In some of the earlier blogs, I have already mentioned how ancient Korean empires were actually in Manchuria. Going back as far as 1500 BC, Gochosun Empire ruled over what is now Manchuria as well as part of eastern Siberia, and the Korean peninsula. Gochosun was followed by several other Korean empires, including Puyo and Koguryo. So, Koreans had been in Manchuria for centuries. In modern times, whenever there were problems, political or economic, in northern Korea, Manchuria saw an influx of Korean immigrants. That is so even today. Those lucky enough to escape the Communist North Korea would naturally prefer to escape to the south, but it is a lot easier for most to sneak into Manchuria rather than trying to cross the heavily fortified DMZ. There is still a significant ethnic Korean population in southern Manchuria especially. This population is made up of not only newly arrived escapees from North Korea, but long time residents, some who have been there for many generations.
Japan's interest in Manchuria really didn't perk up until after Japan had annexed Korea. After Korea, Manchuria naturally became the next target for Japan's imperialistic designs. Japan's interest in Korea has historically dated back to its earliest times. It is said that China can lay claim to 4,000 years of actual recorded history. There are books written that far back. Korea can lay claim to being civilized for 3,000 years (Gochosun would make it 3500 years), and there is written proof of that not only in Korean writing but Chinese as well. Naturally, Korea received its civilizing culture from China, which it changed by adding native elements and creating the Korean culture. Japan can actually claim to only about 2,000 years of history, perhaps even a bit less. The early Japanese cultures did not have a written system and were very primitive. Korea is the one that transferred Chinese culture to Japan. Early scholars in Japan were Koreans who came over to teach. This is recorded in Japanese books, so there is no denying. The Tale of Genji, the world's first novel which was written by a woman, Murasaki Shikibu, in the 10th Century Japan during the Heian Period, mentions this fact. One of the prominent characters in the book is a Korean scholar who is in Japan to teach the Japanese. Japanese had been bringing over Korean scholars and artisans from the earliest times, willingly or unwillingly! Korean master potters, artists, etc., were brought over to. The great Japanese ceramics works were initially started by Koreans who were either brought over or kidnapped and forced to work in Japan. Satsuma pottery, the imari, kutani, all got their start from Koreans. That is not to take anything away from the Japanese and their abilities. Like with cars and electronics in the modern age, the Japanese put their touch on everything and soon it became theirs!
Throughout its history, Japan has tried to somehow gain control of Korea. There were numerous smaller conflicts since the dawn of history, but the Imjin Wars of the 16th Century were probably the most ambitious attempt, until modern times. The Japanese were able to push all the way up the peninsula to the Yalu and Tuman Rivers, and some even crossed into Manchuria. It was then that the Jurchens under the leadership of little known prince by the name of Nurhachi, attacked the Japanese and pushed them down southward. So the Manchus helped Korea to repel the Japanese.
In the late 19th Century, Japan, under the rule of Emperor Meiji, literally jumped into the industrialized age during the Meiji Restoration Period that started in 1868. Within a quarter of a century, Japan had almost caught up with some of the smaller, lesser developed industrialized European nations. Korea, on the other hand, was way behind times. Progressive Korean royalty tried to move the country into the industrialized age, but there was an awful lot of resistance from some of the government members. There were those who wanted to maintain status quo, remain a "hermit kingdom" as it was nick-named for its isolation. Others wanted to westernize the system, still others thought that they should ally with Japan! Korea's King Kojong was a very modern and forward thinking man. He wanted to jump into the modernization and he even hired an American to be his chief foreign affairs advisor, a de facto Foreign Minister. He hired Judge Owen Denny, who had just completed a stint as the U.S. Consul General to Shanghai. There was opposition from some of the members of the government, but he stood fast, and Owen Denny became his chief advisor on foreign affairs from 1886 to 1890.
Unfortunately Emperor Kojong died and his plans to bring Korea into the modern world was put on hold temporarily. Opponents to modernization rejoiced, but only for a short while. Emperor Kojong's wife, Empress Myongsong took the throne. She, it seemed, picked up where her late husband left off. She was a staunch believer in having stronger ties with the west and Russia in particular because Russia was a very close neighbor. She did not want to have close ties with Japan, neither did her late husband! In particular, she did not like or trust the Japanese Minister to Korea, Miura Goro. In private she said that he could not be trusted, that he was like a viper! Japan did not like what was going on and they knew that the Empress was going to have her way, because she was a very strong leader. So, in 1895, three Japanese assassins snuck into the palace and murdered Empress Myongsong and two of her court ladies. They took the body of the Empress Myongsong outside and burned it, hoping to destroy any evidence of their involvement.
Although there was somewhat of an outcry from the international community, nothing was done. Japan, on the other hand, recalled its Minister to Korea Miura Goro and the three alleged assassins. They conducted a phony trial at the end of which everyone was released on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence. This was the beginning of Japan's take over of Korea. It was incredible that Miura, the head of Japanese Diplomatic Mission to Korea would orchestrate an assassination, carry it out, and get away without so much as a slap on the wrist!
History tells us that within 15 years of the assassination of Empress Myongsong, Korea was annexed by Japan and Korea's war of liberation against Japan started in which Manchuria played a very important role.
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