View source for Eight Provinces of Korea

{{Short description|Administrative divisions of Korea during the Joseon dynasty}}
{{Redirect|Paldo|the Korean food brand|hy (company){{!}}Korea Yakult|the linux distribution|paldo (operating system)}}
{{Inline|date=August 2018}}

{{Infobox Korean name/auto
| title = Eight Provinces of Korea
| image = Eight provinces of Korea-en.svg
| hangul = 팔@도<!--pronounced [팔또]-->
| hanja = 八道
}}

During most of the [[Joseon|Joseon dynasty]], [[Korea]] was divided into '''eight provinces''' (''[[provinces of Korea|do]]''; {{Korean|hangul=도|hanja=道|labels=no}}). The eight [[provinces of Korea|provinces]]' boundaries remained unchanged for about 480 years from 1413 to 1895, and formed a geographic paradigm that is still reflected today in the [[Korea|Korean Peninsula]]'s administrative divisions, dialects, and regional distinctions. The names of all eight provinces are still preserved today, in one form or another. These eight historical provinces form both North and South Korea, and are not to be confused with the [[provinces of North Korea|modern provinces that make up North Korea]] or [[provinces of South Korea|South Korea]].

==History==
===Provinces before 1895===
[[File:8 Provinces of Korea.png|thumb|A map of the eight provinces of Joseon with their Korean names. Excluded and uncolored is Hanyang ({{Korean|hangul=한양|hanja=漢陽|labels=no}}, modern-day [[Seoul]]), the capital of Joseon.]]

In 1413 (the 13th year of the reign of [[Jeongjong of Joseon|King Jeongjong]]), the north-eastern boundary of Korea was extended to the [[Tumen River]].{{cn|date=August 2018}} The country was reorganized into eight provinces: [[Chungcheong Province|Chungcheong]], [[Kangwon Province (pre-1910)|Gangwon]], [[Gyeonggi (region)|Gyeonggi]], [[Gyeongsang Province|Gyeongsang]], [[Jeolla Province|Jeolla]], P'unghae (renamed [[Hwanghae Province|Hwanghae]] in 1417), [[Pyongan Province|P'yŏngan]], and Yŏnggil (eventually renamed [[Hamgyong Province|Hamgyŏng]] in 1509).

===Districts of 1895–96===
For almost 500 years, the eight-province system remained virtually unchanged. In 1895 (the 32nd year of the reign of [[Gojong of Korea|King Gojong]]), the five-century-old provincial system was abolished. On May 26 of that year—as part of the [[Gabo Reform]]—the country was redivided into 23 districts, each named for the city or county that was its capital.

Each district name in the following list links to the article on the province from which the district was formed, and where more detailed information on the district is provided:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Gyeongsang#History|Andong]]
*[[Gangwon (South Korea)#History|Chuncheon]]
*[[Chungcheong#History|Chungju]]
*[[Gyeongsang#History|Daegu]]
*[[Gyeongsang#History|Dongnae]]
*[[Gangwon (South Korea)#History|Gangneung]]
*[[Chungcheong#History|Gongju]]
*[[Hwanghae#History|Haeju]]
*[[Hamgyong Province#History|Hamhŭng]]
*[[Gyeonggi#History|Hanseong]]
*[[Chungcheong#History|Hongju]]
*[[Gyeonggi#History|Incheon]]
*[[Jeolla#History|Jeju]]
*[[Jeolla#History|Jeonju]]
*[[Gyeongsang#History|Jinju]]
*[[Gyeonggi#History|Kaesŏng]]
*[[Pyongan#History|Kanggye]]
*[[Hamgyong Province#History|Kapsan]]
*[[Hamgyong Province#History|Kyŏngsŏng]]
*[[Jeolla#History|Naju]]
*[[Jeolla#History|Namwon]]
*[[Pyongan#History|P'yŏngyang]]
*[[Pyongan#History|Ŭiju]]
{{div col end}}

===Restored provinces of 1896===
{{see also|Provinces of Korea|Special cities of North Korea|Special cities of South Korea|Administrative divisions of South Korea|Administrative divisions of North Korea}}
The new system of districts did not last long, however, as one year later, on August 4, 1896, the former eight provinces were restored, with five of them (Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, Jeolla, Hamgyŏng, and P'yŏngan), being divided into north and south halves, to form a total of 13 provinces. This structure remained unchanged through the entire lifetime of the [[Korean Empire]] (1897&ndash;1910) and the [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese Colonial Period]] (1910&ndash;1945). Since the end of [[World War II]] and the [[division of Korea]] in 1945, special cities and administrative regions and a handful of new provinces have been added in both the [[South Korea|South]] and [[North Korea|North]].

