The Kite Fighters

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2000

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-16

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Background

Historical Context: 15th-Century Korea

The novel takes place in Seoul, Korea’s capital, in 1473. As a historical novel, Park adapts true events and personas for her fictional story. From 1392-1910, the Joseon Dynasty ruled Korea, the first king of which was Lee Seong-gye. For three generations, these kings established a social order in which royalty had utmost authority. However, Joseon also saw benevolent rulers whose priority was education, and during the 15th and 16th centuries, arts, science, and technology dramatically advanced.

In the author’s note, Park explains that the “boy-King” in the story is based on King Seongjong, who ruled from 1469-1494. Seongjong was 12 years old when he was crowned, so his grandmother, mother, and aunt ruled in his place until he turned 19. During his reign, the economy flourished, and he expanded several offices in his court to offer more checks and balances. As an intellectual, Seongjong valued differences in opinions, and appointed administrators to his court regardless of their political views.

Socio-Cultural Context: Society in the Joseon Dynasty

One of the biggest changes the Joseon dynasty made to Korean society was to convert from Buddhism to neo-Confucianism. By the 1400s, all teachings in Korea were based in Confucianism. This philosophy prioritized morality, righteousness, and practical ethics, and encouraged education. Students studied the original writings of Confucius to master his material and pass the national exams. Korean society during this era was founded on three principles: loyalty to the king, obedience to the parents, and differentiation between men and women. Society also followed five moral disciplines, which Park includes in a tutoring scene: understanding the inherent dynamics between a monarch and their subjects, parents and their children, husband and wife, age differences, and friends.

During the Joseon Dynasty, a distinct class system was established, with the king and his family at the top. Next came a class called yangban, which were government officials or landowners. The middle class of specialists was called jungin, who were considered higher than commoners, who were known as sangmin. The lowest class, comprised of enslaved people, laborers, outcasts, and criminals was called cheonmin. Specific to neo-Confucianism was a class called seonbi, which was made up of scholars who chose to spend their lives dedicated to studying rather than material wealth.

Neo-Confucianism not only reinforced a rigid class system, but also reinforced a clan structure and strict family dynamics. As seen in the novel, rituals were critical for maintaining a connection between a family and its ancestors and reinforcing clan structure. Within this structure, women were secondary to men, relegated to the home and obligated to serve their husbands and sons. Neo-Confucianism dictated everyone’s standing in Korean society, and everyone was responsible for knowing their place and behaving appropriately. Park pushes back against this rigidity by creating characters who question the system and yearn for authentic relationships rather than prescribed ones.