An Jung-geun ( Korean : 안중근 ; Korean pronunciation: [ɐndʑuŋɡɯn] ; 2 September 1879 – 26 March 1910), sometimes spelled Ahn Joong-keun , was a Korean independence activist . His baptismal name was Thomas ( 도마 ).
104-631: He is remembered as a martyr in both South and North Korea for his 1909 assassination of the Japanese politician Itō Hirobumi , who had previously served as the Resident-General of Korea and first Prime Minister of Japan . An was imprisoned and later executed by Japanese authorities on 26 March 1910. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1962 by the South Korean government,
208-592: A French cruiser in September 1908, resupplied Korean Catholic armies in payment for gold at exorbitant prices. Smugglers from Japan as well supplied Murada weapons, with links to anti-Meiji forces who hoped to see Ito and his clan toppled in the wake of disasters in the Japanese economy. After the Russian revolution, some weaponry was diverted from the White forces into what is now North Korea, and supporters built there, however this
312-545: A Japanese government spokesperson and former Japanese Prime Minister, described the Harbin memorial hall honoring An in China as "not conducive to building peace and stability" between East Asian countries. China, on the other hand has declared that An was a "famous anti-Japanese high-minded person" while South Korea's foreign ministry stated An was a "highly respected figure." In February 2017, South Korean police were criticized for using
416-415: A Prussian-style one which would retain considerable power for the emperor and limit party involvement in the cabinet. He replaced religious references with those rooted in the Japanese concept of kokutai ("national polity"), which became the constitutional justification for imperial authority. In 1884, Itō reorganized the peerage to fill the seats in the anticipated House of Peers . In 1885, he replaced
520-560: A brutal regime throughout the Korean peninsula and pursued repressive policies against the Korean people. The Japanese colonial authorities fought with rifles, state-of-the-art cannons, machine guns, repeaters, mounted cavalry reconnaissance units in the mountains, and an entrenched class of informers and criminals developed over the previous decade before the battles began. Koreans fought with antique muzzle-loaders, staves, iron bars, and their hands. There were rare instances of modern weapons, and
624-649: A common criminal. An was executed in Ryojun , on 26 March 1910. His grave in Lu Shun has not been found. During his imprisonment, An was excommunicated by the Catholic church for Ito's assassination, viewed negatively by the church. This excommunication was lifted posthumously in 1993. An dictated in his will that his body be buried in Harbin Park in China and then relocated to his homeland if Korea achieved independence but his request
728-552: A few enemy weapons captured. For at least thirteen years after 1905, small irregular forces, often led by regular army commanders, fought skirmishes and battles throughout Korea against Japanese police, armies, and underworld mercenaries who functioned to support Japanese corporations in Korea, and as well-armed Japanese settlers who seized Korean farms and land. In one period, according to Japanese records in Boto Tobatsu-shi (Annals of
832-498: A full councilor and public works minister. Itō also served as home minister from 1878, and by 1881 he had become the de facto leader of the Meiji oligarchy . After the advent of the Freedom and People's Rights Movement and political parties, in 1881 Itō promised a constitution and national assembly. In 1882, he embarked on a trip to Europe to study its constitutions; his preference was for
936-627: A lifelong friend. After the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Itō was appointed governor of Hyōgo Prefecture , junior councilor for Foreign Affairs, and sent to the United States in 1870 to study Western currency systems. Returning to Japan in 1871, he established Japan's taxation system. With the advice of Edmund Morel , a chief engineer of the railway department, Itō endeavored to found the Public Works together with Yamao Yozo . Later that year, he
1040-432: A list of 15 execution-worthy offenses he believed Itō had committed. An mistakenly believed Itō had ordered the assassination of Empress Myeongseong , an order which is attributed to Miura Gorō , although Miura Gorō did send a report to Itō after the execution. " 15 reasons why Itō Hirobumi should be killed. I, as a lieutenant general of the Korean resistance army, killed the criminal Itō Hirobumi because he disturbed
1144-527: A path of Westernization. After the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Itō was appointed the junior councilor for foreign affairs in the new Empire of Japan . In 1870, he traveled to the United States to study Western currency, and in 1871 helped establish Japan's taxation system. He then set off on another overseas trip with the Iwakura Mission to the U.S. and Europe, and upon his return to Japan in 1873, became
SECTION 10
#17328848054941248-483: A picture of An in posters put up in the city of Incheon. The poster warned of terrorism, and many South Korean citizens online criticized the police, asking "if it was meant to imply if An was a terrorist". A police officer in the Korea Times apologized and clarified that there was no intention to associate An with terrorism, and all posters were taken down. In 1959, South Korean film King Gojong and martyr An Jung-Geun
