Philosophy in Korean Culture
Musical traditions of Korea.
Location: North Korea, South Korea
Natural Philosophy In Korean Culture
The philosophy of Korea is deeply tied to its religions and folk history. For some 4,000 years, the majority of its people have been farmers.[1] In Confucian Joseon society, they ranked below scholars and scribes but above merchants and craftsmen. Their status reflected the Confucian ideal of harmony with nature. This in turn was built on long-standing folk customs stemming from Zen Buddhism and Korean Shamanism.
With this combined natural philosophy, Korea's yangban scholars studied a variety of subjects. They examined geographic features to find auspicious building sites. Their paintings favored lush landscapes and lively animals. When the Chinese invented gunpowder, Korea responded by mastering cannons and rocket launchers.[2][3] Later, after the fall of Joseon, many of its yangban would wander the streets as fortune-tellers.[4]
Korean Buddhism
Buddhist philosophy seeks to end the cycle of suffering through the elimination of desire. Its first Korean monasteries were built in 385 CE. Monks traveled regularly between the early dynasties and China, gradually expanding their reach and influence. The monasteries, perched on top of mountain folk shrines, became powerful forces in early Korea. In Goguryeo, they kept their own armies and spied for their kingdoms. By the 6th century, Korean monks were busily converting Japan.[5]
The late Silla kingdom favored Zen Buddhism, a preference inherited by the medieval Goryeo dynasty. Zen, or Seon, combined with a more academic sect of Buddhism to form the Jogye Order. The Jogye Order continues to represent most Korean Buddhists to this day. Buddhism declined in the late Goryeo after becoming increasingly political. Its underlying philosophy, however, never disappeared.[6] About 23 percent of South Koreans now identify themselves as Buddhist. Another 46 percent claim no religious affiliation.[7]
Confucianism in the Joseon Dynasty
The most influential philosophy in Korean history was Confucianism. Kong Qiu, or Confucius, founded the school of thought in the 5th century BCE. He taught that the rulers of a society should be its best and brightest, chosen by merit instead of birth. Confucius stressed filial piety, or the love of children for their ancestors. He preached the virtues of respect for authority and the importance of harmony with nature. Court officials were chosen through a grueling examination system. This ensured that only the most dedicated minds would rise to power.
In Korea, early Confucianism competed with Buddhism and Taoism and never gained much traction. This changed with the decline of the monasteries and the arrival of Neo-Confucianism. Neo-Confucianism integrated the ideas of Confucius with those of Buddhism and Taoism. The resulting philosophy quickly took hold in the late Goryeo and formed the founding ethos of Joseon.[8]
Korean Confucianism differed from its Chinese form in several ways. Chinese society often offered real social mobility through its exams. The yangban of Korea, on the other hand, limited access to the exams to preserve their power. Most commoners grew up illiterate until the 19th century. Women, on the other hand, enjoyed more freedoms in Korea than in China. Many noble ladies learned to read and write in Hangul. Their dramas, poems, and music can still be read today.[9]
Modern Philosophy in Korea
Modern North and South Korea follow very different philosophies. North Korea unified under Juche, a philosophy that emphasizes individual contribution to overall prosperity. South Koreans draw their philosophy from the many teachings of the past. Buddhism and Confucianism remain especially important influences in South Korea today.[10]
Bibliography
Brian Cumings, Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History (Updated) (New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 2005), 22-25.
Clark E. Llewellyn, "Korean Aesthetics, Modern Direction" in Korea Style, Marcia Iwatate and Unsoo Kim, eds. (Boston, MA: Tuttle, 2007), 8-28.
Seong-Rae Park, Science and Technology in Korean History: Excursions, Innovations, and Issues (Fremont, CA: Jain Publishing, 2005).
E-Wah Lee, Korea's Pastimes and Customs: A Social History, trans. Ju-Hee Park (Paramus, NJ: Homa & Sekey Books, 2006), 245-251.
Ahn Kye-hyon, Introduction of Buddhism to Korea: New Cultural Patterns, ed. Lewis R. Lancaster and Chai-Shin Yu (Berkeley, CA: Asian Humanities Press, 1989), 1-28.
Michael J. Seth, A History of Korea: From Antiquity to the Present (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011), 90-115.
Phillip Connor, "6 Facts About South Korea's Growing Christian Population," Pew Research Center, August 12, 2014, Pew Research Center, accessed May 25, 2017.
Seth, 129-145.
Ibid., 216-222.
Jae-Jung Suh, Origins of North Korea's Juche: Colonialism, War, and Development (New York, NY: Lexington Books, 2013).
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