Tonghak was a feature of the Choso˘n nation’s progressive ideological heritage, which took form, developed, and circulated extensively through the lawful process of development of Choso˘n national philosophical thought that began in the medieval period and carried over into modernity. Tonghak was thus a feature of the progressive thought that preceded the modern philosophical thought of Choso˘n. Along with Enlightenment thought (kaehwa sasang), it greatly influenced the Choso˘n people’s uprisings and modern historical development in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The people’s uprisings it inspired, including the Kabo Peasant War (Kabo nongmin cho˘njaeng), were carried out to oppose feudal rule and foreign invasions and advocate autonomy (chajuso˘ng).