1352-507: A pro-government political party, so he organized the Rikken Seiyūkai (Constitutional Association of Political Friendship) in 1900. Itō's womanizing was a popular theme in editorial cartoons and in parodies by contemporary comedians, and was used by his political enemies in their campaign against him. Itō returned to office as prime minister for a fourth term from 19 October 1900, to 10 May 1901, this time facing political opposition from
1456-508: A series of discussions with him. He maintained his belief in Catholicism until his death, going to the point of even asking his son to become a priest in his last letter to his wife. At the age of 25, he started a coal business, but devoted himself to the education of Korean people after the Eulsa Treaty by establishing private schools in northwestern regions of Korea. He also participated in
1560-496: A serious crime, offering my life for my country. This is the behavior of a noble-minded patriot." Wilhelm gave last rites to An, ignoring the bishop of Korea's order not to. An insisted that the captors call him by his baptismal name, Thomas. In court, An claimed to be a lieutenant general of the Korean resistance army and demanded to be treated as a prisoner of war and not a suspected criminal. He insisted he did nothing wrong, reciting
1664-477: A stay of execution for at least a few months would be granted, but Tokyo ordered prompt action. Before his execution, An made a final request: that the wardens help him finish his essay, "On Peace in East Asia". Also he received Korean white clothes from his mother to die in during his execution. An requested to be executed as a prisoner of war, by firing squad. But instead, it was ordered that he should be hanged as
1768-689: A visit to China in June 2013. Thus another memorial hall honoring An Jung-Geun was opened on Sunday, 19 January 2014 in Harbin. The hall, a 200-square meter room, features photos and memorabilia. Annual activities in memorial of An are held in Lüshun, where he was imprisoned and executed. According to local sources in China dated on 22 March 2017, the An Jung-geun Memorial Hall located at Harbin Railway Station
1872-554: Is "一日不讀書口中生荊棘" (일일부독서 구중생형극; Unless one reads every day, thorns grow in the mouth), a quote from the Analects of Confucius . Memorial halls for An were erected in Seoul in 1970 by the South Korean government and in Harbin by the Chinese government in 2006. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye raised the idea of erecting a monument for An while meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during
1976-496: Is clear that you are a righteous man of East Asia. I can't believe a sentence of death will be imposed on a righteous man. There's nothing to worry about." He was also given New Year's delicacies and his calligraphy was highly admired and requested, later stored in Japan. After six trials, An was sentenced to death by the Japanese colonial court in Ryojun ( Port Arthur ). An was angered at
2080-471: Is played by Yoon Joo-sang . A Chinese-South Korean co-production, The Age of Heroes , is being planned as a Korean drama for 2019. The Age of Heroes is planned to be 24 episodes long and entirely pre-produced with a budget of 30 billion won. Filming will begin by the end of 2018 with locations in South Korea, China, and North Korea. A fictionalized explanation of the events is presented in an episode of
2184-503: The Daijō-kan with a cabinet composed of ministry heads, and himself took up the new position of prime minister. When the draft constitution was ready in 1888, Itō established a supra-cabinet Privy Council to discuss and approve it on the emperor's behalf. He resigned as prime minister so he could head this new body. The Meiji Constitution was proclaimed in 1889, and the Imperial Diet
SECTION 20
#17328848054942288-437: The genrō , a group of senior statesmen that dictated policy during the Meiji era . Even out of office as head of government , Itō continued to wield vast influence over Japan's policies as a permanent imperial adviser ( genkun ) and frequent president of the emperor's Privy Council . A staunch monarchist and leading proponent of Japan's Westernization , Itō favored a large, all-powerful bureaucracy that answered solely to
2392-690: The First Sino-Japanese War and negotiated the Treaty of Shimonoseki in March 1895, made Taiwan a Japanese colony with his ailing foreign minister Mutsu Munemitsu . In the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of 1894, he succeeded in removing some of the onerous unequal treaty clauses that had plagued Japanese foreign relations since the start of the Meiji era . During Itō's third term as prime minister (12 January – 30 June 1898), he
2496-562: The Harbin Railway Station . Itō Hirobumi had come back from negotiating with the Russian representative on the train. An shot him three times with an FN M1900 pistol on the railway platform. He also shot Kawagami Toshihiko (川上俊彦), the Japanese Consul General, Morita Jirō (森泰二郞), a Secretary of Imperial Household Agency , and Tanaka Seitarō (田中淸太郞), an executive of South Manchuria Railway , who were seriously injured. After
2600-585: The House of Peers . Weary of political back-stabbing, he resigned in 1901, but remained as head of the Privy Council as the premiership alternated between Saionji Kinmochi and Katsura Tarō . Toward the end of August 1901, Itō announced his intention of visiting the United States to recuperate. This turned into a long journey in the course of which he visited the major cities of the United States and Europe . He set off from Yokohama on 18 September, traveled through
2704-540: The Jeolla Province in the southwestern area of Korea. Righteous armies included peasants, scholars, former government officials, as well as Buddhist warrior monks. Righteous armies were important during the war as a significant portion of the expected government organized resistance had been destroyed in Gyeongsang and Chungcheong Provinces by the Japanese forces at the outset. The natural defenders had been defeated and
