although these latter names probably describe the ancestors of the
Jurchen.
Other scholars believe 朝鮮 was a ''translation'' of the native Korean ''
Asadal'' (아사달), the capital of Gojoseon: ''asa'' being a hypothetical
Altaic root word for "morning," and ''dal'' meaning "mountain," a common ending for Goguryeo place names.
The character 朝 means both "dynasty" (read as ''cháo'' in Chinese) and "morning" (read as ''zhāo'' in Chinese), while 鮮 may translate to "fresh" or "savory," often used to describe rarity. It is notable that the characters for Joseon, i.e. 朝鮮, are read as ''Cháoxiǎn'' in Mandarin Chinese. The first character is read as ''cháo'', which is identical to the way that this character is pronounced when it is used to write the Chinese word for "dynasty" rather than the way that it is pronounced when used to transcribe a rare word for "morning," and the second character is read as ''xiǎn'' with a falling-rising contour tone, which is a special reading of this character that is used only when pronouncing the name of Cháoxiǎn (Joseon). The Chinese evidence suggests that 朝鮮 was never intended to transcribe the meaning of any word, but rather to transcribe the pronunciation of a Korean or Manchurian ethnonym.
Han
Around the time of Gojoseon's fall, various chiefdoms in southern Korea grouped into confederacies, collectively called the
Samhan (삼한, "Three ''Han''"). ''Han'' is a native Korean root for "leader" or "great," as in ''
maripgan'' ("king," archaic) and ''harabeoji'' (originally ''hanabi'', "grandfather"). It may be related to the
Mongol/
Turkic title ''
Khan''.
''Han'' was transliterated in Chinese records as 韓 (한, han), 幹 (간, gan), 刊 (간, gan), 干 (간, gan), or 漢 (한, han), but is unrelated to the Chinese people and states also called
Han. (See:
Transliteration into Chinese characters).
Goryeo
Around the beginning of the
Common Era, remnants of the fallen Gojoseon were re-united and expanded by the kingdom of
Goguryeo. It, too, was a native Korean word, probably pronounced something like "Guri", transcribed with various Chinese characters: 高句麗/高勾麗/高駒麗 (고구려, Goguryeo), 高麗 (고려, Goryeo), 高離 (고리, Gori), or 句麗 (구려, Guryeo). In 高駒麗, the character 高 ("high") is an adjective, rather than a part of the transliteration. The character 麗 is sometimes pronounced ''ri''.
The source native name is thought to be either ''Guru'' (구루, walled city) or ''Gauri'' (가우리, "center"; c.f. Middle Korean ''gavndy'' and Standard Modern Korean ''gaunde'' 가운데).
The theory that Goguryeo referenced the founder's surname has been largely discredited (the royal surname changed from ''Hae'' to ''Go'' long after the state's founding).
Revival of the names
In the south, the Samhan resolved into the kingdoms of
Baekje and
Silla, constituting, with Goguryeo, the
Three Kingdoms of Korea. In 668, Silla unified the three kingdoms, and reigned as
Unified Silla until 935.
The succeeding dynasty called itself
Goryeo (고려, 高麗), in reference to Goguryeo. Through the
Silk Road trade routes,
Muslim merchants brought knowledge about Silla and Goryeo to
India and the
Middle East. Goryeo was transliterated into
Italian as "Cauli," the name
Marco Polo used when mentioning the country in his ''Travels,'' derived from the
Mandarin Chinese form ''Gāolí''. From "Cauli" came the
English names "Corea" and the now standard "Korea" (see
Western usage below).
In 1392, a new dynasty established by a military coup revived the name
Joseon (조선, 朝鮮). The Chinese characters were often translated into English as "morning calm," and Korea's English nickname became '"The Land' 'of the Morning Calm";' however, this interpretation is not often used in the Korean language, and is more familiar to Koreans as a back-translation from English.
