Sangmin

{{italic title}} {{Short description|Korean commoner caste}} {{Infobox Korean name/auto | hangul = 상민 | hanja = 常民 }} '''''Sangmin''''' ({{korean|hangul=상민|hanja=常民}}), short for '''''p'yŏngsangjimin''''' ({{Korean|hangul=평상지민|hanja=平常之民|labels=no}}), is a Korean-language term for commoners of the Joseon period (1392–1897).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=상민 |trans-title=Sangmin |url=http://contents.history.go.kr/front/tg/view.do?treeId=&levelId=tg_003_0290&ganada=&pageUnit=10 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=우리역사넷 |publisher=National Institute of Korean History}}</ref>

Synonyms for the term include '''''sŏin''''' ({{Korean|hangul=서인|hanja=庶人|labels=no}}), '''''sangin''''' ({{Korean|hangul=상인|hanja=常人|labels=no}}), '''''yangmin''''' ({{Korean|hangul=양민|hanja=良民|labels=no}}), '''''p'yŏngmin''''' ({{Korean|hangul=평민|hanja=平民|labels=no}}), and '''''p'yŏngin''''' ({{Korean|hangul=평인|hanja=平人|labels=no}}). ''Sangmin'' was also sometimes used to describe innocent people, in contrast to criminals.<ref name=":0" />

== History == The term ''sangmin'' was used as an informal or legal designation depending on the time period. It refers to everyone who is not of noble background.<ref name=":0" /> In the latter half of the 17th century, a two-class system called ''yangch'ŏnje'' ({{Korean|hangul=양천제|hanja=良賤制|labels=no}}) was enacted, and ''sangmin'' made the lower class. However, ''sangmin'' were still de facto divided into various subgroups.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Citation |last=김 |first=성우 |title=양인 (良人) |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0035708 |access-date=2024-05-24 |publisher=Academy of Korean Studies |language=ko}}</ref>

''Sangmin'' were systemically disadvantaged. While they were technically supposed to receive equal access to education and the taking of the ''gwageo'' (civil service examinations), the nobility used their influence to place restrictions on such access.<ref name=":0" />

There was a range in economic conditions for ''sangmin''; it was reportedly sometimes difficult to distinguish between a well-off ''sangmin'' and a nobleperson. Money allowed for the purchase of clothing that signaled high social status.<ref>{{Cite web |last=이 |first=한수 |date=2020-08-05 |title=조선시대 사람들은 지금보다 3배 먹었다 |url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2006/04/14/2006041470538.html |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=The Chosun Ilbo |language=ko}}</ref>

== References == <references />{{Joseon}}

Category:Korean caste system Category:Social classes {{Korea-hist-stub}}