THE ROLE OF SCHOLARS IN THE CULTURAL AND POLITICAL LIFE OF TRADITIONAL KOREA BY YANA MANCHEVA
graphic design: Georgi Sharov
16/60/90, paperback with dust jacket, 208 pages
Metheor, Sofia, 2016
ISBN: 978-619-7291-00-1
The book investogates the role of scholars for the development of Korean culture historically, with a special emphasis on the first half of the Choson dynasty (1392-1910), the dynasty that perceives Confucianism as a leading state ideology. The first century of its rule is defined as a “golden age” for Korea because of the flourishing state of science and culture, especially associated with King Sejong (1418-1450), honoured to this day as one of the most prominent rulers of Korea.
Who are these Korean scholars? What qualities and knowledge should a person obtain in order to be accepted as a scholar? What was the notion of “education”? Korea, which has been experiencing China’s and Chinese culture’s strong influence since ancient times, is developing under the influence of Confucianism, and knowledge in this area is one of the main factors when it comes to defining how “scholarly” one is.