Kapsin coup 1884

Challenges and
Responses, 1882-1896
Self-strengthening, 1880-1884
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Consensus in 1880 to break Korea’s isolation and
start a moderate course of modernization
Self-strengthening was only loosely coupled with the
issue of concluding treaties with Western nations;
goal of defending the country against Japan and
Russia
Creation of the Office of Management of State
Affairs in 1881(T’ongnigimu Amun) modeled after
Chinese Tsungli Yamen) but with broader powers
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The Office took over the Military Council,
foreign affairs, supplies, trade, machinery, and
ships
Shift in China’ attitude: Li Hung-chang willing
to assist Korea in establishing ties with the West
The king did not undertake more substantial
economic measures to secure revenues, for
example taxing trade or lifting the ban on
mining
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Korea-US relations: Commodore Shufeldt’s voyage
to stimulate trade with Africa and Asia; Korea was
included in his plans; presented letter to the
Korean king via the Japanese but was rejected
Li-Shufeldt negotiations in Tientsin, 1881;
dependency of Korea disputed by the US (Li even
did not want presence of Koreans official), but
Shufeldt agreed on Korean king’s letter to US
president stating Korea’s dependency
Shufeldt Convention signed in Inch'on in 1882:
Korean-American treaty provided exchange of
representatives, fixed trade tariffs (10%),
extraterritoriality
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1882: Treaties with Great Britain (American treaty as
basis plus access to three trade ports) and Germany
Japanese instructor was engaged in training elite
military unit (pyolgigun) in 1881
1882 Incident: soldiers riot and attack on Japanese
legation in Seoul
Hanabusa leaving Korea
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The Chinese sent troops to Korea and Japanese
Minister Hanabusa returned to Korea with warships
and more soldiers: first face-off of Chinese and
Japanese troops since Hideyoshi
Brief return of the Taewongun to power; the
Chinese brought him to China in exile
Second phase 1882-1884
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Broader self-strengthening program under
leadership of Min
Introduction of Western technologies; specialized
institutions such as Machine Hall and Mint; new
army was augmented with Chinese assistance
Foreign Office in place of T’ongnigimu Amun
(abolished by the Taewongun); foreign advisors:
Moelledorff and Ma Chien-ch’ang
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Treaties with Russia and Italy in 1884, with France
1886
Min’s one-sided reliance on the Chinese and use
of self-strengthening for their own
aggrandizement undermined the movement and
caused a split
Kapsin coup 1884
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Group of young officials (Kim Ok-kun, Pak Yonghyo, So Jae-pil) became fascinated by Japan’s
experiment with Western ideas; Japan as a source of
inspiration, not only humiliation
They studied sirhak (Pak Kyu-su) and were
influenced by Fukuzawa Yukichi a great popularizer
of Western ideas in Meiji Japan
Kim Ok-kyun
So Jae-pil
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Enlightenment party, kaehwadang: for selfstrengthening and independence; inclusion of
common people by providing modern education; for
fundamental reform of Korea’s political, economic
and social structure
Disillusioned with the narrow scope of Min’s
program; power struggle; desperate move to gain
control over existing structure
Coup on December 4, 1884 (Kapsin) with some
Japanese legation’s involvement, 14-point program:
equal rights to everyone; reform of land tax system,
etc.
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The coup lasted three days; the Chinese intervened;
reformers in exile
Yuan Shih-kai, the Chinese proconsul in Korea
Tientsin Convention of 1885, Li Hung-chang-Ito
Hirobumi, without consultations with Koreans
Yuan Shih-kai
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The Tientsin Convention: Bilateral withdrawal of
troops; if either side wanted to send troops to
Korea had to notify the other side in advance
Neither China nor Japan wanted war at this time,
and the Convention was face-saving device for
both sides
The Min had lost their main leaders, and the
reformers were in exile in Japan; the Chinese
moved into the power vacuum
China tried to reestablish its traditional suzerainty
in the shifting regional order
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Yamagata Aritomo, 1890, memorial on foreign
policy: “cordon of interest” (Korea) and “cordon
of sovereignty” were indispensible for Japan’s
“self-defense and independence”
No military operation recommended
Japan should attempt to persuade Great Britain or
Germany to mediate a joint Sino-Japanese
protectorate over Korea, committed
to “permanent neutrality”
(like Switzerland, Belgium, Serbia,
or Luxemburg)
Ymagata Aritomo
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Yamagata: Were Korea to suffer the same fate as
Annam (French colonization), Japan’s “cordon of
sovereignty” through the straits of Tsushima
would be endangered
Tonghak 1894
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Resurgence of Tonghak in early 1890s (after
execution of their leader Ch’oe Che-u): churches
and “parishes” with hierarchy were established
Anti-foreign and anti-yangban; many peasants lost
their land
Ch’oe Che-u
Korean village
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Tonghak learning stressed “the equality of all
human beings”
The movement amounted to social revolution
From 1892 the peasants started to raid government
offices, killing rich landlords, merchants and
foreigners
The rebels confiscated their victims’ properties
and distributed them to the poor
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Chon Pong-jun, a Confucian village teacher (leader
of Kobu county, Cholla Tonghak parish) led a
protest which evolved into uprising
Tonghak rebels defeated government troops; panic
and request for help from the Chinese; truce
Tonghak insurgence
Chon Pong-jun
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Tonghak marching orders:
“Do not kill or take the peasants' properties
Protect the peasants' rights
Drive out the Japanese and Western people and
purify our sacred land
March to Seoul and purge the government”
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Tonghak administrative offices in 53 counties in
Cholla; restoring order and redressing local
government abuses; social and economic reforms
in coordination with central government nominally
headed by Taewongun
New insurgence in October after learning that proJapanese officials forced Taewongun
out; anti-Japanese “righteous army”
Japanese suppression of the rebellion
Kim Ku
Sino-Japanese War 1894-1895
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The assassination of Kim Ok-kyun in Shanghai in
1894 strained the relations between China and
Japan
Tonghak rebellion and the involvement of China
and Japan led to direct confrontation
1,500 Chinese troops were sent to Korean June
1894; several hundred Japanese marines marched
to Seoul
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Despite the armistice between government and
rebel army (which started to disperse) Ito
government sent more troops (8,000 by end of
June); the rebellion might flare up again and the
Chinese might take advantage (like 1882)
Ito’s plan for joint Sino-Japanese
effort to put down the rebellion
and bring change was rejected
by China; Japan preparing for war
Ito Hirobumi
Punch, Vol. 107, cover page, 1894
Punch Vol.107, August 4, 1894
Bear: Ha! Whichever wins,
I see my way into dinner!