2808-544: The Mongol invasions of Korea . They subsequently rose up during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598) , the first and second Manchu invasions, and during the Japanese occupation and preceding events. During the long period of Japanese intervention and annexation from 1890 to 1945, the disbanded imperial guard, and Confucian scholars, as well as farmers, formed over 60 successive righteous armies to fight for Korean freedom on
2912-539: The National Debt Repayment Movement . In 1907 he exiled himself to Vladivostok to join in with the armed resistance against the Japanese colonial rulers, where he learned fluent Russian. He was appointed a lieutenant general of an armed Korean resistance group and led several attacks against Japanese forces before his eventual defeat. In October 1909, An passed the Imperial Japanese guards at
3016-540: The Rikken Seiyūkai , but continued to face opposition, and resigned in 1901. After Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, Itō became the resident-general of Korea , a nation which Japan desired to annex. Korea was declared a Japanese protectorate in 1905, and in 1907 Itō obliged its emperor to step down. Itō was made a prince that year and resigned as resident-general in 1909; later that year, he
3120-765: The Emperor in 1899) and the Second Class honor (in 1907) in the Orders of the Rising Sun . He later wrote a book on his personal experiences in Korea and with Resident-General Itō. When Ladd died, half his ashes were buried in a Buddhist temple in Tokyo and a monument was erected to him. On 9 November 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War, Itō arrived in Hanseong and gave a letter from
3224-590: The Emperor of Japan to Gojong , Emperor of Korea, asking him to sign the Japan–Korea Protectorate Treaty , which would make Korea a Japanese protectorate . On 15 November 1905, he ordered Japanese troops to encircle the Korean imperial palace . On 17 November 1905, Itō and Japanese Field Marshal Hasegawa Yoshimichi entered the Jungmyeongjeon Hall, a Russian-designed building that was once part of Deoksu Palace , to persuade Gojong to approve
An Jung-geun - Misplaced Pages Continue
3328-456: The Horan period, the righteous army rose early not only in the invaded area but also in the rear area. The righteous army activity in the invaded area was to directly fight the enemy and cause losses. The creativity in the rear area was to gather the recruited righteous army in one place and go to the battlefield to overcome the helplessness of the government army . However, overall, the activities of
3432-698: The Imperial Japanese Government. The house where Itō lived from age 14 in Hagi after his father was adopted by Itō Naoemon still exists, and is preserved as a museum. It is a one-story house with a thatched roof and a gabled roof, with a total floor area of 29 tsubo and is located 150 meters south of the Shōkasonjuku Academy . The adjacent villa is a portion of a house built by Itō in 1907 in Oimura, Shimoebara-gun, Tokyo (currently Shinagawa, Tokyo ). It
3536-528: The Japanese Misplaced Pages article Righteous army#During the Japanese occupation (1910–1945) Righteous armies ( Korean : 의병 ), sometimes translated as irregular armies or militias , were informal civilian militias that appeared several times in Korean history , when the national armies were in need of assistance. The first righteous armies emerged during the Khitan invasions of Korea and
3640-671: The Japanese army head-on, the Righteous Army split into small bands of partisans to carry on the War of Liberation in China, Siberia, and the Baekdu Mountains in Korea. The Japanese troops first quashed the Peasant Army and then disbanded what remained of the government army. Many of the surviving guerrilla and anti-Japanese government troops fled to Manchuria and Primorsky Krai to carry on their fight. In 1910, Japan annexed Korea and started
3744-406: The Japanese were shocked upon learning that the Korean people were forming organized resistance against them. Japanese strategies were based on the premise that the people of Korea would submit to them and assist their supply line by giving their food. However, this was not the case and righteous armies continued to interrupt the Japanese supply line. People's voluntary resistance movements were one of
3848-560: The Japanese". Itō left empty-handed for Berlin (where he received honors from Kaiser Wilhelm ), Brussels , and London. Meanwhile, Katsura had decided that Man-Kan kōkan was no longer desirable for Japan, which should not renounce activity in Manchuria. In Britain, Itō met with Lord Lansdowne , which helped lay the groundwork for the Anglo-Japanese Alliance announced early the following year. The failure of his mission to Russia
3952-595: The Japanese, a trend exacerbated by the arrest or execution of those who resisted. An Jung-geun was also a proponent of what was later called Pan-Asianism. He believed in a union of the three East Asian nations to repel Western imperialism and restore peace in the region. On 26 October 1932, the Japanese unveiled in Seoul the Hakubun-ji 博文寺 Buddhist Temple dedicated to Prince Itō. Full official name "Prince Itō Memorial Temple (伊藤公爵祈念寺院)". Situated in then Susumu Tadashidan Park on
4056-462: The Joseon government shared that belief and agreed to collaborate with the Japanese military. Korean intellectuals had predicted that the victor of the Russo-Japanese War would assume hegemony over their peninsula, and as an Asian power, Japan enjoyed greater public support in Korea than Russia. However, policies such as land confiscation and the drafting of forced labor turned Korean popular opinion against
