Lesson 3: Confucianism Part 2: Confucianism and Korean Society

Study Contents Monuments Education Ceremonies Confucianism in the Modern World

Monuments One of the hallmarks of Confucianism is the setting up of monuments. Confucian architecture is fairly simple, and there is no iconography. Monuments ( 碑 ) were erected to commemorate the contributions of those men who exemplified Confucian values- for filial sons ( 孝子 ), for loyal subjects ( 忠臣 ) and for faithful wives or widows ( 烈女 ). Only with the permission of the king could a monument be set up. If you were to ask a scholar of Confucianism which is the first important concept, some would say in (ren, 仁 ), and some would say hyo ( 孝, filial piety).

Education Propriety (ui, 義 ), etiquette or ceremony (ye, 禮 ), knowledge (chi, 知 ), and trust (shin, 信 ) are also important and have impact on the daily lives of Koreans. These values are acquired through education. Today parents make tremendous sacrifices for the sake of educating their children, and children make their own sacrifices to study long hours. Historically, education was the key to social success. In traditional times, officials were recruited to serve in the government on the basis of passing an examination. A good education in the Confucian classics was required to pass this examination. The only source of prestige as well as wealth in traditional times was government service. Businessmen and others were looked down upon.

Education cont’d The Confucian classics speak specifically of education:  “What is more enjoyable than studying?” ( 學而詩習之 不亦說乎 ) – The Analects of Confucius ( 論語 )  It has been said that Korea’s education miracle preceded its economic miracle. The first line of the Analects, one of the Confucian classics, says, “What is more pleasurable than greeting guests who have come from afar!” ( 有朋自遠方來 不亦樂乎 ) Just as implied by that passage, Koreans are wonderful hosts.

Ceremonies In spite of the fact that Confucius himself warned people to stay away from spirits, the most important ceremony in Confucianism is the ancestor ceremony. Many Koreans perform Confucian-style ceremonies for the dead on the anniversary dates of the death. Tables are elaborately set with all kinds of food that is first offered to the dead and then becomes the feast partaken by all the living relatives who attend.

Ceremonies cont’d National Confucian ceremonies are held at the National Confucian Academy, the Songgyungwan, in Seoul. There, the spirit tablet of Confucius is enshrined together with tablets for the eighteen Korean sages. The ceremony has a special name, the sokchonje, and is the most elaborate of all the Confucian ceremonies. It is held twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The main plaza of the Seonggyungwan, the National Academy of the Joseon Dynasty, in Seoul, South Korea.

Ceremonies cont’d The ceremony for the royalty of the Chosun period, the Yi Dynasty, is a national ceremony similar to the sokchonje but held only once a year on May First. The site is the shrine of the royal family (Chongmyo) near the fourth section of Chongno in downtown Seoul. The Chongmyo Shrine

Confucianism in the Modern World Before Korea became an economic success story, many people thought Confucianism was one of the factors that was holding Korea back from developing. Confucianism seemed to be an ideology that prevented economic growth as well as other aspects of modernization. Today, however, the opposite interpretation is heard—the miracle economies of East Asia, are all said to have been successful because of the influence of Confucianism that is common to these countries. It is the orderliness and hierarchical order that is quoted as the reason why people work hard and follow directions. Education is also given as the reason for the development of technology and management skills. What will Confucianism be like in the future? Confucianism as a philosophy, as a voice of the ancestors speaking to people today, is expected to play a major role.

End of Lesson 3 – Part 2