User:Pldx1/Factions/Joseon Political Factions

Lede
The concept of Joseon Political Factions, aka Bungdang (붕당, 朋黨) in Korean, describes the political factionalism that was characteristic of the political life during the Joseon period in Korea. Each and every pretext was used as a "juste cause" to disparage and purge the other factions. But, beyond similarities concerning "techniques for ousting your rivals", there were three different periods, due to different social groups at strife.

36 stratagems
Zhuge Liang is the attributed author of the 36 Stratagems compilation

Hungu v. Sarim
A first phase, in 15th and 16th century, mostly resulted from the fight between two social groups: Hungu and Sarim. The Hungu were a self-conscious group, issued from the meritorious subjects awarded for their participation to 1392 coup that created Joseon, and to the other events that consolidated the regime. They soon monopolized the governmental power in the Capital. On the contrary, the Sarim were a forest of scholars, many of them having initially retired from the political life as a protest against the seizure of Joseon seizure of power from Goryeo in 1392. Another part retired as a protest against the seizure of power by Sejo from the weak Danjong in 1453. During this retirement period, a political faction resulted from maintaining power base and ideological continuity through Seowon and Hyang'yak (a system of social contract that gave local autonomy to villages). During Seongjong, censoring power, see Wagner

The conflict culminated, between 1498 and 1545, in a series of four bloody purges, known as the Korean Literati Purges, in which Sarim faction was persecuted by the Hungu faction. Eventually, the Hungu faction declined without an ideological successor while the Sarim faction emerged as the dominant faction during the reign of Seonjo.

a piece here and the Yeongnam-based Sarim faction dominated national politics

Scholar v. Scholar
A second phase, in the 16th century, a nationwide split occurred within the Sarim group. It resulted into a Western faction (Seo-in) and a Eastern faction (Dong-in), composed mainly of younger generation. Political divisions intensified even further as the Eastern faction in turn split between the hard-line Northern faction (Buk-in) and the moderate Southern faction (Nam-in) and the Western factions split between the Old Learning (No-ron) and the Young Learning (So-ron). The Northern faction further split into the Greater Northern and Smaller Northern factions. The faction names often derived from the relative location of their leader's house.

These factional splits grew out of allegiance to different philosophical schools and regional differences. For instance, the Eastern faction was largely Youngnam-based, and its subfaction the Southerners were mainly followers of Yi Hwang while the Northerners coalesced around the school of Jo Shik. The Gyeonggi and Chungcheong-based Western faction were largely followers of Yi I, of which followers of Seong Hon split to form the So-ron faction and Song Siyeol's followers became the No-ron faction. These divisions were often further driven by questions concerning royal succession or appropriate royal conduct. For example, the split between the Northerners and Southerners was driven by debate over the proper successor to Seonjo, who had no legitimate son. The Northerners came to support the Gwanghaegun; accordingly, they flourished under his reign (1608–1623) but were swept from power by the Westerners after the succession of Injo.

Under the reigns of Yeongjo and Jeongjo in the 18th century, a strict policy of equality was pursued with no faction being favoured over another. . poor usage of the source, that rather insists on the causes of the strifes !!! However, in Jeongjo's reign, strife re-emerged as the ruling No-ron faction split further between the Byeokpa and Sipa, two groups which cut across the earlier factions and differed in their attitudes concerning Yeongjo's murder of his son, who was also Jeongjo's father.

In-law v. In-law
A third phase occured in the 19th century. Joseon politics shifted as in-law families rather than scholarly factions came to dominate the throne. For most of the 19th century, the Jangdong branch of the Andong Kim clan was in control of the government; however, there was a brief interlude in which control shifted to the Pungyang Cho clan.

During the reign of Gojong, real power initially belonged to his father the Heungseon Daewongun, who on one hand sought to reform corrupt state institutions but on the other hand pursued a policy of isolationism, opposing the opening of the country to Western and Japanese influences. From the 1870s onwards, Queen Min (known posthumously as Empress Myeongseong) became more dominant and pursued a policy of cautious modernisation and opening up. Her dominance was opposed by reactionaries and progressives alike. The Enlightenment Party (also known as Progressives) sought to modernise the country along Western and Japanese lines. These factional struggles led to the Imo Incident and Gapsin Coup, as well as increased foreign interference in Korean affairs.

Listing the purges that occurred during the the Joseon period
moved from the 'Other purges' section in Korean_literati_purges

There is a large set of traditional names for all the political purges that occurred during the Joseon period (1392-1897). Some are neutral like "Turn of State" (hwanguk, 환국), used in the Sukjong's sillok. Other are clearly taking side, like "Treason Case" (oksa, 옥사) or "False Treason Case" (muok, 무옥). Most of them are called Literati Purge (sahwa, 사화) making a reductio at Yeonsangun by alluding to the 1498 purge, considered as the worse ever. A special case are the "Persecutions" (bakhae, 박해), also named "Heresy Cases" (saok, 사옥), where large series of opponents were tracked as believers of Catholicism (part of them were, large numbers were not).

Here are the most known of them. Item starting by a number belongs to the traditional List of Twelve Literati Purges (Sibi Sahwa, 십이사화, 十二士禍). On the other hand, major literati purges are often numbered as 1st=1498, 2nd=1504, 3rd=1519, 4th=1545.

- ---
 * (01) 1453 Gyeyu Jeongnan, 계유정난 - Prince Suyan (to become King Sejo) killed the regents for the boy-king Danjong.
 * (02) 1455 Byeongja Sahwa, 병자사화 - A plan to assassinate Sejo and restore King Tanjong was betrayed. 70 or so were executed.
 * (03) 1498 Muo Sahwa, 무오사화 - Yeonsangun 'history purge'. 1st sahwa
 * (04) 1504 Gapja Sahwa, 갑자사화 - Avenging Yeonsangun's mother. 2nd sahwa.
 * (05) 1519 Kimyo Sahwa, 기묘사화 - Death of Jo Gwang-jo. 3rd sahwa.
 * (06) 1521 Sinsa Muok, 신사무옥 or 1521 False Treason Case. Song Saryeon (1496-1578) accused An Chogyeom (1496-1521) of plotting to assassinate Nam Gon and Shim Jeong. As a result, An Chogyeom and other Jo Gwang-jo's supporters were executed.
 * (07) 1545 Eulsa Sahwa, 을사사화 - Accession of king Myeongjong. 4th sahwa.
 * (08) 1547 Jeongmi Sahwa, 정미사화 - Seditious graffiti were found at Yangju post-station in Gwangiu, Gyeonggi-do. Executions followed.
 * (09) 1549 Giyu Sahwa, 기유사화 - Yi Hongnam (b 1515) accused his younger brother Hongyun of plotting treason. Hongyun and other were executed
 * 1589 Gichuk Oksa, 기축옥사 or 1589 Treason Case. The bloodiest purge in Joseon history, in which the Western faction purged the rival Eastern faction. 1,000 people were executed or exiled (Seonjo).
 * (10) 1613 Gyechuk Oksa, 계축옥사 or 1613 Treason Case. After the accession of King Gwanghaegun, the Greater Northern faction accused Lesser Northern faction of banditry to finance their plots to dethrone Gwanghaegun in favor of his half-brother Prince Yongchang. The excesses of Greater Northern faction were used by the Westerners and Southerners to justify their 1623 coup d'état in favor of Injo.
 * 1651: new Kim Ja-jeom's controversy 김자점의 옥. Something like Shinmyo Oksa 신묘옥사 or 1651 Treason Case - See  (Hyojong).
 * 1680: Gyeonsin Hwanguk, 경신환국 or 1680 Turn of State. Also 경신대출척(庚申大黜陟) i.e. Gyeongsin Great Demote and Promote Event - Two leaders of Southern faction were accused of plotting to dethrone Sukjong by the Western faction (Sukjong).
 * (11) 1689 Gisa Hwanguk, 기사환국 or 1689 Turn of State - The Western faction fell out of power after opposing the naming of the future Gyeongjong as Crown Prince. As a result, Song Siyeol and others were executed. (Sukjong)
 * 1694: Gapsul Hwanguk, 갑술환국 or 1694 Turn of State - The Southern faction's attempt to purge Western faction on charge of plotting to reinstate deposed Queen Inhyeon backfires. The Southern faction would never recover from this purge politically.  However, the Westerners already split into Noron and Soron factions. (Sukjong)
 * (12) 1721-22 Sinyim Oksa, 신임옥사 or 1721&1722 Treason Cases (sin-yim is a portemanteau from sinchuk,신축=1721 and yimin, 이민=1722). - Leaders of Noron faction (split from Western faction) who supported Yeonyingun (later Yeongjo) advocated regency of Yeoningun in place of sickly Gyeongjong.  They were accused of disloyalty, and four of them were executed in 1721.  In 1722, Soron and Namin factions accused Noron faction of plotting to kill Gyeongjong, and eight leaders who had again advocated Yeonyingun's regency were executed (Gyeongjong).
 * After Yeonyingun rose to the throne and became Yeongjo, Soron faction was driven out of power in reaction to Sinyim Oksa. Five Soron members were accused of treason and were executed.
 * 1725: Eulsa Hwanguk, 을사환국 or 1725 Turn of State - Yeongjo becomes the king, and Noron faction regains power.
 * 1727: Jeongmi Hwanguk, 정미환국 or 1727 Turn of State - Yeongjo replaces hardliners with moderates from both Noron and Soron faction.
 * 1755: Eulhae Oksa, 을해옥사 or 1755 Treason Case - Also called Naju Placard Incident, 나주 괘서 사건
 * 1791: Sinhae Saok, 신해박해 or 1781 Persecution - First persecution of Catholicism in Korea. Noron's Byeokpa faction advocated persecution while Shipa faction opposed it.  Two Catholics were executed, but persecution was limited after Jeongjo adopted Shipa faction's policy.
 * 1801: Sinyu Saok, 신유박해 or 1801 Persecution - After Jeongjo's death, Queen Jeongsun and conservative Byeokpa faction reversed many of Jeongjo's reforms and carried out the worst persecution of the Joseon Catholics, which was also aimed at the purge of liberals from Shipa and Namin factions. 300 people were executed, and people like Jeong Yak-yong were exiled. (Sunjo)
 * 1839: Gihae Saok, 기해박해 or 1839 Persecution - There was no persecution while Shipa was in power, but Byeokpa regained power and resumed the persecution of Catholics by executing 119 people. (Heonjong)

