DescriptionGriffis retells the bloody history of Korea and its position within East Asia, describing Korea as the "Belgium of Asia". The military history between Japan and Korea has been immortalized in monuments, often displaying the number of Korean lives taken by the Japanese before the 1900s. But even with this extended history of invasions and conquests, Korea is noted as a steadfast defender of their homeland, facing threats from the Japanese, Manchius, and Americans. Griffis illustrates Korea as being “Mercury” rather than “Mars,” as a peninsula that adopts, invites, and integrates cultures, technologies, and religions from other countries. It is this unique circumstance between major powers in East Asia that Korea was able to be resilient, and as a result, has become an anthropological site that is trying to maintain its autonomy.
NoteThis project was assisted by a grant from the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, Seoul, Korea.
Name: Inventory to the William Elliot Griffis Collection (East Asia), 1859-1928
Detail: The items in this record are part of the William Elliot Griffis Collection. A finding aid with information about the contents of the collection is available online.
CollectionKorea letters and manuscripts in the William Elliot Griffis collection
Organization NameRutgers University. Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
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