==Cultural significance==
The boundaries between the eight provinces for the most part followed rivers, mountain chains, and other natural boundaries, and consequently corresponded closely to [[Korean dialects|dialect]] and cultural divisions. Due to the correspondence between provincial boundaries and Korean geography, most provincial boundaries and names have mostly survived to the present day; most Koreans are keenly aware of the regional and dialect distinctions that still exist.

For example, a regional rivalry (akin to that between the [[Northeast United States]] and [[Southern United States]]) exists between [[Gyeongsang]] and [[Jeolla]] residents (Gyeongsang and Jeolla mostly corresponding to the ancient kingdoms of [[Silla]] and [[Baekje]] respectively) due to historic, social, economic, and political differences, some of which have continued into the present day in more muted form. Most of the traditional provinces also had alternative [[Regions of Korea|regional names]] which are still used today (especially [[Honam]], [[Yeongdong (region)|Yeongdong]], and [[Yeongnam]]) informally if not on paper.

==Modern-day usage==
The term ''Paldo'' ("Eight Provinces") is itself often used as a shorthand to denote Korea as a whole, or to describe the traditional folk culture of Korea's regions. Thus, one sometimes finds such expressions as:
*''Paldo kimchi'' in reference to the many varieties of [[kimchi]] unique to particular regions of Korea;
*''Paldo Arirang'' to denote the hundreds of regional versions of the popular folk song ''[[Arirang]]''; and
*''Paldo sori'' to broadly refer to the diversity of folk music (''sori''; "sounds") across Korea.

Cf. the four [[Provinces of Ireland]]&mdash;where reference to the ancient provinces is used to talk of the entire island of Ireland.

==Names==
Except [[Gyeonggi]] (see note <ref name=gyeonggi group=note/> below), each province took its name from the initial [[Hanja]] ([[Sino-Korean vocabulary|Sino-Korean characters]]) of two of its principal cities. The origin of each province's name is detailed in the table below.

==Table of provinces==
The table below lists the eight provinces in [[Korean romanization|romanized]] spelling, [[Hangul]] and [[Hanja]]; the origin of their names; their capitals, dialects, and regional names; and the 13 provinces that replaced them in 1896. (The capitals and regional names are as of the mid 19th century. Since they were not official, other regional names were also used, but the ones in the table are the most widely used or representative.)
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; font-size:smaller;"
|-
! bgcolor="#eeeeff" | Province
! bgcolor="#eeeeff" | [[Hangul]]
! bgcolor="#eeeeff" width="50" | [[Hanja]]
! bgcolor="#eeeeff" | Name Origin

