A Korean Confucian Way of Life and Thought: The Chasŏngnok (Record of Self-Reflection) by Yi Hwang (T’oegye) (Korean Classics Library: Philosophy and Religion)

Yi Hwang (1501-1570)--best known by his literary name, T'oegye--is one of the most eminent thinkers in the history of East Asian philosophy and religion. His Chasŏngnok (Record of self-reflection) is a superb Korean Neo-Confucian text: an eloquent collection of twenty-two scholarly letters and four essays written to his close disciples and junior colleagues. These were carefully selected by T'oegye himself after self-reflecting (chasŏng) on his practice of personal cultivation. The Chasŏngnok continuously guided T'oegye and inspired others on the true Confucian way (including leading Neo-Confucians in Tokugawa Japan) while it criticized Buddhism and Daoism. Its philosophical merit rivals T'oegye's monumental Sŏnghak sipto (Ten diagrams on sage learning) and "Four-Seven Debate Letters"; however, as a testament of T'oegye's character, scholarship, and teaching, the Chasŏngnok is of greater interest. The work engages with his holistic knowledge and experience of self-cultivation by articulating textual and historical material on various key doctrines and ideas. It is an inspiring practical guide that reveals the depth of T'oegye's learning and spirituality. The present volume offers a fully annotated translation of the Chasŏngnok. Following a groundbreaking discussion of T'oegye's life and ideas according to the Chasŏngnok and his other major writings, it presents the core of his thought in six interrelated sections: "Philosophy of Principle," "Human Nature and Emotions," "Against Buddhism and Daoism," "True Learning," "Self-Cultivation," and "Reverence and Spiritual Cultivation." The bibliography offers a current catalogue of primary sources and modern works in Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and English. As the first comprehensive study of the Chasŏngnok, this book is a welcome addition to current literature on Korean classics and East Asian philosophy and religion. By presenting T'oegye's thought-provoking contributions, it sheds new light on the vitality of Confucian wisdom, thereby affording scholars and students with an excellent primary source for East Asian studies in general and Confucian studies in particular. Translator's Introduction -- Translation : The Chasŏngnok (record Of Self-reflection) -- Notes. By Yi Hwang (t'oegye) ; Translated, Annotated, And With An Introduction By Edward Y.j. Chung. The Chasŏngnok (record Of Self-reflection) Is A Special Record (rok Or Nok; Collection) Of Twenty-two Philosophical And Scholarly Letters Written By Yi T'oegye (1501-1570), A Leading Thinker And Scholar In The Korean Tradition Of Neo-confucianism ... The Letters ... Were Carefully Selected By T'oegye Himself After Practicing 'self-reflection' (chasŏng) On His Understanding And Experience Of Confucian Learning And Self-cultivation. T'oegye Wrote These Major Letters, Many Of Which Are Quite Lengthy, During His Fifties, Until Around The Year 1560. They Are Addresses To His Six Close Disciples And Three Junior Colleagues, One Of Whom Was Yi Yulgok, Who Himself Became A Famous Neo-confucian Thinker In Korea--page 1. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 235-243) And Index. Contents 7 Preface 9 Acknowledgments 11 A Note on Transliteration, Citation, and Translation Style 13 Abbreviations 19 I. Translator’s Introduction 21 II. Translation. The Chasŏngnok 69 Notes 169 Glossary of Key Terms, Titles, and Names 251 Bibliography 257 Index 267 About the Translator 279 Offers a fully annotated translation of Yi Hwang’s (also known as T'oegye, 1501-1570) Chas?ngnok. Following a groundbreaking discussion of T'oegye's life and ideas according to the Chas?ngnok and his other major writings, it presents the core of his thought in six interrelated sections.