4160-460: The Korean peninsula. These were preceded by the Donghak movement, and succeeded by various Korean independence movements in the 1920s and beyond, which declared Korean independence from Japanese occupation. The righteous armies were an irregular military that fought the Japanese army that twice invaded Korea during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598) . Righteous armies were most active in
4264-617: The National Assembly of South Korea. Meanwhile, An Jung-Geun's youngest son, Ahn Jun-saeng [ ko ] became a prominent businessman and Chinilpa during the Japanese occupation of Korea . He died in 1952 from tuberculosis, with his children immigrating to the United States of America after the war. An is highly renowned for calligraphy works. While he was in prison, many prison guards such as Chiba Toshichi (千葉十七) who respected him, made requests to An for calligraphy works. He left many calligraphy works which were written in
An Jung-geun - Misplaced Pages Continue
4368-688: The Republic of Korea in Shanghai , China, which was led by Kim Ku , and fought against Japan. An Chun-Saeng ( 안춘생 ; 安春生 ), another nephew of An's, joined the National Revolutionary Army of China, participated in battles against Japanese forces at Shanghai, and joined the Korean Liberation Army in 1940. Later, he became a lieutenant general of the Republic of Korea Army and a member of
4472-585: The Subjugation of the Insurgent), between October 1907 and April 1908, over 1,908 attacks were made by the Korean people against the invaders. While most attacks were done using available weapons, and bare hands, international arms dealers profited. Arms dealers and governments who supplied the Korean resistance included Chinese arms dealers from across the Yalu and in coastal waters; German arms dealers provided Mausers, and
4576-524: The U.S. to New York City , and received an honorary doctorate ( LL.D. ) from Yale University in late October. He then sailed to Boulogne , reaching Paris on 4 November. On 25 November, he reached Saint Petersburg , having been asked by the new prime minister, Katsura Tarō, to sound out the Russians, entirely unofficially, on their intentions in the Far East. Japan hoped to achieve what it called Man-Kan kōkan ,
4680-566: The age of 16, An entered the Catholic Church with his father, where he received his baptismal name "Thomas" ( 토마스 ), and learned French. While fleeing from the Japanese, An took refuge with a French priest of the Catholic Church in Korea named Wilhelm (Korean name, Hong Seok-gu; 홍석구; 洪錫九) who baptized and hid him in his church for several months. The priest encouraged An to read the Bible and had
4784-639: The area where the enemy invaded. Mock activities were carried out in the rear areas of Honam and Yeongnam, but they were disbanded when Injo gave in to the Qing dynasty while heading to the northern battlefield. For example, In Yean-hyeon, the seonbi clans of Yean-hyeon, centered on the Gwangsan Kim clan, were active in Hyanggyo. When the Jeongmyo-Horan broke out, the seonbi clans of Yean-hyeon organized and divided
4888-444: The chest and stomach, meaning that it was born in accordance with the energy of the Big Dipper. As a boy, he learned Chinese literature and Western sciences, but was more interested in martial arts and marksmanship. Kim Ku , a future leader of the Korean independence movement who had taken refuge in An Tae-hun's house at the time, wrote that young An Jung-geun was an excellent marksman, liked to read books, and had strong charisma. At
4992-452: The chest. He died shortly thereafter. His body was returned to Japan on the Imperial Japanese Navy cruiser Akitsushima , and he was accorded a state funeral on 4 November 1909 at Hibiya Park. An Jung-geun later listed " 15 reasons why Itō should be killed" at his trial. On 14 February 1910, Ahn was sentenced to death by hanging, Yu to two years in prison, and Cao and Liu to one year and six months in prison for murder and crimes against
5096-431: The claim has been disputed by some. An strongly believed in the union of the three great countries in East Asia, China , Korea , and Japan in order to counter and fight off Western imperialism , namely, Western countries that controlled parts of Asia, and restore East Asian independence. He followed the progress of Japan during the Russo-Japanese War and claimed that he and his compatriots were delighted at hearing of
5200-508: The command of Yi In-yeong amassed 10,000 troops to liberate Seoul and defeat the Japanese. The Army came within 12 km of Seoul but could not withstand the Japanese counter-offensive. The Righteous Army was no match for two infantry divisions of 20,000 Japanese soldiers backed by warships moored near Incheon. The Righteous Army retreated from Seoul and the war went on for two more years. Over 17,000 Righteous Army soldiers were killed and more than 37,000 were wounded in combat. Unable to fight
5304-463: The creativity of the righteous army, the number of participants in the righteous army of the general public continued. During the Jeongmyo-Horan and Byeongja-Horan , righteous army rose up in each region. At this time, the motivation for the righteous army to occur was to overcome the difficulty that was difficult to solve due to the defeat of the government army. In other words, most of them were Geunwangbyeong (근왕병: Royal Provincial Army). During
SECTION 50
#17328848054945408-426: The death of Itō, Japan and Korea could become friends because of the many traditions that they shared. He hoped that this friendship, along with China, would become a model for the world to follow. His thoughts on Pan-Asianism were stated in his essay, "On Peace in East Asia" (東洋平和論; 동양평화론) that he worked on and left unfinished before his execution. In this work, An recommends the organization of combined armed forces and
