Hermit kingdom
Encyclopedia
Hermit kingdom is a pejorative
term applied to any country
or society
which willfully walls itself off (metaphorically or physically) from the rest of the world. The Joseon Dynasty
of Korea
was frequently described as a hermit kingdom during the latter part of the dynasty. The term is still commonplace throughout Korea and is often used by Koreans themselves to describe pre-modern Korea.
Today, the term is often applied to North Korea
in news media, and in 2009 was used by United States
Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton. Other countries like Bhutan
and the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen
have also been described as hermit kingdoms due to their government's reluctance to engage in dialogue with the outside world. The early African civilization of Axum
, modernly known as Ethiopia
, was identified by the Europeans as the "hermit kingdom".
The first documented use of "hermit" to refer to Korea is in the title of William Elliot Griffis
' 1882 book, Corea: The Hermit Nation. The writer of the book had never visited Korea, did not speak the language, and had no first-hand experience with the country. He supported the invasion and occupation of Korea by Japan, and in his works often attempted to prove the superiority of Japan
. The publication of The Hermit Kingdom, and its circulation, particularly in North America, led to tacit approval of Japan's incursions into Korea. It was used to justify Japanese actions by showing the Korean people as primitive, uncultured, unable to function internationally, and needing Japanese direction.
The expression quickly gained currency in Western discussions of Korea. As early as Carpenter's Geographical Reader of Asia (NY, American Book Company, 1897) reference is made to "the hermit nation" which is "largely controlled by Japan". Comments are also made that "Koreans until lately have driven travelers away from their shores" and that "the United States...opened Korea to the rest of the world".
Pejorative
Pejoratives , including name slurs, are words or grammatical forms that connote negativity and express contempt or distaste. A term can be regarded as pejorative in some social groups but not in others, e.g., hacker is a term used for computer criminals as well as quick and clever computer experts...
term applied to any country
Country
A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
or society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
which willfully walls itself off (metaphorically or physically) from the rest of the world. The Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
was frequently described as a hermit kingdom during the latter part of the dynasty. The term is still commonplace throughout Korea and is often used by Koreans themselves to describe pre-modern Korea.
Today, the term is often applied to North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
in news media, and in 2009 was used by United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Hillary Clinton. Other countries like Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
and the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen
Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen
The Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen , sometimes spelled Mutawakelite Kingdom of Yemen, also known as the Kingdom of Yemen or as North Yemen, was a country from 1918 to 1962 in the northern part of what is now Yemen...
have also been described as hermit kingdoms due to their government's reluctance to engage in dialogue with the outside world. The early African civilization of Axum
Aksumite Empire
The Kingdom of Aksum or Axum, also known as the Aksumite Empire, was an important trading nation in northeastern Africa, growing from the proto-Aksumite Iron Age period ca. 4th century BC to achieve prominence by the 1st century AD...
, modernly known as Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, was identified by the Europeans as the "hermit kingdom".
The first documented use of "hermit" to refer to Korea is in the title of William Elliot Griffis
William Elliot Griffis
William Elliot Griffis was an American orientalist, Congregational minister, lecturer, and prolific author....
' 1882 book, Corea: The Hermit Nation. The writer of the book had never visited Korea, did not speak the language, and had no first-hand experience with the country. He supported the invasion and occupation of Korea by Japan, and in his works often attempted to prove the superiority of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The publication of The Hermit Kingdom, and its circulation, particularly in North America, led to tacit approval of Japan's incursions into Korea. It was used to justify Japanese actions by showing the Korean people as primitive, uncultured, unable to function internationally, and needing Japanese direction.
The expression quickly gained currency in Western discussions of Korea. As early as Carpenter's Geographical Reader of Asia (NY, American Book Company, 1897) reference is made to "the hermit nation" which is "largely controlled by Japan". Comments are also made that "Koreans until lately have driven travelers away from their shores" and that "the United States...opened Korea to the rest of the world".