뉴스레터

The publication of “History of Japanese Invasion” by the Northeast Asian History Foundation issues a compilation of systematical research on the Japanese invasions of the Korean peninsula and Japanese imperialism in detail. The compilation written by academic experts is composed of data, research, and reading materials, divided into four categories: politics, economy, society, and culture. Through the History of Japanese Invasion Series, we introduce our readers a book among the compilation.

Japan that keeps hold of the most cultural assets of Korea

 National museums are often visited by tourists to understand the history and culture of that country. However, the Asian Gallery (Toyokan) of the Tokyo National Museum in Japan exhibits various ancient relics of Korea. Why are there so many ancient relics of Korea in Japan?

 According to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, there are a total of 229,655 pieces of Korean cultural heritage spread out in 27 countries overseas, as of January 1, 2023. Among them, 95,622 pieces are in Japan, taking up the greatest share of 41.6 percent. This data includes cultural heritage revealed by museums or public institutions, but not those kept by individuals who exported them. Currently, it is difficult to identify the exact amount or locations of Korea's cultural assets. Even if they are located, it would not be easy to secure objective data that can tell how they were exported. The sources of those that were exported illegally would be even more challenging to find.

Illegal excavation and export by the Japanese in the early 1900s

 After opening ports, Japanese merchants who dreamed of making a fortune and the Japanese military entered Korea and performed illegal excavation. They dug up the tombs of kings and prestigious groups in Gaeseong, Ganghwa, and Haeju, selling the excavated relics through antique sellers. Around 1906, there were about 214 Koreans who were in the antique industry, but after three years, 12 Japanese antique sellers were based in Pyeongyang. Most of them sold illegally excavated items.

 The Japanese had been excavating ruins and relics of Korea even before the official colonization for financial reasons. The majority of the relics were exported to Japan. The Japanese were particularly interested in the tombs of the Goryeo times in Gaeseong. They randomly excavated and exported ceramics of the Goryeo dynasty. There were also high-ranking officials, including those from the military and police, who performed such excavations. They took advantage of their power and easily held possession of the relics. They saw the relics as spoils of war.

 In addition, Japanese scholars exported relics in the name of collecting materials for investigation and research. Tadashi Sekino performed research on old architecture and ruins, and Katsumi Kuroita studied the historical relics of Joseon. Unfortunately, they were not restricted for any reason when exporting relics.

Investigation of historical ruins and cultural heritage policy of the Governor-General of Joseon

 The Governor-General of Joseon promoted the investigation of historical ruins of Korea through a five-year project that commenced in 1916. The investigation took place in the regions of the Four Commanderies of Han, Goguryeo, Silla, Imna (Gaya), and Baekje, as these locations were thought to have relics that can support the colonial view of history claimed by Japan. The Governor-General of Joseon intended to investigate historical ruins most “effectively” by consuming the least possible expense by minimum labor in a short period of time. The Governor-General of Joseon was accompanied by the military or police to block the resistance of Koreans and the safety of investigators. As a minimum number of people had to perform the investigation in a limited amount of time, tomb investigations were conducted on a few tombs that were mostly large and complete in shape. In other words, the five-year project for the investigation of historical ruins was a political intention to prove the ruling ideology that the Japanese insisted on and an excavation that aimed at the collection of relics, rather than the academic investigation that it was claimed to be. From this process, a huge amount of relics excavated from tombs were relocated from their original locations and taken to Japan for the sake of academic research.

 The Governor-General of Joseon proclaimed the Preservation Provisions for Historic Remains for the preservation of cultural heritage in 1916 and enacted the Joseon Treasure Historic Natural Monument Preservation Decree in 1933. The registration and designation of historical ruins and relics according to the two regulations superficially indicate the establishment of modern institutions for the management and preservation of cultural heritage. However, in reality, relocation, export, and cancellation of designation happened in indiscretion according to the intention of the Governor-General. To put it simply, it can be said that the regulations were used as measures to strengthen control over Korean cultural heritage.

 In addition, the Committee on Investigations of Historical Sites and the Association for the Preservation of Treasures and Historical Sites of the Governor-General of Joseon were established to perform research and management by experts. The Committee on Investigations of Historical Sites was chaired by the Director-General of Political Affairs of the Governor-General of Joseon and participated by high-ranking officials of Governor-General-related departments and Japanese scholars. Most of them played a role in the publication of Joseon history led by Japan, intending to specify the colonial view of history that was proved through the inspection of ruins. Therefore, the Japanese investigation of historical ruins and publication of Joseon history were two different projects that were promoted separately and together for the same purpose.

Museum of Joseon Governor-General, an exhibition space for “creating history”

 Museums are where visitors can learn through visual materials, according to the intention of the exhibition host. The Japanese exhibited ancient relics of Korea that they collected through site investigation of historical ruins with the intention to promote their “cultural colonialism.” It emphasized the “heteronomy theory” that claims that Korea was influenced by external powers, including China and Japan, in developing its culture since ancient times, and the “identity theory” that insists that Silla and Goryeo developed their culture based on the culture of Buddhism, but later had internal conflicts after adopting Confucianism during the Joseon dynasty. Japan only exhibited history it wished to “show.” 

 Most relics that are exhibited in museums generally represent the historical understanding of the exhibition host. Therefore, museum exhibitions possess political objectives. Museum exhibitions of the Japanese colonial rule hold the goal of Japanese authorities to dominate the Korean community. Japanese colonial rulers attempted to literally "make" Korean history according to their intention through a museum exhibition. In this sense, history museums that were “modern exhibition spaces” were also cultural spaces that kept the ruling ideology of colonial rulers and a space where history awareness was re-enacted.