5512-535: The defeat of one of the agents of western imperialism, but were disappointed that the war ended before Russia was totally subjugated. According to Donald Keene , author of Emperor of Japan: Meiji and His World, 1852–1912 , An Jung-Geun was an admirer of Emperor Meiji of Imperial Japan. One of the 15 charges An leveled against Itō was that he had deceived the Emperor of Japan , whom An felt desired peace in East Asia and Korean independence. An requested that Meiji be informed of his reasons for his execution of Itō in
5616-415: The defense of the local people and their relatives, and furthermore, it was the manifestation of national sentiment for Japan's barbarity. Joseon, which regarded Confucian ethics as a thorough social norm, considered the Japanese as aggressors because of the continuous looting of Japanese pirates from the end of Goryeo, and culturally despised them and called them Wae or Seom Orang-ke. When invaded by Japan, it
5720-463: The emperor, and opposed the formation of political parties . Born into a poor farming family in the Chōshū Domain , Itō and his father were adopted into a low-ranking samurai family. He joined the nationalist sonnō jōi movement after the opening of Japan in 1854, and in 1863 was sent to England to study at University College London . After the Shimonoseki campaign of 1864, in which four Western powers bombed Chōshū, he resolved to set Japan on
5824-400: The event, directed by Yoon Je-kyoon . Harbin , a 2024 film directed by Woo Min-ho , stars Hyun Bin as An. It%C5%8D Hirobumi Itō Hirobumi ( 伊藤 博文 , 16 October 1841 – 26 October 1909) was a Japanese politician who served as the first prime minister of Japan from 1885 to 1888, and subsequently from 1892 to 1896, in 1898, and from 1900 to 1901. He was a leading member of
5928-400: The exchange of a free hand for Russia in Manchuria for a free hand for Japan in Korea, but Russia, feeling greatly superior to Japan and unwilling to give up the use of Korean ports for its navy, was in no mood to compromise. Foreign minister Vladimir Lamsdorf "thought that time was on the side of his country because of the [Trans-Siberian] railway and there was no need to make concessions to
6032-400: The experience in Great Britain eventually convinced him Japan needed to adopt Western ways. In 1864, Itō returned to Japan with fellow student Inoue Kaoru to attempt to warn Chōshū Domain against going to war with the foreign powers (the Bombardment of Shimonoseki ) over the right of passage through the Straits of Shimonoseki . At that time, he met Ernest Satow for the first time, later
6136-500: The family to Hagi and the family reunited. There Risuke entered Kubo Gorō Saemon's school. Because the family was poor, when Risuke was 12, Jūzō was adopted by samurai servant Mizui Buhē. In 1854, Mizui Buhē was adopted by samurai foot soldier ( ashigaru ) Itō Yaemon from Aihata, Saba . Mizui Buhē was renamed Itō Naoemon, Jūzō took the name Itō Jūzō, and Hayashi Risuke was renamed Itō Shunsuke at first, then Itō Hirobumi. These adoptions allowed both Hirobumi and his father Jūzō to rise to
6240-404: The fifteenth season of Murdoch Mysteries , a Canadian murder mystery show. In the episode, entitled Patriot Games , a dead body in a Toronto cellar leads to an explanation of An Jung-geun's assassination plot wherein rogue Russian agents play a part, requiring swift action to prevent the outbreak of a potential world war. Hero , a 2022 South Korean musical drama film dramatized story about
6344-455: The first Imperial Household Law and established the Japanese peerage system ( kazoku ) in 1884. In 1885, he negotiated the Convention of Tientsin with Li Hongzhang , normalizing Japan's diplomatic relations with Qing-dynasty China. In the same year, In 1885, Itō established a cabinet system of government based on European ideas, replacing the Daijō-kan as the nation's main policy-making organization. On 22 December 1885, Itō became
SECTION 60
#17328848054946448-412: The first Prime Minister of Japan , as the head of First Itō Cabinet . The first Itō Cabinet endeavored to establish institutions preparatory to the promulgation of the Constitution, and in February 1886 established a system of government for each ministry, and in March, the Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo) was established, and in March of the following year, a national academic association
6552-428: The first Japanese Governor-General of Korea ( 조선총독 ; 朝鮮總督 ) who executed the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty in 1910. He failed, however, and was imprisoned for 15 years; he died in 1926. An's brothers An Jeong-Geun ( 안정근 ; 安定根 ) and An Gong-Geun ( 안공근 ; 安恭根 ), as well as An's cousin An Gyeong-Geun ( 안경근 ; 安敬根 ) and nephew An Woo-Saeng ( 안우생 ; 安偶生 ), joined the Provisional Government of
6656-415: The foremost advocates for Korea's annexation). His assassination is believed to have accelerated the path to the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty . Itō arrived at the Harbin railway station on 26 October 1909 for a meeting with Vladimir Kokovtsov , a Russian representative in Manchuria . There An Jung-geun , a Korean nationalist and independence activist , fired six shots, three of which hit Itō in
6760-400: The former emperor praised Itō, who had died two days earlier, for his efforts to develop Japanese civilization in Korea. However, the integrity of Joseon silloks dated after the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 is considered dubious by Korean scholars due to the influence exerted over record-keeping by the Japanese. Itō has been portrayed several times in Korean cinema . His assassination was