! bgcolor="#eeeeff" | Capital
! bgcolor="#eeeeff" | [[Regions of Korea|Regional Name]]
! bgcolor="#eeeeff" | [[Dialects of Korean|Dialect]]
! bgcolor="#eeeeff" | Post-1896 Provinces
! bgcolor="#eeeeff" | Present Provincial divisions
|-
| [[Chungcheong Province|Chungcheong]]
| {{lang|ko|충청도}}
| {{lang|ko|忠淸道}}
| [[Chungju|'''Chung'''ju]] + [[Cheongju|'''Cheong'''ju]]
| [[Gongju]]
| [[Hoseo]]{{refn|group=note|Pronounced "Ho-suh," not "Ho-zay-oh," as the spelling might suggest.}}
| Chungcheong Dialect
| 
* [[North Chungcheong Province|North Chungcheong]]
* [[South Chungcheong Province|South Chungcheong]]
| 
* [[North Chungcheong Province]]
* [[South Chungcheong Province]]
* [[Daejeon|Daejeon Metropolitan City]]
* [[Sejong City|Sejong Metropolitan Autonomous City]]
|-
| [[Gangwon Province (historical)|Gangwon]]
| {{lang|ko|강원도}}
| {{lang|ko|江原道}}
| [[Gangneung|'''Gang'''neung]] + [[Wonju|'''Won'''ju]]
| [[Wonju]]
| [[Gwandong]]<br/><small>([[Yeongseo]], [[Yeongdong (region)|Yeongdong]])</small>{{refn|group=note|"Gwandong" is the name for the region as a whole, with "Yeongseo" denoting the western half of the province and "Yeongdong" the eastern half. "Yeongdong" is used more often than either of the other two terms, however, especially in reference to railway and road arteries that cross through Gangwon, connecting the Seoul and Yeongdong regions.}}
| Gangwon Dialect
| 
* [[Gangwon Province (historical)|Gangwon]]
| 
* [[Gangwon Province (South Korea)|Gangwon Province (SK)]]
----
* [[Kangwon Province (North Korea)|Kangwŏn Province (NK)]]
|-
| [[Gyeonggi Province|Gyeonggi]]
| {{lang|ko|경기도}}
| {{lang|ko|京畿道}}{{refn|group=note|name=gyeonggi|The province's name literally means "area within a 500-''[[Li (unit)|li]]'' (200-km) radius" (''gi''; {{lang|ko|[[wikt:畿|畿]]}}) of the "capital" (''Gyeong''; {{lang|ko|[[wikt:京|京]]}}), referring to the royal capital Hanseong (modern-day Seoul). The regional name "Gijeon" is obsolete. The 20th-century term "[[Seoul Capital Area|Sudogwon]]" ("Capital Region") is used today to denote the Seoul-[[Incheon]] conurbation and that part of Gyeonggi Province that forms part of the same built-up, urban area.}}
| Hanseong<br/>([[Seoul]])
| [[Gyeonggi (region)|Gyeonggi]]<ref name=gyeonggi group=note/>
| [[Gyeonggi Province|Gyeonggi]]
| Seoul Dialect
| 
* [[Gyeonggi Province]]
* [[Seoul|Seoul Special City]]
* [[Incheon|Incheon Metropolitan City]] {{small|(parts)}}
----
* [[North Hwanghae Province]] {{small|(parts)}}
|-
| [[Gyeongsang Province|Gyeongsang]]
| {{lang|ko|경상도}}
| {{lang|ko|慶尙道}}
| [[Gyeongju|'''Gyeong'''ju]] + [[Sangju|'''Sang'''ju]]
| [[Daegu]]
| [[Yeongnam]]
| Gyeongsang Dialect
| 
* [[North Gyeongsang Province|North Gyeongsang]]
* [[South Gyeongsang Province|South Gyeongsang]]
| 
* [[North Gyeongsang Province]]
* [[South Gyeongsang Province]]
* [[Busan|Busan Metropolitan City]]
* [[Daegu|Daegu Metropolitan City]]
* [[Ulsan|Ulsan Metropolitan City]]
|-
| [[Hamgyong Province|Hamgyŏng]]
| {{lang|ko|함경도}}
| {{lang|ko|咸鏡道}}
| [[Hamhung|'''Ham'''hŭng]] + [[Kyŏngsŏng (North Korea)|'''Kyŏng'''sŏng]]
| [[Hamhung|Hamhŭng]]
| [[Kwanbuk]]<br/><small>([[Kwanbuk]], [[Kwannam]])</small>{{refn|group=note|"Kwanbuk" was used to designate either the province as whole, or only the northern part thereof. In the latter case, "Kwannam" was then used to denote the southern part of the province.}}
| Hamgyŏng Dialect
|
* [[North Hamgyong Province|North Hamgyŏng]]
* [[South Hamgyong Province|South Hamgyŏng]]
|
* [[North Hamgyong Province]]
* [[South Hamgyong Province]]
* [[Ryanggang Province]] {{small|(parts)}}
* [[Rason|Rasŏn Special City]]
* [[Kangwon Province (North Korea)|Kangwŏn Province (NK)]] {{small|(parts)}}
|-
| [[Hwanghae Province|Hwanghae]]
| {{lang|ko|황해도}}
| {{lang|ko|黃海道}}
| [[Hwangju|'''Hwang'''ju]] + [[Haeju|'''Hae'''ju]]
| [[Haeju]]
| [[Haeso|Haesŏ]]
| Hwanghae Dialect
| 
* [[Hwanghae Province|Hwanghae]]{{refn|group=note|The modern-day division of the province into [[North Hwanghae|North]] and [[South Hwanghae|South]] did not occur until 1954.}}
| 
* [[North Hwanghae Province]]
* [[South Hwanghae Province]]
----
* [[Incheon|Incheon Metropolitan City]] {{small|(parts)}}
|-
| [[Jeolla Province|Jeolla]]
| {{lang|ko|전라도}}
| {{lang|ko|全羅道}}
| [[Jeonju|'''Jeon'''ju]] + [[Naju|'''Na'''ju]]{{refn|group=note|name=naju|The initial "n" in "Naju" is pronounced as "l" (lower-case "L") when it comes after another consonant; the final "n" in the "Jeon" of "Jeonju" is then assimilated to an "l" sound.}}
| [[Jeonju]]
| [[Honam]]
| Jeolla Dialect;<ref name=naju group=note/><br/>Jeju Dialect{{refn|group=note|name=jeju|The distinctive Jeju Dialect is used on [[Jeju Island]], which became a separate province in 1946.}}
| 
* [[North Jeolla Province|North Jeolla]]
* [[South Jeolla Province|South Jeolla]]
* [[Jeju Province|Jeju]]<ref name=jeju group=note/>
| 
* [[North Jeolla Province]]
* [[South Jeolla Province]]
* [[Jeju Province|Jeju Special Self-Governing Province]]
* [[Gwangju|Gwangju Metropolitan City]]
|-
| [[Pyongan Province|P'yŏngan]]
| {{lang|ko|평안도}}
| {{lang|ko|平安道}}
| [[Pyongyang|'''P'yŏng'''yang]] + [[Anju (city)|'''An'''ju]]
| [[P'yŏngyang]]
| [[Kwansŏ]]
| P'yŏngan Dialect
| 
* [[North Pyongan Province|North P'yŏngan]]
* [[South Pyongan Province|South P'yŏngan]]
| 
* [[North Pyongan Province|North P'yŏngan]]
* [[South Pyongan Province|South P'yŏngan]]
* [[Chagang Province]]
* [[Ryanggang Province]] {{small|(parts)}}
* [[Pyongyang|P'yŏngyang Direct-Administered City]]
* [[Nampo|Namp'o Special City]]
|}

