125x Filetype PDF File size 0.02 MB Source: www.sfponline.org
Name___________________________________________________ Class ______________________ Date ___________________ Chapter 13 Biography Activity Few people in the history of the world can take credit for inventing an alphabet. One who could was Sejong, king of Korea in the fifteenth century. This was not the only achievement of this outstanding ruler of the Yi, or Choson, dynasty (see textbook page 322). ◆As you read, think about the immense influence that a ruler such as Sejong can have on a country. Then, on a separate sheet of paper, answer the questions that follow. King Sejong (1397–1450) Korea reached the height of its medieval culture niques. He personally carried out experiments with during the 32-year reign of King Sejong. While growing better grain harvests. To help farmers avoid he is best known for inventing and introducing the droughts, Sejong had his scholars devise a rain Korean alphabetical writing system, Sejong had gauge to measure rainfall accurately; it was so many other interests that he applied for the good of advanced that modern rain gauges are much like it. the country. King Sejong is most famous for devising a new C Sejong became king in 1418 or 1419, when he system for writing the Korean language. Like other was in his early twenties. Soon afterward, he countries in Asia, Korea had been influenced by H brought together a group of scholar-officials to Chinese culture and had used Chinese ideographs in A study and do research in the Hall of writing. The two languages are P Worthies. They published works in King Sejong is totally different, however. For sev- T history, language, law, music, astron- eral years, Sejong personally omy and medicine. Because Sejong “ worked with scholars to create a E also encouraged the development of most famous for 28-letter phonetic alphabet to rep- R typecasting and printing from copper devising a new sys- resent the sounds of Korean. To plates, Korean presses could publish make sure the system was practi- 13 the scholars’ work. The king some- tem for writing the cal, the king first used it to publish times rewarded craftsmen working a translation of a Chinese classic on new technology by sending them Korean language. “Songs of Flying Dragons.” gifts of extra wine and food. The alphabet was officially Sejong believed that people had ” published in 1446 as Hunmin to be well fed and comfortable before chongum, “Correct Sounds to they could become wise. He said, “The people are Instruct the People.” One official who had worked the root of the state, and food is an indispensable with the king wrote an essay congratulating the necessity of the people.” Throughout his reign, he “heaven-endowed sage” for creating an alphabet took a hand in improving agriculture through sci- that could reproduce “even the sounds of wind, the ence and technology. In 1429, he issued a practical cries of cranes. . . and the barking of dogs.” Still farm manual called “Straight Talk on Farming,” used in Korea today, the system is now called hangul which gave advice about planting and plowing tech- (“Great Letters”). Questions to Think About 1. How did King Sejong encourage science and 3. Identifying Ideologies From his actions as technology in Korea? king, what beliefs do you think Sejong held 2. What were the reasons for creating a new about the responsibilities of a leader? writing system for Korea? What was the advantage of the new system? © Prentice-Hall, Inc. 104 • Biography Activity Chapter 13
no reviews yet
Please Login to review.