Chapter 9: Joseon Dynasty
Chinese instructors contributed to the Korean martial arts. For example, they taught the Shaolin style, which gradually changed to modern "sorim-kwon." During these times, new Buddhist styles also appeared. One of them was "hyoldo," which was based on medicine and had throws and holds based on the control of biologically active points. Another Buddhist style, "pulmudo," was similar to Chinese soft styles.
In 1392 AD, the Supreme Council, the highest organization in the Koryo government, formally declared that the Koryo Dynasty had come to an end and that General Yi Song Gye was the rightful king (he was given the title King T'aejo). T'aejo established a dynasty that endured largely due to its recognition by the Ming emperor of China. The initial steps completed, King T'aejo further consolidated the country behind him by instituting sweeping reforms.
Confucianism was strictly adhered to as the orthodox code for the dynasty and it resulted in more power struggles and ideological confusion. The ruling class adopted Confucian guidelines in their political and cultural outlook as well as in their personal lives. All Buddhist festivals were rejected and more importance was directed toward the literary art than toward the martial arts. Confucian thinking advocated classical Chinese learning and played down physical activity. According to the Confucian way of thought, the "superior man" should spend his time reading the Chinese classics, composing poetry, or learning to play musical instruments. Only "inferior, lower class men" engaged in strenuous physical activities such as the martial arts. The King adopted ideals such as "a real man writes poetry, learns to play musical instruments, and reads Chinese classics." Civil officers gained higher esteem than did military officers, socially as well as politically. The military was reorganized and was commanded by a royal bodyguard. This led to an upsurge in cultural developments in mathematics, literature astronomy, and history. The people frowned upon valor. Political conflict and the de-emphasis of military activities, together with the advent of modern weapons such as gunpowder, led to Taekkyon to loosing central government support. Taekkyon was not as popular, nor did it figure as prominently, as it did in the Koryo Dynasty.