Joseon
From Freepedia
Joseon (also Chosun Hangul: 조선; Hanja: 朝鮮, McCune-Reischauer: Chosŏn) is a name for Korea, as used in the following cases:
- As part of the name of several ancient kingdoms (including Gojoseon, Gija Joseon, and Wiman Joseon);
- During most of the Joseon Dynasty, when the country's full official name was Daejoseonguk (대조선국; 大朝鮮國; "Great Joseon Nation"), a name that is almost never used today;
- During the Japanese Colonial Period; and
- Today in North Korea.
See Names of Korea for more details on the changing use of the name.
The Sino-Korean characters (Hanja) that make up the name (朝鮮) are often translated into English as "morning calm," hence Korea's English nickname, "The Land of the Morning Calm." However, some scholars believe the Hanja is a transliteration of a native Korean name (as Saro was written 新羅 then pronounced Silla), or a translation of Asadal, Go-joseons capital.
It is also the name of two prominent newspapers: the South Korean Chosun Ilbo and the pro-North Choson Sinbo of Japan.
