A Korean Confucian's advice on how to be moral Tasan Chŏng Yagyong's reading of the Zhongyong / translated, annotated, and with an introduction by Don Baker.
| Author/creator | Chŏng, Yag-yong |
| Other author | Baker, Don, 1945- |
| Format | Electronic |
| Publication Info | Honolulu : University of Hawaiʻi Press, 2023. |
| Description | 1 online resource |
| Supplemental Content | Full text available from eBooks on EBSCOhost |
| Subjects |
| Series | Korean classics library: philosophy and religion Korean classics library. Philosophy and religion. ^A1144832 |
| Contents | Tasan Chŏng Yagyong and the Zhongyong -- Why Translate this particular Zhongyong Commentary? -- Tasan's Approach to Confucian Scholarship -- Tasan's Approach to the Cultivation of Composure and a Selfless Orientation -- Tasan and the Problem of Moral Frailty -- Reading these Discussions of the Zhongyong -- Notes on the translation of key terms -- Translation - Chungyong ch'aek (Responding to royal inquiries regarding the Zhongyong) -- Translation - Chungyong kangŭibo (A Discussion of the Meaning of the Zhongyong, Revised). |
| Abstract | "Tasan Chong Yagyong (1762-1836) is one of the most creative thinkers Korea has ever produced, one of the country's first Christians, and a leading scholar in Confucian philosophy. Born in a staunchly Neo-Confucian society, in his early twenties he encountered writings by Catholic missionaries in China and was fascinated. However, when he later learned that the Catholic Church condemned the Confucian practice of placing a spirit tablet on a family altar to honor past generations, he left the small Catholic community he had helped found and ostensibly returned to the Neo-Confucian fold. Nevertheless, the Christian ideas he studied in his youth influenced his thinking for the rest of his life, stimulating him to look at Neo-Confucianism with a critical eye and suggest new solutions to problems Confucian scholars had been addressing for centuries. A Korean Confucian's Advice on How to Be Moral is an annotated translation of Tasan's commentaries on the Confucian classic Zhongyong (usually translated as The Doctrine of the Mean) in which he applies both Confucianism and Christianity to the question of how to best develop a moral character. Written as a dialogue with King Chongjo, (r. 1776-1800) these texts reveal how Tasan interpreted his Confucian tradition, particularly its understanding of how human beings could cultivate morality, while the king's questions illustrate the mainstream Neo-Confucianism Tasan was reacting against. Tasan challenged the non-theistic standard, insisting that living a moral life is not easy and that we need to be motivated to exert the effort necessary to overcome our selfish tendencies. He had abandoned his faith by the time he wrote these commentaries but, influenced by Catholic works and determined to find a more effective way to live a moral life than non-theistic Neo-Confucianism provided, Tasan constructed a Confucian philosophy of moral improvement centered on belief in God. This translation, helpfully annotated for context and analysis, is an exploration of early Korean engagement with the West and a powerful guide to all those interested in Confucianism, Christianity, and morality"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Source of description | Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed. |
| Issued in other form | Print version: Chŏng, Yag-yong, 1762-1836. Korean Confucian's advice on how to be moral Honolulu : University of Hawaiʻi Press, 2023 9780824893620 |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2022043562 |
| ISBN | 9780824894368 (kindle edition) |
| ISBN | 9780824894344 (pdf) |
| ISBN | 9780824894351 (epub) |
| ISBN | (hardback) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |