The Political Nature of the Oriental Discourse of the Hwangsŏng sinmun : With a Special Focus on the Notion of an Oriental Identity
Journal Title: International Journal of Korean History - Year 2012, Vol 17, Issue 1
Abstract
Existing studies on the formation of Korean modern nationalism have regarded the Oriental discourse that took place during the final period of the 19th century and early 20th century as a perception that failed to move beyond a Sinocentric order based on Confucianism and as one that essentially needed to be overcome during the process of forming nationalism. Such perceptions have led the Oriental discourse advanced by Hwangsŏng sinmun (Hwangseong sinmun; The Capital Gazette) to be regarded as a sign that traditional thinking methods continued to linger during the formation of anti-Japanese nationalism. However, these standpoints should now be reconsidered. As Hwangsŏng sinmun published strong anti-Japanese oriented editorials and promoted the notion of national identity during the period that surrounded the Ŭlsa Treaty of 1905 (Japan-Korea Protectorate Treaty of 1905) and Chŏngmi Treaty of 1907 (Japan-Korea Treaty of 1907), it can also be regarded as not having overcome the Oriental discourse. Hwangsŏng sinmun hailed Confucian morality as an identity that the Orient should preserve and critically assailed Japan’s encroachment and the violent resistance waged by the righteous armies (ŏibyŏng; euibyeong) through the lens of Confucian morality. The double intentionality structure composed of the Oriental and national discourses moved in the direction of support for the notion of Korea as a protectorate. While the Oriental discourse that took place amidst asymmetrical relations between Korea and Japan was designed to support the ideology of an Oriental civilization led by Japan, the national discourse rooted in a Confucian culture that served as the national identity constituted an ideological mechanism through which capabilities were developed under the protectorate system. The Oriental discourse advanced by Hwangsŏng sinmun, which encompassed the national discourse, was a conservative political discourse that fostered the preservation of the protectorate.
Authors and Affiliations
Yun-hee Kim
Keywords
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