6864-399: The hopes that if Meiji understood his reasons, the emperor would realize how mistaken Itō's policies were and would rejoice. An also felt sure that most Japanese felt similar hatred for Itō, an opinion he formed from talking with Japanese prisoners in Korea. During An's prison sentence and trial, many Japanese prison guards, lawyers, and even prosecutors were inspired by him. An felt that with
6968-405: The issue of joint banknotes among Korea, Japan, and China. Sasagawa Norikatsu (笹川紀勝), a Professor of Law at Meiji University , highly praises An's idea as an equivalent of the European Union and a concept that preceded the concept of the League of Nations by 10 years. The assassination of Itō by An was praised by Koreans and many Chinese as well, who were struggling against Japanese invasion at
7072-417: The jail of Lushun although he hadn't studied calligraphy formally. He would leave on his calligraphy works a signature of "大韓國人" (Great Korean) and a handprint of his left hand, which was missing the last joint of the ring finger, which he had cut off with his comrades in 1909 as a pledge to kill Itō. Some of the works were designated as Treasure No. 569 of the Republic of Korea in 1972. One of his famous works
7176-535: The justification of the emperor's authority through his divine descent and the unbroken line of emperors, and the unique relationship between subject and sovereign. This stemmed from his rejection of some European notions as unfit for Japan, as they stemmed from European constitutional practice and Christianity. He remained a powerful force while Kuroda Kiyotaka and Yamagata Aritomo , his political nemeses, were prime ministers. During Itō's second term as prime minister (8 August 1892 – 31 August 1896), he supported
7280-429: The major reasons why Japanese invasion was not successful. Righteous army was organized and led by seonbi , who were Confucian philosopher and mostly trained archers. Political positions, social status, and economic interests were not consistent between the righteous army commander who created the righteous army during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, but there was a factor that made them combine. First, most of
7384-489: The most prestigious civil decoration in the Republic of Korea, for his efforts for Korean independence. An was born on 2 September 1879, in Haeju , Hwanghae Province , Joseon . He was the first son of An Taehun [ ko ] and Jo Maria [ ko ] , of the Sunheung An clan ( 순흥 안씨 ; 順興 安氏 ). Ahn is the 26th great-grandson of Ahn Hyang . His childhood name was An Eungchil (안응칠; 安應七; [ɐn ɯŋtɕʰiɭ] ). The name originated from seven dots on
7488-599: The movement, he took part in an incendiary attack of the British legation on 31 January 1863 led by Takasugi Shinsaku , and in the company of Yamao Yōzō attacked and mortally wounded the head of the Wagakukōdansho institute on 2 February 1863, believing a false report that the institute was looking into ways of toppling the Emperor. Itō was chosen as one of the Chōshū Five who studied at University College London in 1863, and
7592-519: The north slope of Namsan, which after liberation became Jangchungdan Park 장충단 공원. From October 1945, the main hall served as student home, ca. 1960 replaced by a guest house of the Park Chung-Hee administration, then reconstructed and again a student guest house. In 1979 it was incorporated into the grounds of the Shilla Hotel then opened. Several other parts of the temple are still at the site. From
7696-420: The other hand, the people wanted a well-known and reliable righteous army commander to fight under the command of an incompetent general who was forced to serve by the government. In addition, it was advantageous to go to the righteous army rather than the government army to protect parents and wives and children around the local area. Since the royal court also recognized the righteous army as a public army to urge
7800-478: The peace of the Orient and estranged the relationship between Korea and Japan. I hoped that if Korea and Japan be friendlier and are ruled peacefully, they would be a model all throughout the five continents. I did not kill Itō misunderstanding his intentions." An's Japanese captors showed sympathy to him. He recorded in his autobiography that the public prosecutor, Mizobuchi Takao, exclaimed "From what you have told me, it
7904-466: The post of Home Minister and secured a central position in the Meiji government. By 1881, he successfully pushed for the resignation of Ōkuma Shigenobu , thereby allowing him to emerge as the de facto leader of the Meiji government. Itō went to Europe in 1882 to study the constitutions of those countries, spending nearly 18 months away from Japan. While working on a constitution for Japan, he also wrote
8008-465: The provinces of Gangwon , Chungcheong , Jeolla and Gyeongsang . Choe Ik-hyeon was captured by the Japanese and taken to Tsushima Island where he went on hunger strike and finally died in 1906. Shin Dol-seok , an uneducated peasant commanded over 3,000 troops. Among the troops were former government soldiers, poor peasants, fishermen, tiger hunters, miners, merchants, and laborers. The Korean army
8112-442: The residue had been called north to help protect the fleeing king. Many of the district officers had obtained their commissions through bribery or influence, and were essentially incompetent or cowards, evidence in their own performance and of their units in the early days of the conflict. This kind of resistance was totally unexpected by the Japanese. In Japanese warfare, civilians would simply submit where their leaders fell. However,
