| Abstract: | Despite the vast influence of “Chinese culture” on Korea, the Chosobreve]n dynasty (1392–1910) was a distinct cultural sphere governed by its own internal logic that centred on the aristocracy. Over the past twenty years, the importance of this fact has received emphasis in detailed studies by Deuchler (1992 Deuchler, Martina. 1992. The Confucian transformation of Korea: A study of society and ideology, Cambridge, MA and London: Council on East Asian Studies, Harvard University. Google Scholar]), Palais (1996 Palais, B. James. 1996. Confucian statecraft and Korean institutions: Yu Hyobreve]ngwobreve]n and the late Chobreve]son dynasty, Seattle and London: University of Washington Press. Google Scholar]) and Duncan (2000 Duncan, B. John. 2000. The origins of the Chosobreve]n dynasty, Seattle and London: University of Washington Press. Google Scholar]). The recent works by Hwang, Park and Kim that are the subject of this essay constitute a triptych of studies that further illuminate theimplications of social status in Chosobreve]n and show how South Korea's transformation over the past five decades represents a radical deviation from the defining characteristics of its Confucian past. |
