Political factions in Joseon Dynasty

Infobox Korean name
hangul=붕당
hanja=朋黨
rr=Bung-dang
mr=Pung-tang
The Bungdang (Hangul: 붕당, Hanja: 朋黨) was called political factions during the Joseon Dynasty. Throughout the Dynasty, various regional and ideological factions struggled for dominance of the political system. The factions evolved and shifted with the generations. In the earliest years of Joseon, tension between the capital faction and the Yeongnam-based Sarim faction predominated. Village "Seowon", which combined the function of Confucian shrines with educational institutions, often reflected the factional alignment of the local elites. In areas where the Western faction predominated, key figures of Westerner thought such as were enshrined. In the 16th century, a nationwide split occurred between the Eastern faction ("Dong-in") and Western factions ("Seo-in"). The Eastern faction in turn split under the reign of Seonjo between the hard-line Northern faction ("Buk-in") and the moderate Southern faction ("Nam-in"). [Lee (1984), p. 221.] The Western faction later split in its turn, between the Old Learning ("Noron") and the Young Learning ("Soron").

These factional splits were often driven by questions of royal succession or appropriate royal conduct. For example, the split between the Northerners and Southerners was driven by questions involving the proper successor to Seonjo, who had no legitimate son. The Northerners came to support the Gwanghaegun; accordingly, they flourished under his reign (1608-1623) but were swept from power by the Westerners after the succession of Injo.

Under the reigns of Yeongjo and Jeongjo in the 18th century, the kings pursued a strict politcy of equality, favoring no faction over another. [Lee (1984), p. 223.] However, in Jeongjo's reign strife re-emerged between the Byeokpa and Sipa, two groups which cut across the earlier factions and differed in their attitudes towards Yeongjo's murder of his son, who was also Jeongjo's father. In the 19th century, the playing field shifted once more, and in-law families rather than scholarly factions came to dominate the throne. For most of the 19th century, the Jangdong branch of the Andong Kim clan was in control of the government; however, there was a brief interlude in which control shifted to the Pungyang Jo clan.

When Heungseon Daewongun's reign ended, Faction politics started declining and completely disappeared in the 19th century.

=Under King Myeongjong's reign=

*Greater Yun faction (in power 1544-1545)
**Yun Im (1487 - 1545)

*Smaller Yun faction (1545-1575)
**Yun Won-Hyung (Prime-Minister : 1563-1565)

From 1575

Western faction

After King Gwanghae, Daebook (Big-Northerners) lost their power, and the Westerners took the control of the Choson Dynasty again. However, soon, the Westerners were divided into two different factions, Gongseo and Chungseo.

Gongseo was the group of Westerners who participated in the Injo Banjeong (The rebellion by King Injo), and Chungseo was the group of Westerners who were appointed to the governmental positions after the success of Injo Banjeong. Chungseo did not participate in the rebellion.

List of people in Gongseo

Lee GuiLee GwalKim Ja-JeomWon Du-Pyo

::* Noron faction (노론;老論) : Old Doctrine (Emblematic color at Korean court : white) (domination : 1680-1729):::Song Shi Yeol (송시열;宋時烈):::Kim Soo Hang (김수항;金壽恒) he became the Prime Minister in 1680 after the fall of the Southerners.

:::** Horon faction (湖論) :

:::** Nakron faction (洛論) :

:::** Si faction (시파;時派) (political activity : 1762 - ?) :the Party of Expediency

:::** Byuk faction (벽파;僻派) (political activity : 1762 - ?) :the Party of Principle

::* Soron faction (소론 or 소론파 ;少論 or 少論派) : Young Doctrine (Emblematic color at Korean court : blue) (domination : 1680-1729)::: Yun Cheung (윤증;尹拯)

Eastern faction

:Kim Hyowon (1532-1590):Kim Seong Il:Heo Yeup

::* Southerners faction (南人) (activity: ca. 1590 - ca.1720) : Moderate reformist (Emblematic color at Korean court : red) (domination : 1641-1680):::Yu Seong-ryong (유성룡;柳成龍) (Prime Minister):::Heo Mok leader of the Southerners around 1660:::Heo Jeok (허적;許積) (1610-1680) (Prime Minister ca. 1675-1680), one of the last leader of the Southerners. The Southerners lost the power after the Gapsulhwanguk (갑술환국;甲戌換局) Incident.

::* Northerners faction (北人) : Radical reformist (leftist):::Lee San-Hae, Lee Bal, Nam Yi-Gong, Hong Yue-Soon, Ryu Young-Gyoung, Jeong In-Hong

:::** Smaller/Lesser Northerners faction (小北) : Less radical (Emblematic color at Korean court : black):::::Yoo Young Gyung leader of the Lesser Northerners around 1660

:::** Greater Northerners faction (大北) (domination : 1591-1623) : Extreme leftist faction

:::::Jeong In-hong

ee also

*List of Korea-related topics
*Korean Confucianism
*History of Korea
*Joseon Dynasty politics‎

References