Pages 43-53 – Yang-won Cho – ‘Chosŏn Literati’s Perceptions of the West in the Early 19th Century as Reflected in Kim Kyongson’s Yŏnwŏn chikji’

Volume 12

The 19th century was a period that saw the growing encroachment of the Western powers in Asia, their eastward expansion characterized by attempts to use their influence to force Asian nations to open their doors. While Chosŏn faced numerous internal challenges, the Qing dynasty, then the most powerful Asian nation, found itself confronted with severe…

Pages 31-41 – Shin Ik-Cheol – ‘Chosŏn Literati’s Understanding of “Western Learning” in the 19th Century Based on Kang Hobu’s Sangbong-nok’

Volume 12

While the Chosŏn dynasty’s first contacts with Sŏhak (西學, Western Learning) occurred in the 17th century, it was during the 18th century that such exchanges began to be greatly invigorated. Such contacts with Western Learning were mainly carried out through the regular visits to Qing carried out by the yŏnhaengsa (燕行使, royal envoys to the…

Pages 23-30 – David Prendergast – ‘Living Arrangements and Intergenerational Relations in a Rapidly Ageing Korea’

Volume 12

‘Rules of obligation’ surrounding the concept of filial piety have long informed some of the key structures and strictures of Korean society. What is now happening to these ‘rules’ and ‘rights’ is a subject of great discussion, especially as South Korea begins to grapple with the problems and realities facing a rapidly ageing society. Download…