Great East Asian War and the Birth of the Korean Nation

The Imjin War (1592-1598) was a major conflict in East Asia involving Chinese, Japanese, and Korean forces, with the largest the world had seen. Despite massive regional realignments, Korea's Chosn Dynasty endured, but a new, national discourse emerged to inspire civilians to rise up against the Japanese army. JaHyun Kim Haboush's book offers a compelling counternarrative to Western historiography, tying Korea's idea of nation to the imported ideologies of modern colonialism. She reclaims the root story of solidarity that helped Korea thrive well into the modern era.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 240 pages
\n Publication date: 20 April 2021
\n Publisher: Columbia University Press
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The Imjin War (1592-1598) was a devastating conflict that caused widespread destruction across the Korean Peninsula. The involvement of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean forces, along with the regional scope of the war, made it the largest military engagement the world had ever witnessed. This event dominated East Asian memory until World War II. Despite significant regional realignments, Korea's Chosŏn Dynasty managed to endure, but within its society, a new national discourse began to emerge. This discourse aimed to inspire civilians to rise against the Japanese army and intensified after the Manchu invasions of 1627 and 1636.

In her book, "The Imjin War and the Making of Modern Korea," JaHyun Kim Haboush presents a compelling counternarrative to Western historiography. Haboush challenges the notion that Korea's idea of nation was solely influenced by imported ideologies of modern colonialism. Instead, she emphasizes the formative role of the conflicts that defined the second half of the Chosŏn Dynasty, which had a profound impact on the geopolitics of East Asia and introduced a national narrative that played a crucial role in Korea's survival.

By documenting the emergence of this national discourse, Haboush reclaims the root story of solidarity that helped Korea thrive well into the modern era. She re-creates the cultural and political passions that bound Chosŏn society together during this period, providing a deeper understanding of the factors that contributed to Korea's resilience and development.

The Imjin War was a pivotal moment in Korean history, marking the beginning of a long period of conflict and transformation. Haboush's book sheds light on the complex dynamics that shaped Korea's national identity and offers a valuable perspective on the region's history.

\n Weight: 366g\n
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780231172295\n \n