Dictionary

Hamgyong en · PROPN

Pronunciation

• häm′gyông′

Etymology

An improper simplification of the McCune-Reischauer romanization Hamgyŏng of Korean 함경(咸鏡) (Hamgyeong), from its one-time principal cities Hamhung and Kyongsong.

Meanings

1. (historical) A former province of northeastern Korea under the Joseon dynasty.
   • In 1413 the old Koryŏ division of the country into a capital district, five provinces, and two northern border zones was revised into a uniform pattern of eight provinces: Kyŏnggi around the capital, surrounded by the three provinces of Hwanghae, Kangwŏn, and Ch'ungch'ŏng, with Chŏlla and Kyŏngsang in the southwest and southeast, and P'yŏngan and Hamgyŏng in the northwest and northeast respectively. [1960, Edwin O. Reischauer, John K. Fairbank, East Asia: The Great Tradition, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, →OCLC, page 431:
   • The “bean controversy”’ was the result of an action taken by the governor of Hamgyŏng Province, banning grain exportation to Japan in 1889. Although the ban on grain exportation did hurt some Japanese grain dealers, the real issue in the “‘bean controversy,”’ according to a Japanese source, was to force Korea to abandon her anti-Japanese attitudes. [1973, Andrew C. Nahm, “Introduction”, in Korea Under Japanese Colonial Rule: Studies of the Policy and Techniques of Japanese Colonialism, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 25:
   • The explanation given was, that last night the Prefect had ordered six for me, while this morning the Governor said two were enough for me. Very soon after this, the card of the Governor of the Hamgyong province, whose name is Han-Chang-Sok, arrived, but still no ponies. 1894, Korea and the Sacred White Mountain: Being a Brief Account of a Journey in Korea in 1891, London: George Philip & Son, →OCLC, page 197:
2. The mountain range between the northern coast of the East Korea Bay and the Kaema Highlands which runs through the former province, now divided into North Korea's provinces of North and South Hamgyong.

Forms

Hyponyms

province · Pujollyong (mountains) · Pujonryong (mountains)

Relateds

Jeju (Provinces of the Korean Peninsula) · Hwanghae (Provinces of the Korean Peninsula) · Jeolla (Provinces of the Korean Peninsula) · Gyeongsang (Provinces of the Korean Peninsula) · Pyongan (Provinces of the Korean Peninsula) · Chungcheong (Provinces of the Korean Peninsula) · Gyeonggi (Provinces of the Korean Peninsula)

Synonyms

Gangbaekjeonggan (mountains) · Pepishan (mountains) · Pepi Shan (mountains) · Pujonryong (mountains)

Translations (2)

pl Hamgyong (historical province) · ko 함경 (historical province)