In 1897, the nation was renamed to ''Daehan Jeguk'' (대한제국, 大韓帝國, literally, "Great Han Empire", known in English as
Korean Empire), in reference to the
Samhan.
20th century
When Korea came under
Japanese rule in 1910, the name reverted to ''Joseon'' (officially, the Japanese pronunciation ''Chōsen''). During this period, many different groups outside of Korea fought for independence, the most notable being the 'Daehan Minguk Imsi Jeongbu' (대한민국 임시정부, 大韓民國臨時政府), literally the "Provisional government of the Great Han people's nation", known in English as the
Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (民國 = 民 ‘people’ + 國 state/nation’ = ‘republic’ in East Asian languages).
Korea became independent with the Japanese surrender to the
Allies in
World War II (
1945). The country was then
divided into the
Soviet-occupied North and
American-occupied South.
In
1948, the South adopted the provisional government's name of 'Daehan Minguk' (대한민국, 大韓民國; see above), known in English as the
Republic of Korea. Meanwhile, the North became the 'Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk' (조선 민주주의 인민공화국, 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國) literally the "Joseon Democratic People's Republic", known in English as the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Current usage
East Asia
Korea
Today, South Koreans use ''Hanguk'' to refer to just South Korea or Korea as a whole, ''Namhan'' (남한, 南韓; "South Han") for South Korea, and ''Bukhan'' (북한, 北韓; "North Han") for North Korea. South Korea less formally refers to North Korea as ''Ibuk'' (이북, 以北; "The North").
North Koreans use ''Chosŏn'', ''Namjosŏn'' (남조선, 南朝鮮; "South Chosŏn"), and ''Bukchosŏn'' (북조선, 北朝鮮; "North Chosŏn") respectively.
The
Korean language is called ''Hangugeo'' (한국어, 韓國語) or ''Hangukmal'' (한국말) in the South and ''Chosŏnmal'' (조선말) or ''Chosŏnŏ'' (조선어, 朝鮮語) in the North. The Korean script is called
Hangul (한글) in South Korea and ''Chosŏn'gŭl'' (조선글) in North Korea. The
Korean Peninsula is called ''Hanbando'' (한반도, 韓半島) in the South and ''Chosŏn Pando'' (조선반도, 朝鮮半島) in the North.
Chinese-speaking areas
In
Chinese-speaking areas such as
mainland China,
Hong Kong,
Macau,
Singapore, and
Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula is usually called ''Cháoxiǎn Bàndǎo'' (), but it is also less often called ''Hán Bàndǎo'' in
Hanyu Pinyin ().
Until recently, the
People's Republic of China tended to use the historic Korean name ''Cháoxiǎn'' (朝鲜 "Joseon"), by referring to South Korea as ''Nán Cháoxiǎn'' (南朝鲜 "South Joseon"). Since establishing diplomatic relationship with South Korea 1992, China has used the names that each of the two sides prefer, by referring to North Korea as ''Cháoxiǎn'' and to South Korea as ''Hánguó'' (韩国 "Hanguk"). The Korean language can be referred to as either ''Cháoxiǎnyǔ'' (朝鲜语) or ''Hánguóyǔ'' (韩国语), although many people argue that the former is more correct, as China itself has a sizeable minority of
ethnic Koreans (朝鲜族 ''Cháoxiǎnzú'') who use the historic name.
Taiwan, on the other hand, uses the South Korean names, referring to North Korean as ''Běihán'' (北韓 "North Han") and South Korean as ''Nánhán'' (南韓 "South Han"). As the
Republic of China recognized South Korea but not North Korea, ''Hánguó'' (韓國) had been used to refer to the whole Korea and Taiwanese textbooks treated Korea as well as China as united nations. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China under the
Democratic Progressive Party Government now considers North and South Koreas two separate countries. However, the people in Taiwan still refer to North Korean as ''Běihán'' (北韓 "North Han[guk]") and South Korean as ''Nánhán'' (南韓 "South Han[guk]") while use of ''Cháoxiǎn'' (朝鮮) is generally limited to ancient Korea and the Republic of China never maintains diplomatic relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Korean language is usually referred to as ''Hánguóyǔ'' (韓國語) or ''Hányǔ'' (韓語).
