This section considers the introduction of Chinese writing to Korea and subsequent literary activity in Korea using Literary Chinese. During the Unified Silla period and the Koryŏ Dynasty, expertise in Literary Chinese was essential for maintenance of the tributary relationship with China and for the civil service examination system. During the Chosŏn Dynasty, scholarship was promoted and the civil service examination system continued. In spite of the invention of the han’gŭl script in the mid-fifteenth century, Literary Chinese remained the language of government, scholarship and belles lettres until the nineteenth century. However, the han’gŭl script was used to produce bilingual editions of texts in literary Chinese to assist learners.
The Management of Civil Service Examination Related Ceremony During the Early Joseon and the Implications Thereof—The status of the Joseon king as viewed from the Mungwa jeonsi uiju (文科殿試儀註, Book of Court Rites Pertaining to the Palace Examination) and Bangbang uiju (放榜儀註, Book of Court Rites Pertaining to the Awards Ceremony for Successful Palace Examiners)—