Reflective Learning Journal Semester 2 2018 Your name Alyssa Bersamina date September 22, 2018 Topic Confucianism as a comprehensive worldview and its role in the Korean value system and social institutions For this reflective journal, I would like to talk about Confucianism, particularly Neoconfucianism and reflect upon my learning about it from class. I chose this topic because this is what peaked my interest the most. This topic particularly peaked my interest since Confucianism was something I have learned about but never fully understood. We have learned about it way back elementary, together with Judaism, Christianity and the like, so I only really thought of it as a religion from China. However, learning about it class made me see that it is more than that and it played a big role in the Korean value system and society. It was really emphasized in class that Confucianism had a great impact on Korea, maybe being the most influential, as a political ideology and as a system of values and norms. Description: What incident, event or idea are you going to reflect on? What did I learn in this class(over the past three weeks) What did I read for this topic? (apart from the text) In class, we learned moral imperatives and ethical principles of Neo-Confucianism as a system of social norms and values and how these were able to transform social institutions in Korea. It is here that we could also see that loyalty and filial piety was the most important principle for the Korean social structure and human relationships. I was able to connect it to the fact that almost all documentaries and films I saw that was set in past Korea emphasized loyalty to some king or paternal figure. It is here I also learned why the male figure is given more importance in the Korean culture. Like for example, a Korean taught me that when addressing the maternal side of the family, i.e. your grandparents and great-grandparents on the mother’s side, the prefix oe- (외) – pronounced ‘weh’ is added. She said that it meant “exit” because the paternal family is more important and is therefore the “inside” family. Now I learned in class that this is so because the Confucian ideology regarded hierarchical relationship as essential, the patriarchal and patrilineal system was established for an organized descent group. Aside from that, I was also able to learn about the value system of Confucianism like valuing relationships within social networks rather than a person’s individual characteristics and cherishing primary humane relations more then secondary inhumane ones. Apart from the text, I read about Korean Confucianism in the New World Encyclopedia in the internet which gave me a background on the history of Confucianism in Korea. One article was by Koh Young-jin entitled “Neo-Confucianism as the Dominant Ideology in Joseon”. This article mainly talked about Neo-confucianism not simply a metaphysical philosophy but a comprehensive system of thought attempting to explain all aspects of nature, man, and society in a consistent fashion. The second article I read was by Nicolas Levi entitled “The Impact of Confucianism in South Korea and Japan” which tackles the influence of Confucianism on Japanese and Korean societies and discusses issues such as loyalty and collectivism in the two countries previously mentioned. It is here that I read that traditional ties between Korea and China (especially during the rule of the Han dynasty) are deeply rooted in Korean history, and also naturally forced Korea to become Confucian. The most interesting thing I read for this topic was from an aricle Koh Young-jin entitled “Neo-Confucianism as the Dominant Ideology in Joseon” that authorities had to hide the wrong doings of the rulers just so that they could keep up with the facade of serving the people with Confucian ideals. This surprised me because I didn’t know they would go through such lengths just to promote an ideology. I also find it quite ironic that they were promoting something good whilst doing something that was completely opposite. What was the most interesting things I learned and read for this topic- why was that? Evaluations: what was good and bad about the experience? . What was new or surprising to me? Another thing I found interesting was something I read from the New World Encyclopedia. Here it stated that the last part of the fifteenth century and the beginning of the sixteenth century were plagued by an epidemic of political rivalry and factionalism due often to ambition and narrow-mindedness far from the Confucian ideal. I also read that one of the tragic peak was reached with Yônsan’gun his persecutions of Confucian scholars called purges. One of the famed purges happening in 1519 when Cho Kwang-jo. a noted Confucian reformer, was trying to bring back ethics in politics. This made me realize that the transitions from Buddhism to Confucianism must not have been always smooth sailing. It is from my understanding that Neo- confucianism flourished prior to this epidemic. It surprised me that epidemics far from Confucian ideals were still ensued despite the fact that great efforts were made to establish Neo-confucianism. It reaffirmed me the fact that such any system of thought will not be embraced by everyone. One of the good things about learning this in class is that we were able to hear opinions from my fellow course mates who came from different parts of the world. It was interesting how similar and how different our views on the subject matter are. For example, someone