Hanyang
/ha̠.nja̠ŋ/noun
A historical name for Seoul, especially when referring to the city during the Joseon period.
Did you know?In traditional East Asian geography, yang commonly described the sunny northern bank of a river because it faces the sun, while the southern bank was yin.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Classical Chinese
漢
“Han; the name of the Han River and later the Han dynasty and Han people”
Ancient Chinese
Classical Chinese
陽
“Yang; sunlight, brightness, or the sunny side of a landscape”
Goryeo period
Middle Korean
한양 (漢陽)
“Hanyang, a place-name meaning the yang or sunny side associated with the Han River”
1394
Korean
한양
“Chosen as the capital of the Joseon dynasty under King Taejo”
Joseon period
Korean
漢陽
“The principal historical name of the Joseon capital, corresponding to present-day Seoul”
Modern English
English
Hanyang
“A historical or cultural name for Seoul, also used in names of institutions and places connected with the city”