Yanbany (cor. 양반 (兩 班) yanban - two divisions, two divisions) - a concept that originally - but not earlier than the X century - denoted in medieval Korea two categories of nobility (service people) - civil (munban 문반, 文 班) and military (muban 무반, 武 班) officials.
From the XII century and during the Li (Joseon) dynasty, the Yanbans were already the upper class, and belonging to it was inherited, regardless of the positions currently occupied. With the development of feudalism in Korea, and especially during the period of its decomposition, beginning in the 18th century, the number of people who considered themselves to be the Yanan estate increased significantly, since the Yanbans were not subject to feudal duties and duties. In this regard, the ranks of the so-called "provincial yanbans" were constantly replenished by wealthy peasants and merchants who paid money for the right to classify themselves with this estate.
In modern historical literature, the term "yanban" is used to denote the dominant strata in feudal Korea and is a synonym for the words "feudal lord" or "landowner".
Literature
Kim Sokhyun “Yanban non” (“On the Yanbans”), in the book “Yoksa Nonmun Jip” (Collection of Articles on History ), issue 3, Pyongyang 1959.