Nobi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the 1951 Japanese book, see Fires on the Plain.
Nobi is a Korean word for a system of servitude which was in place from about the 4th century. It descaled greatly during the latter half of the Joseon Dynasty and was eventually abolished by the Japanese in the 20th century. Nobi can refer to either the system itself, or the people in the system.
Nobi and its proper translation into English have been the subject of heavy debate among historians, as non-Korean historians overwhelmingly favor translating it as "slave" and "slavery", while many Koreans argue that nobi was not a slave system, but a servant class system that does not meet the criteria for slavery. Many arguments of this nature, however, are rejected by many non-Korean historians and scholars, and are seen by some as as attempts to sanitize an embarassing and ignoble aspect of Korean history.
Many Korean scholars, on the other hand, point to a different word: Noye as correctly meaning "slavery", indicating that the two systems were different, and therefore Nobi was not seen then, as, and should not be construed in retrospect to be slavery.
Nobi were kept by some members of the Yangban class; other Nobi worked as public servants in the courts. Some nobi were field laborers, others worked more as house servants. Nobi could be bought, sold, and given as gifts. They were the property of their owners. Their owners were responsible for their care and well being, and to a certain extent, were answerable to the law for such. Nobi could own property in many cases. Nobi were allowed to marry and rear children, sometimes only with other nobi, sometimes with commoners, and at least on a few occasions, as concubines on their owners. The fate of the children was in the hands of the masters, some were made nobi, others commoners, others abandonded altogether.
Nobi became by force, perhaps as a punishment for a crime or failure to pay a debt; but voluntarily becoming nobi was possible, typically to escape wretching poverty.
Those who do not wish nobi to be equated with slavery cite that the percentage of the population who were nobi never reached anywhere near the level of slaves in slave societies, either ancient or modern; there was no racial foundation for nobi; and the role of nobi was far different from the role of slaves in almost all aspects, economically, socially, and philosophically.[1] These individuals wish the word to simply be kept "nobi", arguing that trying to translate it simply obsures the context.
References
Nobi and Nobi Labor in Ancient Korea Lee In Cheol
James B. Palais, University of Washington; Theodore Kornweibel, San Diego University
