Editing History of Korea (section)

===Culture and society===
[[File:Koreans oldest pic 3.jpg|upright=0.8|thumb|One of the earliest photographs depicting [[yangban]] Koreans, taken in 1863]]
Korea's culture was based on the philosophy of [[Neo-Confucianism]], which emphasizes morality, righteousness, and practical ethics. Wide interest in scholarly study resulted in the establishment of private academies and educational institutions. Many documents were written about history, geography, medicine, and Confucian principles. The arts flourished in painting, calligraphy, music, dance, and [[Korean pottery and porcelain|ceramics]].{{sfn|Lee|Park|Yoon|2005|pp= 391–401}}

The most notable cultural event of this era is the creation and promulgation of the Korean alphabet ''[[Hunmin jeongeom]]'' (later called ''[[Hangul]]'') by [[Sejong the Great]] in 1446.<ref name="Hangul" /> This period also saw various other cultural, scientific and technological advances.{{sfn|Association of Korean History Teachers|2005a|pp=168–173}}

During Joseon dynasty, a social hierarchy system existed that greatly affected Korea's social development. The king and the royal family were atop the hereditary system, with the next tier being a class of civil or military officials and landowners known as ''[[yangban]]'', who worked for the government and lived off the efforts of tenant farmers and slaves.

A middle class, ''[[jungin]]'', were technical specialists such as scribes, medical officers, technicians in science-related fields, artists and musicians. Commoners, ''[[sangmin]]'', constituted the largest class in Korea. They had obligations to pay taxes, provide labor, and serve in the military. By paying land taxes to the state, they were allowed to cultivate land and farm. The lowest class, ''[[cheonmin]]'', included tenant farmers, slaves, entertainers, craftsmen, prostitutes, laborers, shamans, vagabonds, outcasts, and criminals. Although [[Nobi|slave]] status was hereditary, they could be sold or freed at officially set prices, and the mistreatment of slaves was forbidden.{{sfn|Lee|Park|Yoon|2005|pp= 387–389}}

This ''yangban'' focused system started to change in the late 17th century as political, economic and social changes came into place. By the 19th century, new commercial groups emerged, and the active social mobility caused the ''yangban'' class to expand, resulting in the weakening of the old class system. The Korea government ordered the freedom of government slaves in 1801. The class system of Korea was completely banned in 1894.{{sfn|Lee|Park|Yoon|2005|pp= 435–437}}