Similarly, people in
Hong Kong and
Macau call North Korea ''Bak Hon'' (北韓 "North Han") and South Korea as ''Nam Hon'' (南韓 "South Han").
In Chinese language used in
Singapore, North Korea is usually called ''Cháoxiǎn'' (朝鲜 "Chosŏn") with ''Běi Cháoxiǎn'' (北朝鲜 "North Chosŏn") and ''Běihán'' (北韩 "North Han") less often used, while South Korea is usually called ''Hánguó'' (韩国 "Hanguk") with ''Nánhán'' (南韩 "South Han[guk]") and ''Nán Cháoxiǎn'' (南朝鲜 "South Chosŏn") less often used.
Japan
In
Japan, the names preferred by each of the two sides is used, so that North Korea is called ''Kita-Chōsen'' (北朝鮮; "North Chosŏn") and South Korea ''Kankoku'' (韓国 "Hanguk"). For Korea in general, ''Chōsen'' (朝鮮; "Joseon") is mostly used.
[1] Some South Koreans, however, think the word is either (or both) reminiscent of Japanese occupation, or pro-North. Consequently, there is a trend to use the transcription of English ''Korea'' (コリア, ''Koria'') and ''Korean'' (コリアン, ''Korian'') in print media in order to avoid making an implied political statement.
In January 2003, several newspapers switched from spelling out North Korea's much longer official name (朝鮮民主主義人民共和国) at least the first time the country is mentioned to always using its short form instead.
[1][2]
The
Korean language is most frequently referred to in Japan as ''Kankokugo'' (韓国語) or ''Chōsengo'' (朝鮮語). While academia mostly prefers ''Chōsengo'', ''Kankokugo'' became more and more common in non-academic fields, thanks to the economic and cultural presence of South Korea. The language is also referred to as various terms, such as "Kankokuchōsengo" (韓国朝鮮語), "Chōsen-Kankokugo" (朝鮮・韓国語), "Kankokugo (Chōsengo)" (韓国語(朝鮮語)), etc. Some people refer to the language as ''Koriago'' (コリア語; "Korean Language"). These term is not used in ordinary Japanese, but was selected as a compromise to placate both nations in a euphemistic process called ''
kotobagari''. Likewise, when
NHK broadcasts a language instruction program for Korean, the language is referred to as ''Hangurugo'' (ハングル語; "Hangul Language"); although it's technically incorrect since
Hangul itself is a writing system, not a language.
[2] Some argues even ''Hangurugo'' is not completely neutral, since North Korea calls the letter ''Chosŏn'gŭl'', not ''Hangul''. ''Urimaru'' (ウリマル), a direct
transcription of ''uri mal'' (우리 말, "our language") is sometimes used by Korean residents in Japan, as well as by
KBS World Radio. This term, however, may not be suitable to ehnic Japanese whose "our language" is not necessarily Korean.
In Japan, those who moved to Japan before and after the annexation of the Korean Peninsula usually maintain their distinctive cultural heritages (such as the Baekje-towns or Goguryeo-villages). Ethnic
Korean residents of Japan have been collectively called ''Zainichi Chōsenjin'' (在日朝鮮人 "Joseon People in Japan"), regardless of nationality. However, because of the same reason as above, the euphemism ''Zainichi Korian'' (在日コリアン; "Koreans in Japan") is increasingly used now. ''Zainichi'' (在日; "In Japan") itself is also often used colloquially. The people with North Korean nationality are called ''Zainichi Chōsenjin'', while those with South Korean nationality, sometimes including the recent ''new comers'', are called ''Zainichi Kankokujin'' (在日韓国人 "Hanguk People in Japan").