Punch Vol.107, December 22,1894
An Infant phenomenon : Little Jap lecturing on the Art
of War to the European representatives.
Imperial Chinese soldiers in Korea, 1894
Beiyang fleet, battleship Dingyuan
Japanese Imperial Navy, cruiser Matsushima
Japanese troops during the war
Treaty of Shomonoseki 1895:
China recognized Korea’s independence;
ceded Liatong peninsula and Taiwan;
Indemnity (6.4 times the annual
revenue of Japan)
Triple Intervention:
Russia, France, and Germany
forced Japan to give up Liatong peninsula,
Including Port Arthur
Kabo Reforms 1894-1896
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First stage: from July to October 1894, Deliberative
Council passed 210 reform bills under leadership of
Kim Hong-jip (moderate reformer); little interference
of Japanese
Second stage: December 1894 “Coalition Cabinet”
Kim Hong-jip and Pak Yong-ho factions under the
supervision of Japanese Minister Inoue Kaoru;
stepping up the pace of reform
Third stage: after assassination of Queen Min on
October 9 1895 until February 11 1896 when king
Kojong fled to Russian legation; under Kim Hong-jip
and also involvement of Independence Club
Politics behind reforms
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Japanese plot to oust Min; occupied the royal palace
on July 23 1894 and forced Taewongun to cooperate
(as figurehead)
Minister Otori signed alliance agreement with Korea
in August
Japan sent high-profile official as Minister to Korea to
neutralize possible foreign intervention, Inoe Kaoru;
more assertive style
By the spring of 1895 a total 40 Japanese advisors,
assistant advisers, and secretary-clerks were hired by
the Korean government
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The Triple intervention weakened Japanese
influence in Korea
The Taewongun approached the Japanese
legation; wanted to reform the court (against
resurgent Min); Miura agreed, but solicited the
support of Japanese nationalists; attack of the
palace on October 7 (Japanese soldiers and
civilians); murder of Queen Min
New Minister Komura placed priority of military
and fiscal reforms
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In late November 1895, Yi Pom-jin (pro-Russian
official) and Min group members made
unsuccessful attempt to attack the palace with
small force
In December topknot decree stirred uproar; the
“righteous army” attacked local offices and
Japanese garrisons and cut Seoul-Pusan telegraph
line
February 10 1896, Russian marines moved from
Inch’on to Seoul; next day Kojong and his son in
the Russian legation
Reforms
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Some 660 reform documents
First objective: establish Korea’s independence as
a nation
Second: cabinet-centered constitutional monarchy
(Japanese style), cabinet with seven ministries
Third: develop a sound system of fiscal
management; introduction of modern taxation
system
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Fourth: security; police – Metropolitan Police
Boards and plans for units in major cities; new
military system – Capital and Local Garrisons
Battalions
Fifth: educational reform – abolition of traditional
service examination system; establishing or
planning modern elementary schools, high schools
and colleges
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Sixth: modern judicial system – separation of
judicial and executive powers; torture on suspects
and extension of punishment to family members
were banned, court system
Queen Min’s funeral
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Seventh: social reform – social status system was
abolished; class distinction between yangban and
commoners eliminated; slavery abolished
Seoul, 1895
Yangban, 1890s
Discussion group
Confucianism in Korea:
 Define features of Confucianism in Korea.
 Discuss social norms and hierarchies.
 What is common between past and present social
values?
Tonghak texts:
 Identify ideological influences and the uniqueness
of the Eastern Learning
 What was revolutionary in the Tonghak’s agenda?
Ch’oe Cheu’s Incantation of Twenty-One Letters:
The Ultimate Energy here and now,
I pray for its great descent.
Serving God,
I am transformed to follow the divine will.
Eternally not forgetting,
I become aware of all.
Kisaeng, example of ch’onmin
ID Questions
5. Tonghak rebellion
6. Kabo reforms

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