Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Korea

1) Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Korea – A.C. Nahm
Scarecrow Press | 1993 | EPUB

This dictionary presents a balanced and objective view of South Korea, providing a long perspective and covering varied aspects of South Korean life. Domestic, political, and social events, foreign affairs, economic and cultural developments, and the men and women who have influenced the country’s history are reviewed in the more than 400 entries, many of which are new or have been updated from the first edition. The dictionary’s chronology and historical narrative, also updated, cover the entire history of Korea for the benefit of readers who have little or no knowledge of the overall history of the Korean people. The extensive bibliography has been updated to include the most current and best books, journals, and websites, making this a valuable reference source for the scholar, student, and general reader.

2) Historical Dictionary of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – James E. Hoare
Scarecrow Press | 2012 | PDF

The Historical Dictionary of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea provides a clear and easily understood history of the DPRK, also known as North Korea. It examines the historic roots of the country from the 1800s up to the death of Kim Jong Il. There are factual essays on leaders such as Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, as well as some of their supporters and opponents, on organizations such as the Korean Worker’s Party, the Supreme People’s Assembly (parliament), and on the lives and livelihood of the people. Issues such as the DPRK nuclear and missile programs are also explained.

This reference includes a detailed chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, an extensive bibliography, and over 300 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important personalities, leading political figures, institutions, economic enterprises, ethnic communities, and cultural features. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

3) Historical Dictionary of Mongolia – Alan J. K. Sanders
Scarecrow Press | 1996 | EPUB

Focuses on the emerging Mongolia, with entries on persons, institutions, places, and events that have become important in the 1990s, as well as entries on the communist period, and the Mongols beyond Mongolia’s borders. Includes a chronology from 1162 to 1994 …

4) Historical Dictionary of Taiwan (Republic of China) – John F. Copper
Scarecrow Press | 2007 | PDF

Taiwan, an island located off the east coast of southern China, is the largest piece of territory under the jurisdiction of the “nation” known officially as the Republic of China. Constant debate over whether Taiwan is its own sovereign state, part of the Republic of China, or part of the People’s Republic of China has been going on for years. With Chinese leaders in the People’s Republic of China rejecting Taiwan’s legal separation and vowing that they will resolve the “Taiwan issue” by military force if necessary and most citizens of Taiwan opposing unification with China in the short run, it would appear that Taiwan faces some tough decisions ahead.

The third edition of the Historical Dictionary of Taiwan (Republic of China) offers insight into Taiwan’s situation through a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, a map, a bibliography, and several hundred cross-referenced dictionary entries on important people, places, events, political parties, and institutions, as well as major political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of this island country. Whether or not Taiwan joins the People’s Republic of China or gains its independence, Taiwan’s outcome is of the utmost importance, and this reference provides the necessary information to understand its state of affairs.

5) Historical Dictionary of Hong Kong and Macau – Elfed Vaughan Roberts, Sum Ngai Ling, Peter Bradshaw.
Scarecrow Press | 1992 | EPUB

Economically important Hong Kong, along with Macau, soon will become a special Chinese administrative zone under the policy of “one country–two systems.” The authors could have produced a useful, albeit premature, historical dictionary; instead they have produced “one book–two dictionaries.” In short entries of uneven depth and quality the two dictionaries (Hong Kong occupies 79%) cover the historical highlights, but offer few insights. The two opium wars are presented in three sentences; a cross-reference to Anglo-Chinese wars leads to a lengthy discussion of the provisions of the Treaty of Nanking; a cross-reference from this latter article leads to Nanking, Treaty of, where the discussion of the provisions is repeated. The Hong Kong and Macau Office of the PRC is covered in the Hong Kong section without a cross reference from the Macau section. The absence of articles in support of the importance of international trade and economics to the development of Hong Kong is glaring, except brief articles on selected companies and a lengthy entry on the economic system (which discusses post-WW II expansion of manufacturing with only passing reference to Hong Kong’s traditional laissez faire system). Current and pending issues regarding potentially stateless minorities, deportation of Vietnamese refugees, continuing conflict with the PRC over democratization, and the controversy surrounding Christopher Patten as governor are absent. The lack of adequate cross-referencing within and between sections, and the lack of an overall index, severely hamper the dictionary’s utility. The bibliographies appended to each section are not annotated, but are exhaustive; the statistical appendixes seem superfluous. While this title does fulfill a limited need, a second edition with more substantive entries, produced after the 1997 transfer of power, would be more warmly received. M. K. Ewing; St. Cloud State University

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