Abstract
The Korean literate elite during the Chosŏn dynasty were staunch supporters of Confucianism, particularly Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucianism. However, they also modified Zhu Zi’s ideas to better fit their concern for moral psychology and their greater sensitivity to human moral frailty. We can see those modifications in disputes between T’oegye Yi Hwang (1501–1570), and Yulgok Yi I (1536–1584) over what role the Four Sprouts and the Seven Emotions should play in moral cultivation, and between Han Wŏnjin (1682–1751 and Yi Kan (1677–1727) over how much of a sanctuary from evil our human nature provided. We also see Korean Confucian creativity on display in the writings of Tasan Chŏng Yag-yong (1762–1836), who argued that we need to believe an anthropomorphic Lord on High is watching over us if we are to be inspired enough to exert the effort necessary to adhere to the high moral standards of Confucianism. The Korean search for an explanation of, and a solution to, the difficulties human beings encounter in trying to live consistently moral lives led them to use the building blocks provided by the philosophy of Zhu Xi to construct a thoroughly Koreanized version of Zhu Xi’s philosophy.
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Notes
- 1.
Yiduan, which literally means “a different thread,” is a common Confucian term for any ideas or practices which deviate from what is considered acceptable ideas or practices.
- 2.
Yin and yang were terms used for complementary aspects of nature, such as wet and dry, hot and cold, hard and soft, male and female, etc. The Five Phases were the five basic processes of changes in the natural world, such as slow growth, fast growth, slow decline, fast decline, and stability.)
- 3.
An English translation of Diagrammatic Explanations for Entering the Path of Learning (Iphak tosŏl 入學圖說) is available in Kalton (1987:14).
- 4.
The collected works of the Confucian scholars discussed in this chapter, as well as the writings of hundreds more Korean Confucian philosophers, are available on-line, courtesy of the Korean Institute for the Translation of Korean Classics: http://db.itkc.or.kr
References
The collected works of the Confucian scholars discussed in this chapter, as well as the writings of hundreds more Korean Confucian philosophers, are available on-line, courtesy of the Korean Institute for the Translation of Korean Classics: http://db.itkc.or.kr
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Baker, D. (2020). Zhu Xi and Korean Philosophy. In: Ng, Kc., Huang, Y. (eds) Dao Companion to ZHUXi’s Philosophy. Dao Companions to Chinese Philosophy, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29175-4_31
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