Review: Ginseng and Borderland: Territorial Boundaries and Political Relations Between Qing China and Choson Korea, 1636-1912

Ginseng and Borderland: Territorial Boundaries and Political Relations Between Qing China and Choson Korea, 1636-1912 by Seonmin Kim
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found myself wondering if this book was written as part of the whole fight over the border between Korea and China, which I seem to remember was in the news a few years ago. Regardless, it deals almost entirely with that, and it changes nothing regarding the fact that it was pretty much the Yalu and Tumen rivers.

However, the book itself is very interesting. Obviously the border was never an issue before the Qing dynasty, since that area was Manchuria. Also, it seems like Ginseng was the main reason anyone had any interest in that area. Apparently some of the best Ginseng in the world grew there (but was over farmed, so you probably won't find any there now).

Interesting how the Chosun court gave Mu-ke-deng a faulty map, which placed the border somewhat more North than what it should have been, but this never got corrected nor was cared about too much. In fact, the Chosun court worried about it more and then found it a burden to try to send people to that area.
The more secure the Qing government was in its control over China, the more leeway they gave the Chosun government as regards the border, since they didn't feel any threat.

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Review: Everlasting Empire

Everlasting Empire by In-hwa Yi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In many ways this was a dream come true. It is a story taking place in the Chosun dynasty that seemed very reminiscent of "The name of the Rose", complete with an introductory "Author's note" about how the book's pages were a manuscript from long ago that had been found recently, and in the way in which a murder mystery kicks off the entire convoluted story.

In a way Eco had much more leeway, since most of the characters were invented. In this book, however, most of the characters seem to be real people, so all events have to take place within what we know of their actions, beliefs and situations.

Having said that, I did find it rather confusing at times. I think the English version could have done with another editor. There were a few typos (including one of the names, which didn't help since there are many names), and I think some more background would have helped for non-Korean audiences. Maybe a brief overview (or visual) showing the rival factions and main players. Oddly enough I thought a map of the main court or capital would have been useful.

The arguments on page 191-192 against progressivism and democracy are very interesting. Particularly "A restoration is not possible in a democracy. The saying that the people are minju (masters) is a sort of intellectual syllogism, meaning that no one is the master. The president is a constitutional ruler elected by the people, so he is not the master."

Loved the discussions on how the Qin emperor had all books burned and so all Confucius teachings that have been handed down have been corrupted by Laozi's teachings, which came later (and the other side arguing against this). I find stuff like this fascinating.

The explanations about - and the use of - the poetry of allusion was also extremely interesting.

4.5 stars


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