Confucianism and Korea - Part III: Confucianism in Pre-Modern Korea


In previous parts of this series, we took a look at the core concepts of Confucianism. How did these Confucian concepts affect Korea, and how are they affecting Korea now? The rest of the series will deal with the answers to those questions. This part will discuss Korea's historical interaction with Confucianism.

Confucianism reached Korea as early as the 4th century, and has always been a major part of Korean traditional philosophy. But it was hardly the only part, or even the most dominant part. Shamanism and more indigenous beliefs (which were sometimes co-opted into other philosophies, including Confucianism) have been a major part as well. Buddhism was the most dominant part of Korean traditional philosophy for more than a millennium.

This would change in the 14th century, when Joseon Dynasty replaced Goryeo Dynasty. This change in dynasties -- really, a revolution -- is very significant in the history of Confucianism in Korea. Joseon Dynasty was explicitly based on Confucianism and rejected Buddhism, which was the official religion/philosophy of Goryeo Dynasty. The revolutionaries of the late Goryeo Dynasty believed that Buddhism contained the core of everything that ailed Goryeo Dynasty, and decided that Confucianism (more specifically, the newer version of Confucianism espoused by Zhu Xi) would be the more suitable ideology by which a kingdom would be run. In other words, Joseon was the first Korean dynasty that was explicitly a Confucian state. We will proceed by examining three different aspects of the way in which Confucianism was used in Joseon, the Confucian state: as a governing philosophy, a tool for deeper and more raw political power struggle, and a system for social order.

Confucianism as a Governing Philosophy

From the very beginning, Joseon Dynasty made clear that Confucianism justified its birth. Shortly after the first king of Joseon ascended to the throne, he declared:
하늘이 백성을 낳고 임금을 세운 것은 임금으로 하여금 백성을 길러 서로 살게 하고 백성을 다스려 서로 편안하게 하도록 하기 위함이다. 그러므로 군도에는 득실이 있고 인심에는 복종과 배반함이 있으니, 천명이 떠나가고 머물러 있음은 여기에 달려있다.
That the heaven gave birth to the people and established a king is for the king to raise the people such that they live together, and to govern the people such that they comfort each other. Therefore, the king's way has gains and losses and the people's heart has obedience and betrayal; the departure and presence of the heaven's mandate depends on this.
This statement is very important toward understanding how Confucianism works as a governing philosophy, as it explicitly connects the people's heart to the heaven's mandate. If the people's hearts do not obey, it means that the heaven's mandate has left the king. Because such king no longer deserves to be a king, a revolution is necessary to establish a new king.

More after the jump.

http://askakorean.blogspot.com/2011/02/confucianism-and-korea-part-iii.html