Hangul

Definition

Hangul is the native writing system of the Korean language, developed in the 15th century by King Sejong the Great and his scholars. It was designed to promote literacy among common people by being easy to learn and use, contrasting with the complex Hanja characters derived from Chinese. Hangul's creation marked a significant cultural shift in Korea, influencing literature, education, and national identity.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Hangul consists of 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels, which can be combined into syllabic blocks to form words.
2. The writing system was officially promulgated in 1446 through a document called 'Hunminjeongeum,' which means 'The Correct Sounds for the Instruction of the People.'
3. Hangul has a unique structure where letters represent the articulation of sounds, making it phonetically intuitive compared to Hanja.
4. Despite initial resistance from the elite class who preferred Hanja, Hangul gradually gained acceptance and became the dominant script in Korea by the 20th century.
5. Today, Hangul is celebrated every year on October 9th as Hangul Day, recognizing its importance in Korean culture and identity.

Review Questions

• How did the creation of Hangul influence literacy rates among common people in Korea?
  • The creation of Hangul significantly increased literacy rates among common people because it was designed to be easy to learn compared to Hanja. King Sejong aimed to enable everyone, regardless of social status, to read and write. This democratization of literacy allowed a broader segment of society to access literature, government documents, and education, fostering a more informed populace.
• Analyze the cultural implications of using Hangul versus Hanja in premodern Korean society.
  • Using Hangul versus Hanja had profound cultural implications in premodern Korean society. Hanja was associated with scholarly and elite classes, often used for formal texts and communication. In contrast, Hangul represented a shift towards inclusivity and accessibility in writing, allowing ordinary people to engage with literature and cultural expressions. This change challenged the established social hierarchy and contributed to a stronger sense of national identity among Koreans.
• Evaluate the role of Hangul in shaping modern Korean identity and its influence on literature within East Asia.
  • Hangul plays a crucial role in shaping modern Korean identity by serving as a symbol of national pride and cultural independence from Chinese influence. Its use has enabled a rich tradition of literature that reflects Korean experiences and perspectives, distinguishing it from other East Asian literary traditions. As a result, Hangul has not only facilitated domestic literary development but also influenced neighboring cultures by inspiring similar movements toward developing indigenous scripts.

Related terms

Hanja: Hanja refers to the Chinese characters used in the Korean language before the widespread adoption of Hangul, often used for formal writing and scholarly texts.

King Sejong: King Sejong the Great was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty and is celebrated for his contributions to Korean culture, most notably for creating Hangul to improve literacy.

Literacy Rate: The percentage of people who can read and write in a specific language, which significantly increased in Korea after the introduction of Hangul.