8216-452: The righteous army around the righteous army office (兵廳廳소) by mission, and most of them focused on mobilizing the supplies rather than mobilizing the military. Therefore, the righteous army was disbanded as reinforcement was promoted with little actual military activities. Late Joseon dynasty period Korean nationalism outgrew the unplanned, spontaneous, and disorganized Donghak movement , and became more violent as Japanese colonizers began
8320-405: The righteous army chiefs were former civil servants among the aristocrats, but most of them were former officials. The spirit of Geunwang spread among local Confucian scholars in order to practice Confucian Taoism, which was usually learned as a local giant, and they were enraged by the incompetence and cowardice of the local leader and armed men. Second, the creativity of the righteous army was for
8424-509: The righteous army during the Horan were incomparably weaker than those of the righteous army during the Imjin War . The reason was that after the Imjin War, political turmoil, economic collapse, and social unrest continued, resulting in no sense of unity between the authorities and the people centered on the dynasty. In fact, during the invasion, the righteous army did not see much clear activity in
8528-536: The same year, he began studying the draft constitution with Itō Miyoji, Inoue Tsuyoshi, Kaneko Kentaro and others in Tsushima. On 30 April 1888, Itō resigned as prime minister, but headed the new Privy Council to maintain power behind-the-scenes. In 1889, he also became the first genrō . The Meiji Constitution was promulgated in February 1889. He had added to it the references to the kokutai or "national polity" as
8632-571: The samurai class and become ashigaru . Jūzō was the biological son of Hayashi Sukezaemon ( 林助左衛門 ) , a 5th generation descendant of Hayashi Nobuyoshi ( 林信吉 ) who was a member of the Hayashi clan of Owari ( 尾張林氏 ) . He was a student of Yoshida Shōin at the Shōka Sonjuku and later joined the Sonnō jōi movement ("to revere the Emperor and expel the barbarians"), together with Katsura Kogorō . Active in
8736-506: The sentence, though he expected this outcome. He had hoped to be viewed as a prisoner of war instead of an assassin . On the same day of sentencing at two o'clock in the afternoon, his two brothers Jeong-geun and Gong-geun met with him to deliver their mother's message, "Your death is for the sake of your country, and don't ask for your life in a cowardly manner. Your brave death for justice is final filial regard to your mother." Judge Hirashi, who presided over An's trial, had promised An that
8840-454: The shooting, An yelled out for Korean independence in Russian , stating "Корея! Ура!" (Korea! Hurrah!), and waving the Korean flag. Afterwards, An was arrested by Russian guards who held him for two days before turning him over to Japanese colonial authorities. When he heard the news that Itō had died, he made the sign of the cross in gratitude. An was quoted as saying, "I have ventured to commit
8944-616: The subject of North Korea's An Jung-gun Shoots Itō Hirobumi in 1979 and South Korea's Thomas Ahn Joong Keun in 2004; both films made his assassin An Jung-geun the protagonist. The 1973 South Korean film Femme Fatale: Bae Jeong-ja is a biopic of Itō's alleged adopted Korean daughter Bae Jeong-ja (1870–1952). Itō argued the Pan-Asian view that if East Asians did not co-operate closely with one another, Japan, Korea and China would all fall victim to Western imperialism. Initially, Gojong and
9048-483: The territory should be treated as a protectorate. When the cabinet voted in favor of annexing Korea, he proposed that the process be delayed in the hopes that the decision could eventually be reversed. However, Itō ultimately changed his mind and approved plans to have the region annexed on 10 April 1909. Despite changing his position, he was forced to resign on 14 June 1909 by the Imperial Japanese Army (one of
9152-524: The time. Well-known Chinese political leaders such as Yuan Shikai , Sun Yat-sen , and Liang Qichao wrote poems acclaiming An. In the 2010 An Jung-Geun Symposium in Korea, Wada Haruki (和田春樹), an activist who once worked at Tokyo University , evaluated An by quoting Itō Yukio (伊藤之雄), a fellow history scholar in Kyoto University . In his text published in 2009, Itō Yukio claims that the reign by Itō Hirobumi resulted in strong resistance from Koreans as it
9256-495: The treaty had been signed, Itō became the first Resident-General of Korea on 21 December 1905. In 1907, he urged Emperor Gojong to abdicate in favor of his son Sunjong and secured the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 , thereby giving Japan authority to dictate Korea's internal affairs. While Itō was firmly against Korea falling into China or Russia's sphere of influence , he also opposed its annexation, advocating instead that
9360-481: The treaty, but the Emperor refused. Itō then pressured the Emperor's ministers with the implied, and later stated, threat of bodily harm, to sign the treaty. Five ministers signed an agreement that had been prepared by Itō in the Jungmyeongjeon. The agreement gave Imperial Japan complete responsibility for Korea's foreign affairs, and placed all trade through Korean ports under Imperial Japanese supervision. After
9464-478: Was "one of the most important events in the run-up to the Russo-Japanese War ". While Prime Minister, Itō invited Professor George Trumbull Ladd of Yale University to serve as a diplomatic adviser to promote mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. Lectures delivered by Ladd in Japan revolutionized its educational methods; he was the first foreigner to receive the Third Class honor (conferred by
