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

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 Qing dynasty). To this end, the main window of exchange pr...