Confucian Culture in Contemporary Korean Context By James T. Bretzke, S.J. University of San Francisco

Korean TaeGukGi (Flag)

Religious Aspects of Korean Culture Shamanism (ancient to today) Buddhism (c. 9th century onwards) Confucianism (13th century onwards) Christianity (18th century onwards) “New” Religions (e.g., Chon-do-kyo) National Success as Religious Pride

“Four Pillars” (Sa-Chu) Café: If you know the Four Pillars you can see the future

“Philosophy” House

Buddhist Bell: Ring Out Truth

This is NOT a Buddhist Monk!

Mandate of Heaven Tien Ming

The Proper Tao or “Way”

Cultivation of Moral Knowledge & Virtue (Personal/Public)

Prince/Superior Person Or Paradigmatic Individual Chun-tzu (Chinese) or Gun-Cha (Korean)

Reform of Society Beginning with Moral Cultivation of the Individual Rectification Of Names

2 Core Confucian Virtues Proper Ritual Etiquette Benevolence

Careful State Ritual

1st Relation: Justice & Loyalty

Scholar as Public Servant

Ministers as Meritocracy

Ch’ung (Loyalty) Chong (Justice) Sa (Temple)

Keeping the Law; Real Service

2nd Relation: Filial Piety

Respect of Elders & Teachers New Year’s Ritual Bow Called the Sae-bae

3rd Relation: Reciprocity & Distinction of Duties and Roles

Campus Barbers Serve Sincerely

4th Relation: Propriety

Keep Propriety Citizenry

New Propriety, New Life, New Korea

5th Relation: Faithfulness

Chingu: Old Friends

Respect for The Ancestors

Ancestor Ritual Celebration

Family Chae-Sa or Ancestor Rite

Chusok: Korean Thanksgiving

Buddhist Altar

Moral Slogans as Public Virtue Right Sacrifice, Right Driving, At Every Intersection Smiles Bloom

Now We Have to Recycle

Let’s Protect Nature!

Moral Exhortation

Let’s Live Correctly

Virtue Has Its Own Rewards

Calligraphy for Meditation

Universities as Guardians of Public Virtue and Justice Obey Truth: Motto of Sogang Jesuit University in Seoul

In the 21st Century Too: Forward Thinking Sogang U.

100 Day Prayer Cycle for Successful University Admission

Entrance Exam 100 Day Prayers

Student Protest for Justice

Democracy Wall At Sogang Let’s Overthrow the Dictator Kim Dae Jung!

Oppose the American Military

Suicide as Political Protest

A Divided Korea

Work For Korean Reunification

Reunification Blooms

Dae-Han Min-Guk Man-Sae! Let Korea Prosper For Ten Thousand Years!