Changes

The Korean Empire was a short-lived effort by the [[Joseon Dynasty]] to raise Korea (up until then a "kingdom") to an equal position with the [[Meiji government|Japanese]] and Chinese ([[Qing Dynasty|Qing]]; Manchu) Empires.

The Korean Empire was a short-lived effort by the [[Joseon Dynasty]] to raise Korea (up until then a "kingdom") to an equal position with the [[Meiji government|Japanese]] and Chinese ([[Qing Dynasty|Qing]]; Manchu) Empires.

The Empire was founded by [[King Gojong]] of Joseon, who had ruled since [[1863]], and simply changed his title and various cosmetic and ritual aspects of the style of rule, becoming Emperor Gojong (''Gojong hwangje'') in [[1897]]. He then promulgated "Statutes of the Korean Empire" in [[1899]], officially establishing the fundamental rules (akin to a constitution) for the Korean Empire as a sovereign state.<ref>Gallery labels, National Museum of Korea.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/24791707277/in/photostream/]</ref> Numerous court rituals were changed in accordance with Chinese or Korean norms for the appropriate rituals for an "empire" rather than a "kingdom." New government offices were established, including a Wonsubu (元帥府) to oversee the new Korean imperial military, and a Gungnaebu (宮内府, Office of the Imperial Household) which led all modernization projects in the Empire.<ref>Gallery labels, National Museum of Korea.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/24791708777/in/photostream/]</ref>

The Empire was founded by [[King Gojong]] of Joseon, who had ruled since [[1863]], and simply changed his title and various cosmetic and ritual aspects of the style of rule, becoming Emperor Gojong (''Gojong hwangje'') in [[1897]] and declaring a new era name (Gwangmu). He then promulgated "Statutes of the Korean Empire" in [[1899]], officially establishing the fundamental rules (akin to a constitution) for the Korean Empire as a sovereign state.<ref>Gallery labels, National Museum of Korea.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/24791707277/in/photostream/]</ref> Numerous court rituals were changed in accordance with Chinese or Korean norms for the appropriate rituals for an "empire" rather than a "kingdom." New government offices were established, including a Wonsubu (元帥府) to oversee the new Korean imperial military, and a Gungnaebu (宮内府, Office of the Imperial Household) which led all modernization projects in the Empire.<ref>Gallery labels, National Museum of Korea.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/24791708777/in/photostream/]</ref>

He ruled until [[1907]], when he was succeeded by [[Emperor Sunjong]], who then ruled only a few years, until [[1910]] when the Empire was abolished, and Korea, already a protectorate since [[1905]], was fully annexed by Japan. The Emperors wore yellow, a color strongly traditionally associated with emperors in China, instead of the royal red their kingly ancestors had worn, and they adopted the [[plum blossom]] as the chief emblem of their imperial house, and empire. When not wearing traditional ceremonial garb, members of the imperial family typically wore Western clothing, performing and demonstrating their modernity.

He ruled until [[1907]], when he was succeeded by [[Emperor Sunjong]], who then ruled only a few years, until [[1910]] when the Empire was abolished, and Korea, already a protectorate since [[1905]], was fully annexed by Japan. The Emperors wore yellow, a color strongly traditionally associated with emperors in China, instead of the royal red their kingly ancestors had worn, and they adopted the [[plum blossom]] as the chief emblem of their imperial house, and empire. When not wearing traditional ceremonial garb, members of the imperial family typically wore Western clothing, performing and demonstrating their modernity.