Transcript Traditional Religious Culture in Korea

Confucian Culture in
Contemporary Korean
Context
By James T. Bretzke, S.J.
University of San Francisco
Korean TaeGukGi (Flag)
Religious Aspects of Korean
Culture
Shamanism (ancient to today)
Buddhism (c. 9th century onwards)
Confucianism (13th century onwards)
Christianity (18th century onwards)
“New” Religions (e.g., Chon-do-kyo)
National Success as Religious Pride
“Four Pillars” (Sa-Chu) Café:
If you know the Four Pillars
you can see the future
“Philosophy” House
Buddhist Bell: Ring Out Truth
This is NOT a Buddhist Monk!
Mandate of Heaven Tien Ming
The Proper Tao or “Way”
Cultivation of Moral Knowledge &
Virtue (Personal/Public)
Prince/Superior Person Or
Paradigmatic Individual
Chun-tzu (Chinese) or Gun-Cha (Korean)
Reform of Society Beginning with
Moral Cultivation of the Individual
Rectification
Of Names
2 Core Confucian Virtues
Benevolence
Proper Ritual Etiquette
Careful State Ritual
1st Relation: Justice & Loyalty
Scholar as Public Servant
Ministers as Meritocracy
Ch’ung (Loyalty) Chong (Justice) Sa (Temple)
Keeping the Law; Real Service
2nd Relation: Filial Piety
Respect of Elders & Teachers
New Year’s Ritual Bow Called the Sae-bae
3rd Relation: Reciprocity &
Distinction of Duties and Roles
Campus Barbers Serve Sincerely
4th Relation: Propriety
Keep Propriety Citizenry
New Propriety, New Life, New Korea
5th Relation: Faithfulness
Chingu: Old Friends
Respect for The Ancestors
Ancestor Ritual Celebration
Family Chae-Sa or Ancestor Rite
Chusok: Korean Thanksgiving
Buddhist Altar
Moral Slogans as Public Virtue
Right Sacrifice, Right Driving, At Every Intersection Smiles Bloom
Now We Have to Recycle
Let’s Protect Nature!
Moral Exhortation
Let’s Live Correctly
Virtue Has Its Own Rewards
Calligraphy for Meditation
Universities as Guardians of Public Virtue and Justice
Obey Truth: Motto of Sogang Jesuit University in Seoul
In the 21st Century Too: Forward Thinking Sogang U.
100 Day Prayer Cycle for Successful University Admission
Entrance Exam 100 Day
Prayers
Student Protest for Justice
Democracy Wall At Sogang
Let’s Overthrow the Dictator Kim Dae Jung!
Oppose the American Military
Suicide as Political Protest
A Divided Korea
Work For Korean Reunification
Reunification Blooms
Dae-Han Min-Guk Man-Sae!
Let Korea Prosper For Ten Thousand Years!