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King Sejong, whose epithet is 'the Great' ['세종대왕(世宗大王)'], is considered to have been one of the most utstanding Korean kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910). Born in 1397, Sejong became the fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty at the age of 22.
His reign (1418~1450), which lasted until 1450, was a period of great cultural and intellectual accomplishment in Korea that is often called the Golden Age.
King Sejong introduced many progressive ideas and mplemented reforms to improve the life of the common people. He romoted research in the cultural, economic, and political heritage of Korea, and he sponsored many new developments in the area of science, philosophy, music, and linguistics. Therefore, his rule in the mid-15th century was marked by progressive ideas in administration, phonetics, national script, economics, science, music, medical science and humanistic studies.
The most outstanding of his achievements by far was the creation of the Korean alphabet (or han'gul) and a phonetic writing system which was completed in 1443. It was an awareness that his people must have a writing system designed to express the language of their everyday speech, and a desire that all his subjects be able to learn and use it that impelled King Sejong to have scholars of the Hall of Worthie(Chip'yonjon) devise the alphabet. The Korean alphabet, consisting of 11 vowels and 28 consonants possessing geometric beauty, simplicity, and scientific accuracy, is such that an uneducated man can learn it in a few days.
King Sejong's interest in astronomical science was also comprehensive and sundials ('Angbu-ilgwi ', 1434), automatically striking water clocks ('Chagyongnu', 1434), rain guage, wind guage, orrerries of the solar system, celestial globes, astronomical maps, and atlases of the seven planets (1442) were produced at his instigation. He initiated the development of musical instruments, and encouraged the composition of orchestral music. | |
Stations & IceBreaker > Antarctic King Sejong Station > King Sejong the Great
