Dosan Ahn Chang-ho
Encyclopedia
An Chang-ho, or Ahn Chang-ho (November 9, 1878 - March 10, 1938) was a Korean independence activist
and one of the early leaders of the Korean-American immigrant community in the United States. He is also referred to as his pen name Dosan. Dosan established the Shinminhoe ( New Korea Society) when he returned to Korea from the US in 1907. It was the most important organization to fight the Japanese Occupation and many of the great Korean patriots got their start as members of this group. He established the Young Korean Academy (흥사단; 興士團) in San Francisco in 1913 and was a key member in the founding of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
in Shanghai
in 1919. Ahn is one of two men believed to have written the lyrics of the Aegukga
, the South Korea
n national anthem, and most historical information shows that Dosan was the composer and not Yun Chi Ho. Besides his work for the Independence Movement, Dosan wanted to reform Korean people's character and the entire social system of Korea. Educational reform and modernizing schools were two key efforts of Dosan. He was also the father of Hollywood actor Philip Ahn. Susan Ahn Cuddy
is his oldest daughter.
(This equates to 10-11-1878 but Dosan used 9th November 1878 in his Vita), Kangso
Pyeongan province, in present-day South Pyongan, North Korea
. Ahn is the family name, chi is the generation marker, and sam, as he was the third son of Ahn Kyon-jin (father), and Hwang (Mother).
It is believed that he changed his name to Chang-ho when he began public speaking as a teenager.
His father also changed his name from Ahn Kyon-jin to Ahn Heung-guk, (assumed to be his fathers name).
In 1896, Ahn moved to Seoul
where he attended Gusae Hakdang, a missionary-sponsored school in Seoul run by Horace G. Underwood and Rev. F.S. Miller and eventually converted to Christianity over a period of four years.
community. He founded the Friendship Society in 1903, the first group that was made exclusively for Koreans in the United States. In 1906, he established the Mutual Assistance Society (MAS), the first Korean political organization in the United States. The MAS would eventually merge with the United Korean Society in Hawaii to become the Korean National Association (대한인국민회; 大韓人國民會) in 1909, the official agent of Koreans in the United States until the end of World War II
.
In 1926, Dosan traveled to Korea, never returning to the United States. During this time in Korea, he was arrested and put in prison by the Japanese more than five times for his patriotism and independence activities. He was first arrested in connection with Ahn Chung Gun's assassination of Itō Hirobumi
, the Japanese Resident General of Korea. Dosan was tortured and punished many times during the years of his activism. He never gave up his love for Korea and remained strong and true to the fight for Korea's freedom.
Many consider Ahn Chang-ho to be one of the key moral and philosophical leaders of Korea during the 20th century. In the turmoil immediately before and during the Japanese occupation of Korea
, he called for the moral and spiritual renewal of the Korean people through education as one of the important components in their struggle for independence.
In 1937, Japanese authorities arrested Ahn, but due to severe illness, he was released on bail and transferred to the Kyungsung University hospital where he died on March 10, 1938. A memorial park called Dosan Park
and hall were built to honor him in Gangnam-gu
, Seoul
. Another memorial was built in downtown Riverside, California
to honor him. Ahn's family home on 36th Place in Los Angeles
has been restored by the University of Southern California
, on whose campus it sits (albeit in a different location). Dosan never lived in the house on the USC campus. The City of Los Angeles has also declared the nearby intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Van Buren Place to be "Dosan Ahn Chang Ho Square" in his honor.
A main freeway interchange in downtown Los Angeles where the 10 Freeway and 110 Freeway meet is named after Dosan Ahn Chang Ho.
On the plaques surrounding his statue in Riverside, CA:
Korean independence movement
The Korean independence movement grew out of the Japanese colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945. After the Japanese surrendered, Korea became independent; that day is now an annual holiday called Gwangbokjeol in South Korea, and Chogukhaebangŭi nal in North Korea.-Background:In...
and one of the early leaders of the Korean-American immigrant community in the United States. He is also referred to as his pen name Dosan. Dosan established the Shinminhoe ( New Korea Society) when he returned to Korea from the US in 1907. It was the most important organization to fight the Japanese Occupation and many of the great Korean patriots got their start as members of this group. He established the Young Korean Academy (흥사단; 興士團) in San Francisco in 1913 and was a key member in the founding of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was the partially recognised government in exile of Korea, based in Shanghai, China, and later in Chongqing, during the Colonial Korea.-History:...
in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in 1919. Ahn is one of two men believed to have written the lyrics of the Aegukga
Aegukga
Aegukga is the national anthem of South Korea. The title literally means "The Song of Love for the Country," or "The Patriotic Song."It is believed that the lyrics were written for the cornerstone-laying ceremony of the Independence Gate in Seoul in 1896 by Yun Chiho, a politician, or by An...
, the South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n national anthem, and most historical information shows that Dosan was the composer and not Yun Chi Ho. Besides his work for the Independence Movement, Dosan wanted to reform Korean people's character and the entire social system of Korea. Educational reform and modernizing schools were two key efforts of Dosan. He was also the father of Hollywood actor Philip Ahn. Susan Ahn Cuddy
Susan Ahn Cuddy
Susan Ahn Cuddy was the first female gunnery officer in the United States Navy. She is the eldest daughter of Ahn Chang-ho and Helen Ahn, the first married Korean couple to immigrate to the United States in 1902. She joined the Navy in 1942 and served until 1946, reaching the rank of lieutenant....
is his oldest daughter.
