Tag: Culture

Early Korean Art and Culture — This book highlights the unique traits of Korean culture reflected in the murals of Koguryo tombs. It also underscores the cultural and ideological foundations of Koguryo. For instance, the architectural and artistic similarities we find in the comparison of Koguryo tombs and Parhae tombs demonstrate the two kingdoms' historical connection, more specifically, Parhae's continuation of Koguryo culture. Of the three kingdoms, Koguryo was the largest in size, possessing the land of present-day Manchuria and North Korea. It was upon this foundation of three kingdoms that Unified Silla, Koryo, Choson, and modern-day Korea was built. This book brings to light not only the unique features of Koguryo culture and tomb art but also the differences from their Chinese counterpart. Koguryo tomb murals serve as an invaluable source of information for studying Korea's ancient art as well as Koguryo's advancements in politics, architecture, art and performing art. On the whole, it marks an important development in the art history of ancient East Asia. Northeast Asian History Foundation in Korean selected this book as an excellent overseas publication. Order Form

Early Korean Art and Culture

Korean Influence on Chinese Culture — It is generally thought that mostly China influenced Korean history and culture. However, influence by Korean people on Chinese history and culture are not recognized well. This book records the Korean historical figures who made contributions to China. The culture of East Asia was established through the concerted efforts of China and Korea together. Order Form

Korean Influence on Chinese Culture

Early Buddhism and Christianity

Early Buddhism and Christianity

Korean Folk Tales — Korea's unique culture is best explained and understood through its great wealth of folk tales. Embedded in these stores are expressions of the people's gentle nature, their dreams and humour, their ethics and spiritual beliefs, their artistic and romantic ideas. An appreciation of these stories will help the reader to understand the Korean consciousness. The twenty stories presented in this collection represent a variety of subjects and forms. They are selected for their universal appeal and the simplicity with which they relate moral lessons and the spiritual vision of the Korean people. In presenting these stories in English, the authors hope to share them with all children who read English, regardless of their ethnic origin. They also hope this publication will contribute to the growing body of multicultural literature in North America. Young people who grow up in technologically advanced societies appear, at times, to be overly concerned with material wants and personal gratification, thus losing sight of the communal and spiritual dimensions of life. The authors believe an exposure to the ethical values and behavioural models presented in many of these stories may encourage them to seek a more enriching meaning to life. Sponsored by the Society for Korean and Related Studies, this publication is financially supported by the Ministry of Citizenship and culture of the Government of Ontario. Written with Shiu L. Kong and Ruth W. Yu. Order Form

Korean Folk Tales

Korean and Asian Religious Tradition — Essays about Korea and the philosophies and religions of East Asia which passed through. The essays observe Korean philosophy and religion as systems in their own right and argue for their specific relevance in Korean society, while considering their larger relevance to China and Japan.

Korean and Asian Religious Tradition

Korea and Christianity — More than two centuries have passed since Catholicism was introduced in Korea. Over a century has passed since the introduction of Protestantism. Membership in the Protestant denomination has grown to over ten million in that period. By taking into consideration the unique history of Christianity in Korea, this volume looks into the development and the rapid growth of the Christian Church in Korea compared to those neighbouring countries which share a similar Confucian cultural background. In addition, this text explores whether there have been any modifications to the Christian theology within the Korean historical and cultural context.

Korea and Christianity

Buddhism in Koryo — In this volume, we catch glimpses of Buddhism in the Koryo period at its height. It was a time when the religion made significant contributions to the development of Korean culture. Korea was recognized as one of the great centers of Buddhist life in East Asia. Koryo Buddhism was in many ways a royal religion.

Buddhism in Koryo

Founding of Catholic Tradition in Korea — The Catholic Church in Korea has a history spanning more than 200 years. The role it has played in Korea is unique in that many initiatives have come from the laity, rather than from clergy or the church administration. After a prolonged period of cultural conflict, according to a recent census, the number of Catholics has grown to 8% of the total population. Believers in the early period suffered persecution comparable to that experienced in Rome, but they persevered, and now the Korean membership is one of the largest in the world. It is a bit odd, then, to find such a paucity of English-language materials dealing with the realities of the Church’s mission in Korea. This volume brings together translations of several articles, which together cover many of the most significant aspects of Korean Catholic history.

The Founding of Catholic Tradition of Korea

Buddhism in the Early Choson — As a practice community, Buddhism attracted individuals with a great variety of backgrounds. There was little power or financial resources available to the Buddhists and most monasteries were struggling concerns. Nevertheless, out of this community, so despised and persecuted by the governing officials, came a succession of religious leaders, recognized and honoured for their practice. In a sense, Choson Buddhists discovered the old Indian formula for life's torment. They found that the 'ascetic solution' was available and effective. Like their founder, they had to turn away the palace and in a place of austerity and concentrated meditation, find their destiny. Choson Buddhism had a dark side to its history. Often unrecorded in the official documents of the time, the development of the religion continued. There is a need to look more carefully at the story of the meditation masters of this period. From their isolation and humble positions in a society dominated by Confucian elites, these master have left a tradition of practice and teaching which survives to this day. They deserve to have some recognition. The idea that Choson Buddhism was only a declining tradition, fading away to oblivion, needs to balanced by an objective exploration of the strengths of the tradition.

Buddhism in the Early Choson

Assimilation of Buddhism in Korea — The unified Silla dynasty period (669-935AD) that followed the Three Kingdom period in Korea was a time when Buddhism was being assimilated into the Korean culture and taking on certain aspects not borrowed from China. Buddhist specialists will be interested to see the ways in which the various schools were being adopted and changed in this time period. During the Silla dynasty, the Buddhism which had been introduced to Korea from China, was being assimilated in the culture of the peninsula. Given generous support from the court and officials of the nation, Buddhism attracted thousands of monks and nuns for the order. This Buddhist community began to interpret Buddhism within the Korean society and in the process became less dependent on missionaries from the Buddhist strongholds to the West. In the process of assimilation, the Koreans adapted much of their own ways of thinking to fit more closely the teachings of Buddhism and at the same time created a form of Buddhism which was unique.

Assimilation of Buddhism in Korea