Types and Characteristics of Ships in the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392 CE)
Dublin Core
Title
Types and Characteristics of Ships in the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392 CE)
Description
Ships of Goryeo come in various types and purposes, such as military ships like the large Taejo Wang Geon,
Jounseon1 merchant ships used for trade with China, Gwaseon2
that defeated pirates from Jurchen, ships used for
Japanese expedition and coastal carriers. This paper intends to examine the types, size, and structure of ships
depending on internal and external impacts through literature review on archeological ships in Goryeo area, and
note changes of ships by period. Based on the literature review and analysis on the use of ships of the Goryeo
Dynasty in historical materials, the existence of ships in various types and sizes at that time was confirmed. The
size and structure of ships changed due to internal and external influences after the early Goryeo Dynasty. In naval
activities the number of ships in operation gradually increases as the types of ships diversify and the role of large
ships increase. Jounseon experienced structural developments and decreased in size.
These factors of change can be confirmed through frequent naval activities at the time. The change in
the naval force was also an important cause of external influences such as Yuan's intervention, Three Elite Patrols’
rebellion, and invasion by Japanese pirates, as well as internal factors such as the maintenance and strengthening
of the naval organization and the development of shipbuilding technology. Jounseon appeared as a result of
external factors such as Japanese pirates and internal factors such as corruption including private use. Various
usages of ships in Goryeo Dynasty could be identified.
Through literature review, it was possible to confirm types and changes of ships by period in Goryeo
and accordingly, social and economic changes can be identified as well. Military ships operated by the naval forces
of the Goryeo Dynasty were not active in the early days and their uses were not mentioned much. However, ships
operated by the naval forces have various uses and shapes in the later period. Jounseon and envoy ships appeared
in the later period. We expect to hypothesize socio-economic changes of the time based on the changes in the type,
size, and structure of ships.
Jounseon1 merchant ships used for trade with China, Gwaseon2
that defeated pirates from Jurchen, ships used for
Japanese expedition and coastal carriers. This paper intends to examine the types, size, and structure of ships
depending on internal and external impacts through literature review on archeological ships in Goryeo area, and
note changes of ships by period. Based on the literature review and analysis on the use of ships of the Goryeo
Dynasty in historical materials, the existence of ships in various types and sizes at that time was confirmed. The
size and structure of ships changed due to internal and external influences after the early Goryeo Dynasty. In naval
activities the number of ships in operation gradually increases as the types of ships diversify and the role of large
ships increase. Jounseon experienced structural developments and decreased in size.
These factors of change can be confirmed through frequent naval activities at the time. The change in
the naval force was also an important cause of external influences such as Yuan's intervention, Three Elite Patrols’
rebellion, and invasion by Japanese pirates, as well as internal factors such as the maintenance and strengthening
of the naval organization and the development of shipbuilding technology. Jounseon appeared as a result of
external factors such as Japanese pirates and internal factors such as corruption including private use. Various
usages of ships in Goryeo Dynasty could be identified.
Through literature review, it was possible to confirm types and changes of ships by period in Goryeo
and accordingly, social and economic changes can be identified as well. Military ships operated by the naval forces
of the Goryeo Dynasty were not active in the early days and their uses were not mentioned much. However, ships
operated by the naval forces have various uses and shapes in the later period. Jounseon and envoy ships appeared
in the later period. We expect to hypothesize socio-economic changes of the time based on the changes in the type,
size, and structure of ships.
Creator
Jeong Hong-il
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
2023
Language
English
Bibliographic Citation
Hong-il, Jeong . 2023. “Types and Characteristics of Ships in the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392 CE).” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Juhee Kim. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1955
Files
Citation
Jeong Hong-il, “Types and Characteristics of Ships in the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392 CE),” APCONF-MUCH Proceedings Recently Added Items, accessed October 24, 2026, https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/items/show/584.