Korean Thought and Culture
A New Introduction
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This book emphasized that why is Korean Studies so important. 1. It possesses its own unique culture. 2. It is the last place to find an existing East Asian religion and culture. 3. East Asian thought and culture developed to both China and Korea. 4. To understand pre-Japanese history and culture. 5. Importance for international relations – Korea is key interest of Japan, and China. Professor Guisso reviewed about this book as follows: His study, entitled Korean Thought and Culture: A New Introduction, strikes me as an intriguing and necessary piece of research – intriguing because it approaches a number of questions hitherto unaddressed by scholars, and necessary because it dispels the myth that Korea was historically influenced by China and Japan, but had little or no influence upon these donor civilizations. What Dr. Yu attempts to show is that from earliest times, Korean thought and culture was distinct from that of its neighbours, and that at certain points in history and particularly in the case of Japan, had a noticeable impact on the development of these civilizations. He also attempts to show that Korea never accepted uncritically ideas from outside, and that even in the case of Chinese Confucianism and Daoism, gave a nativist “spin” to these traditions. He accomplishes his purpose by examining such wide subjects as the Korean Sonbi form of Confucian thought and the unique indigenous culture of the Hwarang. He then focuses on seven major Korean thinkers, emphasizing their philosophical and religious ideas, showing clearly their independence, and the deep roots they have in the Korean landscape. None of these thinkers are well-known in the West, and Dr. Yu does a service in introducing them. By Prof. R. W. L. Guisso Emeritus, University of Toronto.
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About the Book
During its five thousand years of history and culture, Korea has been attacked and invaded by other countries eight hundred times. Despite all its past tragedies, Korea has risen from the ashes and become one of the ten strongest economic countries in the world—all because its people have kept their thoughts, culture, and roots alive. In Korean Thought and Culture: A New Introduction, Dr. Chai-Shin Yu shares the results of his extensive research. He offers careful interpretation of historical facts and in-depth exploration of past events, while determining whether Old-Korean thought culture has always existed independently or arose initially through the sole influence of China. A seasoned lecturer on Korean culture and thought, Dr. Yu relies on his professional experience to provide a comprehensive study of Korean and East Asian thought and culture, the influence of Korea on Japanese culture, Korean philosophers, and other Asian and Christian thoughts and cultures. One hundred years since the Japanese invasion and sixty years after the attack of North Korea, Korean Thought and Culture: A New Introduction offers a new perspective on long-held beliefs and challenges anyone to take a new look at Korean thought and the history and culture of this fascinating country.
About the Author
Chai-Shin Yu earned his Ph.D. in Asian religious thought from McMaster University in Canada. He has lectured on Korean culture and thought at the University of Toronto, has taught at Seoul National University as a visiting professor, and is the author of fifteen books. He currently resides in Toronto, Canada.