Korean Confucianism
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'''Korean Confucianism''' is the form of [[Confucianism]] developed in [[Korea]]. One of the most substantial influences in Korean intellectual history was the introduction of [[Confucius|Confucian]] thought as part of the [[Culture of China|cultural exchange]] from [[China]]. Today the legacy of Confucianism remains a fundamental part of Korean society, shaping the moral system, the way of life, social relations between old and young, high culture, and is the basis for much of the legal system. Confucianism in Korea is sometimes considered a pragmatic way of holding a nation together without the civil wars and internal dissent that was inherited from the [[Goryeo]] dynasty, and before.
==Three Kingdoms Period Confucianism==
From its location, Korea has long been influenced by China, the big neighbor to the West. The influence of [[Buddhism]] in the Korean educational, moral, and political systems was the first major intellectual import; Confucianism came from China to Korea in the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea|Three Kingdoms]] period alongside Buddhist teaching.
The [[Goguryeo]] Kingdom introduced Chinese culture and Confucianism, but initially maintained its own customs and traditions. The [[Baekje]] Kingdom, on the other hand, thoroughly adopted Confucianism. This shaped the administrative system and the culture and arts. [[Silla]] was the last kingdom to accept the Confucian way of life at the highest levels of administration.
==Goryeo Dynasty Confucianism==
[[Gwangjong of Goryeo|King Gwangjong]] created the [[Gwageo|national civil service examinations]], and [[Seongjong of Goryeo|King Seongjong]] was a key figure in establishing Confucianism. King Seongjong established [[Gukjagam]]. Gukjagam was the highest educational institution of the Goryeo dynasty. This was facilitated by the establishment, in 1398, of the [[Seonggyungwan]] – an academy with a Confucian curriculum – and the building of an altar at the palace, where the king would worship his ancestors.
To a great extent, two figures have lasting influence concluding the Goryeo dynasty: [[Jeong Dojeon]] (1324–1398) and the monk [[Gihwa]] (1376–1433) who assisted the transition from Buddhism to [[neo-Confucianism]] with tremendously interesting debate.
Jeong, in his ''Bulssi japbyeon'' or “Array of Critiques of Buddhism” summed up critiques of Seon Buddhism brought by Hanyu, the Cheng brothers, and [[Zhu Xi]]. Gihwa answered with his ''Hyeonjeongnon'' or “Exposition of the Correct”, a polite defence of Buddhism, but at the same time an aggressive taking to task of neo-Confucian wavering between ideal and execution. Texts are cited at length in external links below.
==Neo-Confucianism in the Joseon dynasty==
Under [[Joseon]] Neo-Confucianism, or ''seongnihak'', there was even greater encouragement of Confucian ideas and ideals such as ''chung'' or loyalty; ''hyo'' or filial piety; ''in'' or benevolence; and ''sin'' or trust.
During the [[Joseon Dynasty]], from 1392 on, Confucianism was the primary system of belief amongst the scholarly [[yangban]] classes and generals. Koreans historically have found religions natural and easy, and have maintained an overlap between all religions – the Yi family generals, thus restrained Buddhism, maintained [[shamanism]] in rural areas, but encouraged Confucianism for its use in administration and social regulation; as well as integrating a civilised society very quickly on Chinese bureaucratic models to increase cultural transference from China.
Korean [[Confucian schools]] were built, all of which had foreign educated scholars, large libraries, patronage of artisans and artists, and a curriculum based on Confucian ideals. Thus by the time of [[King Sejong the Great of Joseon|King Sejong ]] (ruled 1418–1450), all branches of learning were rooted in this way of thinking although branches of [[Buddhism in Korea]] were still let to grow outside of the major political centres in a tolerance of other kinds of worship. The [[Korean Confucian curriculum]] of 13 to 15 major works, and exegetical commentary was extensive, and requires time which we do not have here.