Factions of Sarim
moved from the "Sarim" page

1, 2: inserted to the "4_colours" section

Political leaders
3: everything has to be checked with the undisclosed source !!!

Philosophical Lineage
--> Kim Gueng-pil --> Jo Gwang-jo (Giho Sarim, Gimyo Sarim)
 * Yi Saek --> Jeong Mong-ju --> Gil Jae --> Kim Suk-ja --> Kim Jong-jik (Yeongnam Sarim)
 * Yeongnam School
 * Yi Eon-jeok --> Yi Hwang
 * Yi Hwang --> Yu Seong-ryong, Kim Seong-il
 * Jo Shik --> Choe Young-gyeong, Jeong In-hong, Gwak Jaeu
 * Giho School
 * Seo Gyeong-deok --> Yi I, Heo Gyun, Hwang Jin-i !!!
 * Yi I -> Kim Jang-seng --> Kim Jip --> Song Siyeol
 * Seong Soo-chim --> Seong Hon

The four colours
partly moved from "Factional struggle" in the part II article

At the beginning of Hunggu/Sarim confrontation, the Sarim faction was rather a social group made of a collection of individuals (sarim literally means forest of scholars), most of them leaving far from the capital. When the Sarim won the confrontation, this rather loose group started to coalesce in antagonistic factions, ever dividing over the slimmest "just cause" they encounter. Among them were questions concerning royal succession or appropriate royal conduct.

A first split, 1574, leads to:


 * Seoin, 서인, 西人, aka Westerners.
 * Leader: Sim Ui-gyeom (his house was on western side of the Palace).
 * Ideologs: Yi I, Kim Jang-saeng, Seong Hon.
 * untold: largely Gyeonggi and Chungcheong-based ; mainly older Sarim scholars who entered politics during Myeongjong's reign, which was marred by corruption.
 * Other notable members: Jeong Cheol, Yi Hang-bok, Choe Myeong-gil.


