경기도 분원마을 주민이 경험한 갑오년(1894) ‘난리’

The Gabo Reform and Donghak Peasant War that Bunwon Villagers experienced in 1894

Bunwon(分院) villagers had produced the royal porcelain in the Bunwon village for a long time. They encountered with disturbance because of Sino-Japanese War and Donghak Peasant War(東學農民戰爭) etc. in 1894. Their response was different from each other according to their status. During the Sino-Japanese war, the Japanese army intruded into the Bunwon village. Villagers resented against enemy invasion. But they didn’t resisted directly. They were only just to lament. Mr. Ji among the villagers was negative for Gabo reform(甲午改革) to change the existing system. The Bunwon village was affected by the Donghak Peasant War in September. The lower classes, potters of villagers joined with it. But the high classes Yangban opposed the Donghak, and took refuge. Since Yangban suppressed the Donghak and forced potters to apostasy. The self-proclaimed Righteous Army(義兵) appeared in the village in October. They did not want to overthrow the Japanese army who invaded Korea, but rather they attacked the Donghak Peasant Army. They were not the Righteous Army who opposed against foreign invader, suppressor who subdued the same people.