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A study on the Deforestation and it’s Effect on the Environment in Goryo dynasty

  • The Review of Korean History
  • 2013, (111), pp.1-40
  • Publisher : The Historical Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

Lee Jung Ho 1

1고려대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

In Goryo dynasty the forest policy was established and implemented with the concept of Pungsu-ziri(風水地理) and Confucian political ideology(儒敎政治理念). The emphasis for the forest conservancy was also related with it's pragmatic aspects that the forests provide many useful materials such as tree fruits, woods for construction and fuelwoods for life. Therefore Goryo government tried to maintain the forests by the forest policy. But the deforestation was on the rise as the demand for forest products rise. The construction of many facilities such as the palace and new temples needed a lot of forest products. Sometimes the deforestation was caused by the political and social situations. For example in the period of Mongol domination Mongol empire demanded Goryo to provide a lots of woods and wood products. When the warships were made for the invasion to Japan by allied forces of Mongol and Goryo, in the area of Goryo a lot of woods were provided for making the warships. It is regarded that the deforestation has an effect on the environment. In Goryo period when the reckless deforestation was happened the natural disasters such as landslides and sudden floods have occurred frequently. Such relations between the deforestation and the occurrence of the natural disasters are examined during the middle-late 11th and early 14th centuries. The former periods are related with the deforestation from the construction, and the latter is related with the political situations such as making the warships. The results of this study point to the existence of a close relationship between the deforestation and the change of environment.

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