Donghak Revolution of 1894
In 1892 the small groups of the Donghak movement were united into a single Peasant Guerrilla Army (Donghak Peasant Army) who armed themselves; they raided government offices and killed rich landlords, traders and foreigners. They confiscated their victims' properties and distributed them to the poor. They organized themselves in a mass protest in Cholla province in December 1892 to protest abuses from local officials. The leader Choe Si-hyeong petitioned King Kojong in which he stated:
We the ordinary subjects of His Majesty's benevolent reign, after having read the Confucian writings, living on His Majesty's soil, are determined to follow this new doctrine only because we want people to reform themselves, to be loyal to their king, to show filial piety to their parents, to respect their teachers, and to show friendship to their fellow men.
Choe Si-hyeong's statement reaffirms the Tonghak belief in Confucianism, as well as their loyalty to the king. King Kojong failed to respond to the petition.
Read more about this topic: Donghak Peasant Revolution
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