earticle

영어

This paper focuses on the national memorial enterprise of the Empire of Korea(大韓帝國). Since the establishment of Korean Empire, Emperor Gojong had tried to cherish the memory of the soldiers and public officials who died for the nation during or after Sino-Japanese War. Jangchungdan(獎忠壇) in Seoul and Mochungdan(慕忠壇) in Chongju were the examples of the memorial enterprise of Korea. During the Sino-Japanese War Korean military authority was in dilemma between Donghak peasent army(東學農民軍) and Japanese military authority. Japanese minister who was supported by Japanese military power had a hold on the Korean cabinet and royal court. Korean king was a kind of prisoner at royal court. Especially just after the assassination of Queen Min by the Japanese in October 8th 1895, King Gojong(高宗) was in life-threathening conditions. These urgent external and internal situations provided Korean king's flight to Russian Legation in Seoul February 11, 1896. One year staying at Russian legation, King Gojong moved to Gyungungung February 20, 1897. Korean government become to restore the order in Seoul and local area. In October 12th 1897 King Gojong acceded to the throne of emperor and declared the new name of Korea as Daehan Empire, that is Korean Empire. It reflected the hope and new philosophy of the Korean people and officials for the independence and development of Korea. At the shrine of the Jangchungdan and Mochungdan there were the spirit tablets of private soldiers as well as high officials and military officers of Korea. All of those were fallen by Donghak peasent army and Japanese soldiers in 1895. In the traditional society the rank and file soldiers were almost excluded at the memorial altar because hiararchical society did not permit the private soldiers to share the altar or shrine with high officials and generals. That is the difference of the memorial ideology for the patriots between Joseon dynasty and Korean Empire.