Tonghak Peasant Revolution

The Tonghak Peasant Revolution was a massive uprising in Korea. It lasted from January 11, 1894, to December 25, 1895. The movement was driven by peasants who followed the Donghak religion. This religious group rejected Western technology and foreign ideals. They sought to change a society filled with inequality and corruption. The revolution was a major challenge to the Joseon government. It highlighted the deep anger felt by common people toward their leaders.

To understand the revolution, one must understand the Donghak religion. It was founded by Choe Je-u, who believed all humans were equal. He taught that the world moved in 5,000-year cycles. He believed an old cycle was ending to make way for a new world. Donghak was organized into groups called Jeobs and Pos. A Jeobju led a Jeob, while a Poju led a Po. This structure allowed the religion to spread quickly through provinces.

The revolution began because of local corruption in Gobu-gun. A magistrate named Jo enforced very harsh and oppressive policies. He built the Manseokbo Reservoir, which caused widespread flooding. He also took excessive rice taxes from the local peasants. He even sent spoiled rice to the government while keeping the good rice. Jo fined people for things like "needless talents" to collect more money. These actions created a breaking point for the local population.

In early 1894, the rebellion officially started. Jeon Bong-jun and Kim Gae-nam led a group of angry peasants. They used a secret code called Sabal Tongmun to communicate. This code involved writing names in a circle around a cone. This method made it impossible to tell who the first signer was. This helped protect the identity of the movement's leaders. The rebels destroyed the Manseokbo Reservoir and occupied the Gobu government office.

As the movement grew, the rebel army became very large. They moved through various regions and fought many battles. The rebels won at the Battle of Hwangtojae and the Battle of the Hwangryong River. They even captured the Jeonju Fortress. However, the peace was unstable and lasted only through the summer. The Korean government requested help from the Qing dynasty of China. China sent 2,700 soldiers to intervene in the situation.

This foreign intervention triggered a much larger international conflict. Japan was angry that China did not inform them about the soldiers. This anger led to the start of the First Sino-Japanese War. This war resulted in the removal of Chinese influence from Korea. It also signaled the end of China's Self-Strengthening Movement. As Japan gained more dominance in Korea, the rebels became very anxious. They had to face both their own government and rising foreign powers.

The revolution reached a turning point during the massive Battle of Ugeumchi. The rebel army was huge, with records differing between 25,000 and 200,000 people. Despite their numbers, the rebels were decisively defeated in this battle. They were also overthrown again during the Battle of Taein. Hostility continued into the spring of 1895. Eventually, the rebel leaders were captured in the Honam Region. Most of the leaders were executed by mass hanging in March 1895.

The Tonghak Peasant Revolution remains a significant event in history. It showed the power of organized peasant movements against feudal systems. The movement sought to reclaim the honor of Choe Je-u and stop corruption. It also demanded the expulsion of Westerners and Japanese influence. The revolution demonstrated how social problems like excessive taxation could spark change. Even though the leaders were defeated, their ideas about equality left a lasting mark. The struggle changed the political landscape of the Korean Peninsula forever.