Confucianism in Joseon Korea flourished most notably in the 16th century, under the guidance of the country's two most prominent Confucian scholars. [[Yi Hwang]] (1501–1570) and [[Yi I]] (1536–1584), who are often referred to by their pen names ''Toe gye'' and ''Yul gok'', are commemorated today on [[South Korea]]'s 1,000- and 5,000-[[South Korean won|Won]] notes respectively, and in the names of major thoroughfares in central [[Seoul]].
As the Joseon dynasty lasted more than five centuries, a rough division of the progression of Korean confucianism is this:
* First century: Governmental administration confucianised
* Second century: Golden age of Confucian philosophers
* Third century: Development of patrilineal lineage system based on power wielded by the eldest son
* Fourth century: Confucian mysticism and seeking of sage-like qualities in [[Korean ruling class#Neo-Confucian Joseon period yangban leadership|ruling classes]]
* Fifth century: Confucian system breaks down when faced with western encounters, collapse of [[Qing Dynasty]], and Japanese invasions; Confucianism goes underground, to await a revival in the sixth century republican period.
Beginning in the late 17th century, some Confucians began to react to the metaphysical nature of Neo-Confucianism. These scholars advocated more practical social reforms, in a movement known as [[Silhak]].
==Contemporary society and Confucianism==
Today, the landscape of Confucian schools, [[Temple of Confucius|temples]], places of ancestral worship, and scholarship have been minimised, if not put to the side as historical artefacts worthy only of tourists, scholars, or neglected preservation. However, Confucian values arguably still have an immense influence on the psyche of the Korean people. Moreover, Confucianism is not necessarily regarded as a religion, allowing one to be a Taoist, Christian, Muslim, Shintoist or Buddhist and still profess Confucianist beliefs.
Strong elements of Confucianist thought still exist in day-to-day administrative and organisational hierarchies, but the fixtures and services which brought these into being have disappeared. With Confucianism taken out of the school curricula and removed from the daily life of Koreans, the sense that something essential to Korean history is missing led to a rebirth of Confucianism in the late 1990s. Foreign scholars have also developed an interest in Korean Confucianism as an overriding element of governance that maintained a newly-arisen elite within Korea dependent on all the cohesive devices of Confucianism from the 14th century onwards.
Culturally, the arts still maintain major traditions: [[Korean pottery]], the [[Korean tea ceremony]], [[Korean gardens]], and [[Korean flower arrangement]] follow Confucian principles and a Confucian aesthetic. Scholarly calligraphy and the most serious poetry again continue in much fewer numbers this heritage. In films, [[school stories]] of manners and comic situations within educational frames fit well into the satires on Confucianism from earlier writings. Loyalty to school, and devotion to teachers is still an important genre in popular comedies.
==Korean Confucian art==
:''See also'': [[Korean art]], [[Korean pottery]]
[[Korean Confucian art]] and [[Korean Confucian philosophy]] had great and deep effects on the Korean culture.
==Confucian ceremonies==
The most important ceremonies of Korean Confucianism were those that celebrated the coming of age, marriage, death, as well as the anniversary of the death of the ancestors. Funerals had the greatest impact on the lives of ordinary people. Although Confucianism is no longer the ruling ideology, its influence on the contemporary Korean society is not difficult to spot.
==The future of Korean Confucianism==
Contemporary Confucianists are attempting to bring back a Confucian based college or university that will educate a new generation of scholars. In many cases older temples are being restored by cities for tourist purposes.
==See also==
* [[Article 809 of the Korean Civil Code]]
* [[Korean Buddhism]]
* [[Korean culture]]
* [[Korean Taoism]]
* [[List of Korea-related topics]]
* [[Munmyo]]
* [[Religion in Korea]]
* [[Silhak]]
==External links==
* [http://www.hm.tyg.jp/~acmuller/jeong-gihwa/ Introduction and translation of Jeong and Gihwa's texts]
[[Category:Korean Confucianism| ]]
[[de:Konfuzianismus in Korea]]