 * Dongin, 동인, 東人, aka Easterners.
 * Leader: Kim Hyo-won 김효원 (his house was on eastern side of the Palace).
 * Ideologs: 	Yi Hwang, Jo Sik.
 * untold: largely Yeongnam-based ;  mainly younger Sarim scholars who became officials in Seonjo's reign and saw themselves clean and uncorrupted.
 * Other notable members: Jeong Eon-sin.

And some splits later, we have the entrenched four factions (Sasaek Dangjaeng, 사색당쟁, 四色黨爭), where "colors" (saek) convey the meaning of The Four Banners (of war).


 * Bukin, 북인, 北人, aka Northerners, split of the Easterners in 1591.
 * Ideolog: Jo Sik.
 * Leader Yi Bal who initiated the split. d.1589 (his house was below northern Bukak Mountain)
 * Other notable members: Yi Sanhae, Jeong In-hong, Nam Yi-gong, Yi Yicheom, Hong Yeo-sun, Heo Gyun, Nam Yi-gong, Kim Seon-guk


 * Namin, 남인, 南人, aka Southerners, split 1591 of the Easterners.
 * Ideolog: 	Yi Hwang.
 * Leaders Woo Seong-jeon (his house was below South Mountain), Ryu Seong-ryong (d. 1607), Heo Mok (Left State Councilor 1675-78), Yun Hyu (executed 1680).
 * Other notable members: Yun Seon-do, Heo Jeok, Jeong Yak-yong
 * Involved Royals: Jang Huibin, concubine of Sukjong of Joseon from 1688 to 1694.


 * Soron, 소론, 少論, aka New Learning, split 1683 of the Westerners.
 * Leaders: Yun Jeung (d. 1714).
 * Ideolog: Seong Hon
 * Other notable members: Han Tae-dong, Yoon Jeung
 * Involved Royals: Crown Prince Hwiso, to become King Gyeongjong (d. 1724).


 * Noron, 노론,老論, aka Old Learning, split 1683 of the Westerners.
 * Leaders: Kim Seok-ju's (d. 1684)
 * Ideolog: Song Siyeol (d. 1689).
 * Other notable members:
 * Involved Royals: Queen Inhyeon (d. 1701) ; Prince Yeoning, to become King Yeongjo.
 * In December 1728, King Yeonjo (who favored Noron) was accused of having poisoned King Gyeongjong. This led to the Musin Revolt in Jeolla Province. The rebels enjoyed support from people in Gyeonggi Province and Chungcheong Province.

But this "four colours" scheme is mostly an over simplification of a more complex matter. As an example: in 1606, the Northerners divided into Greater Northerners (led by Heo Gyun) and Smaller Northerners. In 1613, the Greater Northerners split further into Flesh Northerners, Bone Northerners and Middle Northerners. And then, the Smaller Northerners allied with Westerners and Southerners. Etc.

Portrayal in Media
finding an uniform style for these descriptions splitting or not ?

The Korean factional purges are frequently depicted in Korean television dramas and movies.
 * Dae Jang Geum series portrays the main protagonist Jang Guem's as the son of a victim of the second literati purge. Jang Geum herself and her mentor Lady Han are framed in connection with the third literati purge while the male protagonist Min Jung Ho is portrayed as a follower of Jo Gwang-jo.
 * Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin series, 2004-5, depicts Yi Sun-shin's grandfather as a victim of third literati purge and Yi's father is arrested while paying respect to Jo Gwang-jo's spirit at Jo's abandoned house.
 * "The Treacherous" movie, 2015, dramatize the second literati purge.
 * Ladies of the Palace drama, 2001, uses the third and fourth literati purges as main plot lines.
 * The first and second literati purges are depicted in King and Queen (TV series) 왕과 비, 1998–2000, The King and I (TV series) (2007–2008), Queen Insoo series (2011) and the 2005 film The King and the Clown.


 * Yi San (TV series) 2007, portrays the No-ron Faction as the King Jeongjo's chief enemy. The No-ron make his father, Crown Prince Sado, die while fallen from grace and try to shame or kill Yi San himself. So-ron and Nam-in Factions are mentioned in the dialogue. The series also portrays the split within the No-ron faction during his reign and implied that it was a contributing factor to their political defeat. not so clear ; the actual version is not better


 * Jingbirok (TV series). To be written.