Catholic Persecution of 1801
The Catholic Persecution of 1801, also known as the Sinyu Persecution (신유박해), was a mass persecution of Korean Catholics ordered by Queen Jeongsun during King Sunjo of Joseon's reign. Beginning on 8 April 1801, the move was a cover for the political persecution of her opposing factions with in the government which were less hostile to Catholicism.
| Sinyu Persecution | |
| Hangul | |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Sinyu Bakhae |
| McCune–Reischauer | Shinyu Pak'ae |
| "Sinyu Cult Inquisition" | |
| Hangul | |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Sinyu Saok |
| McCune–Reischauer | Shinyu saok |
Notable events during the persecution included the Hwang Sa-yeong Incident. Hwang, a persecuted Catholic and nephew of renowned scholar Yag-yong Jung, was exiled for having been sympathetic to Catholicism despite later losing interest. He attempted to send correspondence to Catholic priests in Beijing detailing the persecution and pleading with the Qing dynasty to intervene on behalf of Catholics in Joseon, with Western ships if necessary. The letter was intercepted en route, and Hwang was executed on December 10 (the 5th of 11th lunar month).
At the conclusion of the persecution over 300 Catholics had been executed.
Sources
- The Founding of Catholic Tradition in Korea, ed. by Chai-Shin Yu (Mississauga: Korean and Related Studies Press, 1996). ISBN 0-9681072-2-2
- Jai-Keun Choi, The Origin of the Roman Catholic Church in Korea: An Examination of Popular and Governmental Responses Catholic Missions in the Late Chosôn Dynasty (Cheltenham, PA: Hermit Kingdom Press, 2006). ISBN 1-59689-064-9
External links
- History of the Asian Missions - Introduction of Catholicism into Korea
- Short biography of James Zhou Wen-mo, born 1752, executed in 1801, from koreanmartyrs.or.kr.