• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.67-82
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• 2001

This paper serves to analyze discourses on concubine at the beginning of the modernization era or during the enlightenment period of Korea. For this analysis, the estimated time frame of the enlightenment period will be from 1860 through the time when Korea was annexed into Japan, which was in 1910. The discourses appeared in newspapers and Shinsoseol which are the text of this study have been analyzed with the qualitative research technique. The major conclusions that are derived from the study are as follows: First, intellectuals during enlightenment period of Korea, criticizing concubinage, tired to establish the monogamous relationship and they argued that it should be the prior condition for Korea to enter into the civilized society. Second, the concubinage was criticized in the point of the newly established view. The criticism was on double sex ethics, applying different ethical standards to men and women and the prohibition of wifes jealousy of concubine. Third, intellectuals during enlightenment period of Korea were tried to do away with concubinage by enforcing the discrimination between wife and concubine. But the efforts resulted in making concubinage personal problems. Also consciousness based confucian ethics including female virtues was forced to be followed in ordinary affairs while concubinage was criticized in the point of the view of western ethics based consciousness. The huge differences between two ethics consciousness resulted in serious conflicts in family.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.54
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• pp.185-220
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• 2017

This study analyzes the behavior of China in the international context of East Asia based on the in-depth understanding of Confucian Sino-centrism. The rise of China is a dream to be realized for Chinese while actually it is regarded as new threats for the neighboring countries. It is therefore no surprise that the neighboring countries that once subordinated themselves to China voluntarily feel threatened by the resurrection of China. The reason is that China is pursuing hegemony based on China's stronger power rather than seeking culture and morality as they did in the past. The new hegemonic pattern seems not to contribute to the China's profit, only to increase the tension among North East Asia. That's because the neighboring countries are active in expanding military expenses with strengthening ties with the US. In this context, is it possible that China can rise gently without threatening the neighbors? There must be a way. It is that China will be born as a superpower with Confucian morality as the way the Confucian Sino-centrism is intended. When the neighboring countries are impressed by the way the China treats them with moral virtues, the leadership of China will be strengthened of itself. It is the most desirable way of realizing the dream of China.

• (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
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• no.41
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• pp.333-359
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• 2010

Both in the East and the West, the most classical question in classical political philosophy was 'what is truly a human virtue and a good life?' 'Human virtue' and 'Good life', and 'good State' are thus essentially tied together. Platon And Confucianism. We began with Platon and Confucianism's definitions of human virtue & good life, and 'good State'. This Essay attempts to systematically approach to what Confucianism thinks as a human virtue and a good life in contrast with Platon. Confucius asserted that the most humane human life is a civilized life and it means to realize the value of 'benevolence as a human virtue. 'Mencius also concurred that Confucius's explication of the good life was right. Moreover, he argued that to realize this, political practice should follow. Mencius discussed about 'Four Virtues', the essential goodness of human, confirmed by 'Four Clues (四端)' to talk about the possibility of realizing the good life and a good state. On the other hand, he devised Politics of benevolence.)' as a practical tool for it. An classica eastern philosophy(platon and confucianism) consider a human beings as human relationship. Confucianism believe in reality of the human mind & it's nature. Confucian human mind & it's nature is comprised of benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom. Confucianism proposed that we have to approach to other man as benevolence.

• (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
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• no.37
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• pp.441-471
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• 2009

Both in the East and the West, the most classical question in political philosophy was 'what is truly a good life?' 'Good life' and 'good politics' are thus essentially tied together. Mencius (孟子, B.C385-303/302) was not exception to this belief. It is not an exaggeration that his Mencius, the treatise that encapsulates his whole views, begins and ends with good life and good politics. He began with new definitions of good life and politics and the rest elaborates why they are so. This paper attempts to systematically approach to what Mencius thinks as a good life in terms of political thoughts. Confucius, his intellectual mentor, asserted that the most humane human life is a civilized life and it means to realize the value of 'Yin (仁: Grace)' and thus set his good life from previous ones. Mencius concurred that Confucius's explication of the good life was right. Moreover, he argued that to realize this, political practice should follow. The 'good life' for Mencius consists of 1) the life in which the ruler does not monopolize joy but shares it with people, that is '$Y{\breve{o}}mindongrak$(與民同樂)' or '$Y{\breve{o}}minhaerak$(與民偕樂)' and 2) the life, based on this political foundation, that pursues the life of 'Five Ethics (五倫)' in which each individual member of society has its share in it. Mencius discussed about 'Four Virtues (四德)', the essential goodness of human, confirmed by 'Four Clues (四端)' to talk about the possibility of realizing the good life. On the other hand, he devised the political device of '$YinJ{\breve{o}}ng$ (仁政: Gracious Politics)' as a practical tool for it. Furthermore, he asserted 'Good people theory (養民論)' as the first condition for the good politics, '$YinJ{\breve{o}}ng$' and 'Education of people theory (敎民論)' as the final one. As Mencius inherited Confucius effort for a good life with the theory of '$YinJ{\breve{o}}ng$', the so-called Zhuxi scholars inherited his as 'Sugichiin (修己治人: cultivate yourself and then order society)' after 1500.