Vietnam
In Vietnam, people call North Korea ''Triều Tiên'' ("Chosŏn") and South Korea ''Hàn Quốc'' ("Hanguk"). Prior to unification,
North Vietnam used ''Bắc Triều Tiên'' (Bukchosŏn) and ''Nam Triều Tiên'' (Namjosŏn) while
South Vietnam used ''Bắc Hàn'' (Bukhan) and ''Nam Hàn'' (Namhan) for North and South Korea, respectively. After unification, the northern Vietnamese terminology persisted until the 1990s. When South Korea reestablished diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1993, it requested that Vietnam use the name that it uses for itself, and ''Hàn Quốc'' gradually replaced ''Nam Triều Tiên'' in usage.
Western usage
Both South and North Korea use the name "Korea" (or equivalent) when referring to their countries in English or other western languages.
Because of the coexistence of "Corea" and "Korea" in the 19th century English publications,
[3] some Koreans believe Japan, around the time of the
Japanese occupation, intentionally standardized the spelling on "Korea," so that "Japan" would appear first alphabetically. Both major English-speaking governments of the time (i.e. the
United States and the
United Kingdom and its
Empire) used both "Korea" and "Corea" until the early part of the Japanese occupation.
[4] [5] [6] "English books and maps published through the 19th century generally spelled the country's name as Corea, as did the British government in laying the cornerstone of its embassy in Seoul in 1890 with the name "Corea." But sometime in the early 20th century, "Korea" began to be seen more frequently than "Corea" - a change that coincided with Japan's consolidation of its grip over the peninsula." Most evidence is circumstantial, including a 1912 memoir by a Japanese colonial official that complained of the Koreans' tendency "to maintain they are an independent country by insisting on using a C to write their country's name."
[7]
Koreans abroad
Where large immigrant populations were established outside of Korea before its division, the communities tend to maintain the identity of the former Korean nation, without associating with either the North or South Korean governments.
Subjects of former Goryeo who moved to
Russian and
Central Asia call themselves ''
Goryeoin'' (고려인; 高麗人; literally "person or people of Goryeo"), or ''корейцы'' in
Russian. Many Goryeoin are living in the
CIS, including an estimated 106,852 in
Russia, 22,000 in
Uzbekistan, 20,000 in
Kyrgyzstan, 17,460 in
Kazakhstan, 8,669 in the
Ukraine, 2,000 in
Belarus, 350 in
Moldova, 250 in
Georgia, 100 in
Azerbaijan, and 30 in
Armenia.
[3]
Notes
1. Japanese Wikipedia, for instance, has the articles of (Korean Language), (Korean Peninsula), and (Koreans), while , , and are all redirected.
2. In the program, however, teachers avoid the name ''Hangurugo'', by always saying ''this language''. They would say, for instance, "In this language, ''Annyeong haseyo'' means 'Hello' ".
3. Commonwealth of Independent States Report, 1996
★ Taro Yayama, "Japan Should Not Participate in China's 'East Asian Community' Conspiracy – Japan Should Learn From European Union Development Environment." ''
Sankei Shimbun'',
December 24,
2005
"Subjects of former Goryeo who moved to Russian and Central Asia call themselves Goryeoin (고려인; 高麗人; literally "person or people of Goryeo"), or корейцы in Russian." - this is a common mistake found in some English websites!
Koreans who live in Russia and former USSR are not "Subjects of former Goryeo”, they started to migrate to the territory of former Russian Empire only since the second part of 19th century. But Goryo was overtaken by Joseon dynasty in 1392!
The Russian words кореец/koreets - singular or корейцы/koreytsi – plural, are not the forms of Korean word Goryeoin but originates from the western name of Korea (Корея/Koreya in Russian) so in Russian, кореец/koreets means a person from Korea or of Korean origin but not a person from medieval Goryo!
See also
★
History of Korea
★
Korean romanization
★
Names of China
★
Names of Japan
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