9568-519: Was a large Western-style mansion, of which three structures, a part of the entrance, a large hall, and a detached room, were transported Hagi. The large hall has a mirrored ceiling and its wooden paneling uses 1000-year old cedar trees from Yoshino . The buildings were collectively designated a National Historic Site in 1932. The Annals of Sunjong record that Gojong held a positive view of Itō's governorship. In an entry for 28 October 1909, almost three years after being forced to abdicate his throne,
9672-506: Was assassinated while in Manchuria by a Korean nationalist . Hayashi Risuke ( 林利助 ) was born on 16 October 1841, in Tsukari, Kumage , Suō Province (present-day Hikari , Yamaguchi Prefecture ), the eldest son of farmer Hayashi Jūzō and his wife Kotoko. After his father went bankrupt and left for Hagi, Yamaguchi in 1846, he went to live at his mother's parental home. In 1849, Jūzō invited
9776-655: Was considered the first step for the annexation of Korea due to the cultural differences, and that An is not to be blamed even if he assassinated Itō without understanding Itō's ideology (2009, Itō). On 26 March 2010, a nationwide centenary tribute to An was held in South Korea, including a ceremony led by the Prime Minister Chung Un-Chan and tribute concerts. An's family produced many other Korean independence activists. An's cousin An Myeong-Geun ( 안명근 ; 安明根 ) attempted to assassinate Terauchi Masatake ,
9880-581: Was disbanded on August 1, 1907. The Army was led by 1st Battalion Commander Major Park Seung-hwan , who later committed suicide, which occurred after the disbandment and was led by former soldiers of the Korean Army against Japan in Namdaemun Gate . The disbanded army joined the Righteous Armies and together they solidified the foundation for the Righteous Armies battle. In 1907, the Righteous Army under
9984-472: Was established and supported it. On the other hand, Inoue Kaoru was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and was given responsibility for amending the treaty, but the amendment proposed by Inoue included the appointment of foreign judges, leading to the problem of appointing private officials. foreign legislation, leading to In July 1887, a revision meeting aimed at foreign countries was cancelled, and Inoue Kaoru resigned in September, leading to defeat. In June of
10088-556: Was first assembled in 1890. From 1892 to 1896, Itō was again prime minister. During his term, Japan defeated China in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895, and he was involved in the Treaty of Shimonoseki , which annexed Taiwan to the empire and freed Korea from the Chinese tributary system . During Itō’s third term as prime minister in 1898, his tax policies were opposed by political parties and he soon resigned. In 1900, he started his fourth term and formed his own pro-government party,
10192-550: Was forced to contend with the rise of political parties . Both the Liberal Party and the Shimpotō opposed his proposed new land taxes, and in retaliation, Itō dissolved the lower house of the Imperial Diet and called for general election . As a result, both parties merged into the Kenseitō , won a majority of the seats, and forced Itō to resign. This lesson taught Itō the need for
10296-399: Was not honoured. According to records, he was buried near the prison; the Korean government has not received cooperation from the Japanese government regarding the location of his burial. Hyochang Park in Seoul contains a grassy mound that serves as an honorary grave for An. Some historians hold that Itō's death resulted in the acceleration of the final stage of the colonization process, but
10400-564: Was recently relocated to a Korean art museum in Harbin City amid China's retaliation over South Korea's deployment of the U.S. THAAD antimissile system. The Memorial Hall has since been reopened in the Harbin Railway Station after renovation work. Historically, the Japanese government has generally deemed An Jung-geun as a terrorist and criminal, while South Korea has upheld An as a national hero. In January 2014, Yoshihide Suga , then
10504-472: Was sent on the Iwakura Mission around the world as vice-envoy extraordinary, during which he won the confidence of Ōkubo Toshimichi , one of the leaders of the Meiji government . In 1873, Itō was made a full councilor, Minister of Public Works, and in 1875 chairman of the first Assembly of Prefectural Governors. He participated in the Osaka Conference of 1875 . After Ōkubo's assassination, he took over
10608-663: Was sparse and while white Russian mercenaries fought against the Japanese, this was a minor element. The Righteous Army was formed by Yu In-seok and other Confucian scholars during the Peasant Wars. Its ranks swelled after the Queen's murder by the Japanese Samurais. Under the leadership of Min Jeong-sik , Choe Ik-hyeon and Shin Dol-seok , the Righteous Army attacked the Japanese army, Japanese merchants and pro-Japanese bureaucrats in
10712-511: Was the creativity of the righteous army that occurred as a national resistance movement. During the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, the righteous army chiefs were at the top of society in the provinces and served as spiritual leaders, and economically, they were small and medium-sized landowners and had an organic connection with farmers through land. The Japanese invasion of the country destroyed their social and economic foundations. On
10816-416: Was the first movie about An Jung-geun, and is a dramatized story about the event. The 1979 North Korean film An Jung Gun Shoots Itō Hirobumi is another dramatized story of the event. The 2004 South Korean film Thomas An Jung-geun ( 토마스 안중근 ) is another dramatized story of the event. Released on September 10, 2004, it is directed by Seo Se-won. An Jung-Geun is played by actor Yu Oh-seong and Itō Hirobumi
#493506