==See also==
* [[Administrative divisions of North Korea]]
* [[Administrative divisions of South Korea]]
* [[Korean dialects]]
* [[Provinces of Korea]]
* [[Regions of Korea]]
* [[Special cities of North Korea]]
* [[List of provincial-level cities of South Korea|Special cities of South Korea]]
* For comparison, see:
** [[Provinces of China]]
** [[Provinces of France]]
** [[Provinces of Ireland]]
** [[Provinces of Japan]]
** [[Provinces of Vietnam]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205252/http://www.land.go.kr/landlife/landname/namecolumn/2003/12/02/211,2496,0,0,0.jsp South Korean government page on Korea's traditional provincial and regional names] {{in lang|ko}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050306130249/http://mtcha.com.ne.kr/korea-term/sosun/term14-8do.htm Article on the eight provinces, and the 23 districts and 13 provinces that replaced them] {{in lang|ko}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050420183303/http://www.jsarirang.or.kr/contents/history/h6_02.html Article on the 1895 changes to administrative divisions (includes a table listing the 13 post-1896 provinces)] {{in lang|ko}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040903042549/http://seoul600.visitseoul.net/seoul-history/sidaesa/txt/5-3-2-1.html Seoul City history article on Hanseong and 22 other late 19th-century districts (includes a detailed list of all the counties into which the 23 districts were divided)] {{in lang|ko}}

{{Eight Provinces of Korea}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Provinces of Joseon]]