Early years
Ahn was born as Ahn Ch'i-sam, on the 6th day of the 10th lunar month 1878.(This equates to 10-11-1878 but Dosan used 9th November 1878 in his Vita), Kangso
Kangso
Kangso-kun is a county in South Pyongan Province, North Korea. The population is 100,000.-Administrative divisions:Kangso-kun is divided into several dong and several villages .* Chonjin-dong * Kisan-dong * Kiyang-dong...
Pyeongan province, in present-day South Pyongan, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. Ahn is the family name, chi is the generation marker, and sam, as he was the third son of Ahn Kyon-jin (father), and Hwang (Mother).
It is believed that he changed his name to Chang-ho when he began public speaking as a teenager.
His father also changed his name from Ahn Kyon-jin to Ahn Heung-guk, (assumed to be his fathers name).
In 1896, Ahn moved to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
where he attended Gusae Hakdang, a missionary-sponsored school in Seoul run by Horace G. Underwood and Rev. F.S. Miller and eventually converted to Christianity over a period of four years.
Immigration to America and later years
In 1902, Ahn came to San Francisco with his wife Helen (Hye Ryon Lee) in order to get a better education. While living in California, he witnessed two Korean Ginseng merchants fighting in the streets over sales turf. Ahn was apparently upset by this display of incivility among his countrymen overseas, so he began to invest time into reforming the local Korean diaspora, rising to become one of the first leaders of the Korean-AmericanKorean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
community. He founded the Friendship Society in 1903, the first group that was made exclusively for Koreans in the United States. In 1906, he established the Mutual Assistance Society (MAS), the first Korean political organization in the United States. The MAS would eventually merge with the United Korean Society in Hawaii to become the Korean National Association (대한인국민회; 大韓人國民會) in 1909, the official agent of Koreans in the United States until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1926, Dosan traveled to Korea, never returning to the United States. During this time in Korea, he was arrested and put in prison by the Japanese more than five times for his patriotism and independence activities. He was first arrested in connection with Ahn Chung Gun's assassination of Itō Hirobumi
Ito Hirobumi
Prince was a samurai of Chōshū domain, Japanese statesman, four time Prime Minister of Japan , genrō and Resident-General of Korea. Itō was assassinated by An Jung-geun, a Korean nationalist who was against the annexation of Korea by the Japanese Empire...
, the Japanese Resident General of Korea. Dosan was tortured and punished many times during the years of his activism. He never gave up his love for Korea and remained strong and true to the fight for Korea's freedom.
Many consider Ahn Chang-ho to be one of the key moral and philosophical leaders of Korea during the 20th century. In the turmoil immediately before and during the Japanese occupation of Korea
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
, he called for the moral and spiritual renewal of the Korean people through education as one of the important components in their struggle for independence.
In 1937, Japanese authorities arrested Ahn, but due to severe illness, he was released on bail and transferred to the Kyungsung University hospital where he died on March 10, 1938. A memorial park called Dosan Park
Dosan Park
Dosan Park is a park in the neighborhood of Sinsa-dong in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It was established in 1973 to commemorate the achievement and legacy of An Chang-ho, a famous independence activist. The name is after his pen name, Dosan....
and hall were built to honor him in Gangnam-gu
Gangnam-gu
Gangnam-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the most affluent areas of Seoul and is located in the southeast of the city...
, Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. Another memorial was built in downtown Riverside, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to honor him. Ahn's family home on 36th Place in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
has been restored by the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, on whose campus it sits (albeit in a different location). Dosan never lived in the house on the USC campus. The City of Los Angeles has also declared the nearby intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Van Buren Place to be "Dosan Ahn Chang Ho Square" in his honor.
A main freeway interchange in downtown Los Angeles where the 10 Freeway and 110 Freeway meet is named after Dosan Ahn Chang Ho.
Plaque inscriptions
- Fact 1
- Fact 2
- Fact 3
- Fact 4
- The ideal of cooperation
- Dosan admired the California Fruit Growers Exchange and realized that cooperation was the growers’ key to success. He taught Koreans this ideal of cooperation to help build their national strength.
- Fact 5
- Leader of independence, c. 1919
- Dosan organized the Korean Provisional Government, in exile in Shanghai. The government upheld the Shanghai, Declaration of Independence, based on Dosan’s democractic ideals.
- Fact 6
- Reconciliation and Dosan fought wholeheartedly for a true Korean republic. He fought every avenue to prepare his people for responsibilities associated with governing themselves.
See also
- Korea under Japanese ruleKorea under Japanese ruleKorea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
- Korean independence movements
- Dosan ParkDosan ParkDosan Park is a park in the neighborhood of Sinsa-dong in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It was established in 1973 to commemorate the achievement and legacy of An Chang-ho, a famous independence activist. The name is after his pen name, Dosan....
- List of Koreans