from Uzbekistan was a bit confused on whether Confucianism is treated as a religion, much like I did at first. He thought it was a religion in China to which a Chinese student affirmed that it is not. The Vietnamese students being familiar with Confucianism also had a lot to say. However, for others we were impartial, having heard only little of Confucianism much less Neo-confucianism. Another good thing about learning this in class is that we got to understood more of the social structure and value system of South Koreans. We got to evaluate them and relate them to some things we have observed here. Because of our classroom setting, other people were able to pitch in and contribute observations as well. I actually went to Gwangju Hyanggyo Confucius School last week and learned a little about the the life of Confucian scholars. It was good that I was able to see the environment. Quite similar to our university, they had dormitories and such. One thing that surprised me was that they had a clear division of the rich and the poor even as scholars. I couldn’t really say there was anything bad about the experience but I guess I could still point out that being careful about talking about sensitive things such as culture of others is very important especially when you are in another country and when you don’t know a lot about it. Something surprising to me was when I read a line in the text that said “Korea is the most Confucian country in all of East Asia, more so even than Taiwan or mainland China,” which was observed by an eminent historian. This surprised me because often when I hear about Confucianism it is mostly associated with China and I never thought of Korea. I mostly associated Korea with Buddhism before learning all these things in class. Analysis: What have I changed my mind about, as a result of these classes?(over last three weeks) Conclusions (general): What can be concluded, in a general sense, from these experiences and the analyses you have undertaken? One thing I really changed my mind about is really my view of Confucianism as a religion. I now understand it as a way of life. I also now know how very much different a religion is from a way of life. I also have changed my views about Confucius’s teachings. In my life, I have always come across Confucius’s teaching like, “every one has his or her place in society”. Now, I can fully understand his meaning behind saying it. Also, I have watched dramas set in the Joseon dynasty but have been impartial to the practices I saw there. Now, I am able to see the connection with Confucianism especially now I understand why the kings I saw in the dramas were regarded with high respect and in turn the kings had to really embody wisdom and reverence. One thing I can conclude here, which I also read somewhere in the text is that ideologies such as that of in Confucianism are abstract concepts that can only be fully realized with institutions. The moral imperatives and ethical principles of Confucianism are also the same. They are things that are abstract but are manifested in the traditions and social structure of Koreans in the past and sometimes even now. The most important moral imperative, loyalty and filial piety, served as the basic principles defining social structure and human relations. That is why major institutions back then were in accordance to the Confucian patrilineal, patriarchal and exogamous system which is not fully manifested now but still paved way to the Korean modern socitety present now. All in all, I could see that it was quite Confucianism beliefs are quite similar to the beliefs we also have in our country even though some things are unique to Confucianism. This must be because it is a way of life and therefore regardless of religion, nationality and environment, there would be some similarities of beliefs since we are humans and it is in our nature to care for others especially are offspring. It is in our nature to value relationships. It also already quite easy to differentiate what is right and what is wrong. The most no Personal Action plans: What could you do differently in this type of situation based on what you have learned? As I’ve stated prior, I feel like being careful about talking about sensitive things such as culture of others is very important especially when you are in another country and when you don’t know a lot about it. However, I wish I could have participated more in class and shared my thoughts about it. I am still unsure about…… I am still quite unsure about the difference of Confucianism and Neo-confucianism. I’d like to know the thing omitted in Confucianism and why were they omitted in establishing Neo-confucianism. New Words neoliberalism ideology and policy model that emphasizes the value of free market competition. agnatic related through male descent or on the father's side collectivism emphasis on collective rather than individual action or identity imperatives something that is imperative such as a:COMMAND, ORDER b: RULE, GUIDE c: an obligatory act or duty d: an obligatory judgment or proposition Bilateral affecting reciprocally two nations or parties egalitarian a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic affairs endogamous marriage within a specific group as required by custom or law patrilineal relating to, based on, or tracing descent through the paternal line patriarchal of, relating to, or being a patriarch or patriarchy exogamous marriage outside of a specific group especially as required by custom or law