Comments on: The Wreck of the Chusan - A Lesser Known Incident During the 1871 Conflict http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/11/12/the-wreck-of-the-chusan-a-lesser-known-incident-during-the-1871-conflict/ Korea... in Blog Format Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:46:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Sperwer http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/11/12/the-wreck-of-the-chusan-a-lesser-known-incident-during-the-1871-conflict/#comment-117946 Sperwer Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:34:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/11/12/the-wreck-of-the-chusan-a-lesser-known-incident-during-the-1871-conflict/#comment-117946 <blockquote>However, the account is clearly biased in that it emphasizes the negative aspects of Korean behavior and de-emphasizes the hospitality afforded to the Dutch, which was superior to what they would have received in northern Japan. Ah, yes, the "hospitality" of being interned against one's will, virtually enslaved for thirteen years and forced to fight in someone else's wars. All justiifed because it's (allegedly) better than what they would have gotten from the Japs (notwithstanding that there are stories similar to that of Chusan having taken place in the Japanese Isles.

However, the account is clearly biased in that it emphasizes the negative aspects of Korean behavior and de-emphasizes the hospitality afforded to the Dutch, which was superior to what they would have received in northern Japan.

Ah, yes, the “hospitality” of being interned against one’s will, virtually enslaved for thirteen years and forced to fight in someone else’s wars.

All justiifed because it’s (allegedly) better than what they would have gotten from the Japs (notwithstanding that there are stories similar to that of Chusan having taken place in the Japanese Isles.

]]> By: rjh http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/11/12/the-wreck-of-the-chusan-a-lesser-known-incident-during-the-1871-conflict/#comment-117684 rjh Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:16:42 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/11/12/the-wreck-of-the-chusan-a-lesser-known-incident-during-the-1871-conflict/#comment-117684 I thought this part was interesting: Immediately upon landing, the shipwrecked survivors were surrounded by a group of startled Koreans who, instead of attacking them, greeted them with customary questions of where they were from,why they had come, and if they knew Korea had four distinct seasons. When Captain Scholke explained to them that he and his men were shipwrecked, a Korean official informed the captain that they should try kimchi, because kimchi can cure all problems, even the captain's smashed hand. He told them they should eat it three times a day. Then he informed them that kimchi was too spicy for foreigners to eat. I thought this part was interesting:
Immediately upon landing, the shipwrecked survivors were surrounded by a group of startled Koreans who, instead of attacking them, greeted them with customary questions of where they were from,why they had come, and if they knew Korea had four distinct seasons. When Captain Scholke explained to them that he and his men were shipwrecked, a Korean official informed the captain that they should try kimchi, because kimchi can cure all problems, even the captain’s smashed hand. He told them they should eat it three times a day. Then he informed them that kimchi was too spicy for foreigners to eat.

]]> By: dda http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/11/12/the-wreck-of-the-chusan-a-lesser-known-incident-during-the-1871-conflict/#comment-117682 dda Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:28:05 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/11/12/the-wreck-of-the-chusan-a-lesser-known-incident-during-the-1871-conflict/#comment-117682 Speaking of Chosŏn, aka 朝鮮, that "morning calm" thingy has always irritated me. How in botheration did 朝鮮 become Morning Calm?!? 朝 is, among other things, morning, indeed, but 鮮 means "fresh", or "cool", or the associated nouns [freshness, coolness]... Of course, the folklore etymology of Morning Calm is, or so I hear, based on the fact that Koreans are usually too hung over in the morning to be their noisy selves, but who knows... Speaking of Chosŏn, aka 朝鮮, that “morning calm” thingy has always irritated me. How in botheration did 朝鮮 become Morning Calm?!? 朝 is, among other things, morning, indeed, but 鮮 means “fresh”, or “cool”, or the associated nouns [freshness, coolness]…

Of course, the folklore etymology of Morning Calm is, or so I hear, based on the fact that Koreans are usually too hung over in the morning to be their noisy selves, but who knows…

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/11/12/the-wreck-of-the-chusan-a-lesser-known-incident-during-the-1871-conflict/#comment-117672 SomeguyinKorea Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:49:45 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/11/12/the-wreck-of-the-chusan-a-lesser-known-incident-during-the-1871-conflict/#comment-117672 Some have suggested that Hamel emphasized or exaggerated the negative in order to discourage European countries and companies from meddling in Korea. Some have suggested that Hamel emphasized or exaggerated the negative in order to discourage European countries and companies from meddling in Korea.

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