Manjeok

Manjǒk (or spelled as Manjeok) (Korean: 만적; 萬積) (?-1198) was a slave in Goryeo era Korea. It is said that he was a slave of Choe Chung-heon, a powerful military dictator at that time.

During the reign of Ŭijong (1146-1170), the government relaxed the restrictions toward slaves and eunuchs by allowing them to take low offices, which caused some governmental irregularities. In the reign of Myŏngjong (1170-1197) also saw the rise of the status of slaves. In 1197, Choe Chung-heon forced Myŏngjong to abdicate, put Sinjong on the throne, and became a military ruler with de facto control. During his government, Choe Chung-heon was less tolerant toward slaves, and several incidents involving slaves occurred in different places in Goryeo.[1]

Manjǒk and some other slaves plotted a rebellion in 1198 against their masters in Kaesong, the capital of Goryeo. A speech of his that questioned inequality was recorded in the history book Goryeosa (고려사; 高麗史). Another slave revealed the plot to his own master, and the plot failed.[2] Manjǒk and many other slaves were executed.[3]

  • Portrayed by Yoon Seung-won in the 2003-2004 KBS TV series Age of Warriors.
  • Manjeok is the father of the protagonist in the Korean manhwa Mujang.

References
  1. Edward J Shultz. Generals and Scholars: Military Rule in Medieval Korea. University of Hawaii Press, 2000. pp. 121-123.
  2. Michael J. Seth. A concise history of Korea: from the neolithic period through the nineteenth century. Rowman & Littlefield, 2006. pp. 118-119.
  3. http://www.nykoredu.org/upload/files/Topics%20of%20Korean%20History-English-2.pdf p. 6.
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