Interpretations of Influences and Significance of Tonghak Peasant Movement and its Comparison in ROK History Textbooks from 20th and 21st Century
Abstract
This paper aims to introduce interpretations of the role and significance of Tonghak peasant movement and its influence on the events of the late 19th century according to ROK's high school textbooks from 20th and 21st century. In the broader context of political and social conditions of Korean society and variety of changing trends of history writing, I am comparing history textbooks from era of newly established state (1950s-1960s), era of textbooks designated by the government (1970s-end of 1990s) and finally nowadays textbooks (comparison of late 1990s, early 2000s and 5 textbooks from 2014).
According to this division I am following the changes from "Tonghak rebellion" (Tonghak nan, 東學亂), "Tonghak revolution" (Tonghak hyŏngmyŏng, 東學革命) or "Tonghak revolutionary movement" (Tonghak hyŏngmyŏng undong, 東學革命運動) to "Tonghak peasant movement" (Tonghak nongmin undong,東學農民運動). The main aim of this paper is to point out the differences in summaries of influence and significance of the movement, such as the influence on following Kabo Reforms, formation of the "righteous army" as a part of anti-Japanese resistance movement in the colonial era or the creation of opportunity to form a new modern society and state.