The spread of Chinese etiquette studies in ancient Korea

Author: Peng Lin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: In terms of the degree of Confucianization, ancient Korea was the most thoroughly Confucianized region outside of China. Although China and ancient Korea were geographically adjacent and shared natural landscapes, their cultural differences were originally very significant. From a linguistic perspective, China belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family, while Korea belongs to the Altaic language family, and communication between the two posed considerable obstacles. From the perspective of customs, the two regions were even more vastly different, as recorded in the "Annals of Yan and Joseon" in the Records of the Grand Historian. What forces led ancient Korea to adopt Confucianism? How did Korea's Confucianization unfold? These are important research topics in the study of the East Asian Confucian cultural sphere. It is not without regret that despite frequent academic exchanges between China and South Korea since the establishment of diplomatic relations, few scholars have paid attention to this subject. The chapters in this book were written in China, often abandoned due to a lack of materials. In the summer of 2000, I traveled specifically to the library of Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul to gather materials. Over the course of a full month, I examined the collected works of scholars from the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. I photocopied nearly 100 kilograms of materials. Due to prolonged periods of studying at the desk, I suffered severe neck muscle injuries, and the intense heat made it impossible for me to sleep at night. Even now, when I recall this unforgettable experience, it still fills me with nostalgia.