Confucianisms in East Asia and Korea
John Goulde
Sweet Briar College
August 2013
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Confucianisms
Teachings of Confucius
4th Century BCE
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Ideology of Family Loyalty, Filial
Piety, The Common Good
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Replication of the Chou Dynasty
Rituals and Customs
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Rule of Law/Loyalty to Kings and
Queens
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Deference and respect for superiors,
worship of Heaven, The Mandate of
Heaven
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Benevolent/Paternalist
Government
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Hierarchical and male-centered
ordering of society

Worship and imitation of the Sage
Kings-Benevolent and Paternalistic
Government
Confucianisms
Classical Confucianism 2nd Century CE
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Reverence for Confucian
Scriptures, Confucian Learning,
and their use in recruitment of
Persons of Merit for Government
of state
Worship of Ancestors,
Confucius, Confucian Worthies
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Extension of the Mandate to
Other Cultures and States
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Ritualization of Family and Civil
Relations: Deference, Courtesy,
Humility
Confucianisms
Neo-Confucianism 10-17th Centuries CE
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Confucian Exclusivism- The
Orthodox Way
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Adoption of Daoist Cosmology
(Yin-yang, Five Phases)
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Correlation between the Nature
of Things and the Nature of
Humans
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Pursuit of Sagehood
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Adoption of Buddhist
Psychology of the Mind:
Cultivation of the Body,
Rectification of the Mind
through Study and Meditation
S Macrobiotics
S Silent Sitting
S Introspective Mind-Control
S Pure Poverty –Hermitmindedness
Confucianisms
Practical Learning 17th -19th Centuries CE
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Criticism of Speculative NeoConfucianism
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Logical Positivism and distrust
of metaphysics
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Utilitarianism rather than
Idealism
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Investigation of Things in
themselves
Cultural Relativism recognized –
Influence of Western Culture
and Science
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Historicist reinterpretation of the
classical texts
Classical Confucianism in Korea
and Japan
Korea
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S
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Classical Confucianism in Three
Kingdoms, Silla, and Koryo
Kingdoms 1st-14th Centuries CE
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Civil Service Examination
System
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Foreign Relations under the
Mandate of Heaven
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Ideology of Government and
Family Relations
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Blending of the Three Traditions
State Organization, rule of law,
monarchy replaces clan rule
Chinese literature, history, rituals
adopted by ruling elites.
Classical Confucianism in Korea
and Japan
Japan
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Han Learning including
Buddhism, Daoism, and Shinto in
Nara, Heian Periods 2nd-16th
Centuries CE
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Tradition of Basic Worldly Ethics
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State Organization, rule of law,
monarchy replaces clan rule
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Chinese literature, history, rituals
adopted by ruling elites
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Mandate of Heaven moved to
Japan
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Ideology of Government and
Family Relations
Neo-Confucianism in Korea
and Japan
Japan
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Neo-Confucian and Practical
Learning in Edo Period 17th-19th
Centuries
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Neo-Confucian Studies restricted
to Samurai Class – later influence
the lower and middle classes
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National Studies and Classical
Japanese Studies develop in
response to Practical Learning
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Daoism, Shinto, Buddhism
dominate the religious landscape,
Confucian dominates the ruling
class
Neo-Confucianism in the Chosôn Kingdom
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Late Koryô period Confucian
Erimeticism
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Mongol studies and the favoring
of Koreans in Beijing {Datu}
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Importation of Neo-Confucian
Writings through Study Abroad
and Tribute Missions
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Disestablishment of Old Landed
Elite by younger generation
trained in Neo-Confucianism
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Phase One: Disestablishment of
State sponsored Buddhist and
Daoist institutions
Neo-Confucianism in the Chosôn
Kingdom
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Development of the notion of
Korea as the nation that
preserves the Orthodox Way
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Enfoeffment of Yi Songgye’s
Merit Subjects trained at the
Revived Sunggyungwan
(National Academy)
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Phase 2:Reforms of Koryô Law
incorporating Ming Code into
Chosôn Law
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Phase 3: Restrictive Legislation for
Daoists and Buddhist
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Appropriation of Buddhist lands
and buildings for the building of
local, regional schools or for
salaries of bureaucrats
Continued
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Development of Scholar lineages
and the regional and local
academy ( sôwon)
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Development of different
interpretations of Zhu Xi’s
metaphysics ( I & Ki Debates)
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Community Compacts to
reinforce Neo-Confucian
understanding of ritual, doctrine,
education, etc.
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New Ethics for Women in
Androcentric Society
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Factionalism and Purges in the
Court