Sourcebook of Korean Civilization, Vol. 1: From Early Times to the Sixteenth Century (Introduction to Asian Civilizations)

This anthology is the most ambitious, comprehensive, and authoritative English-language sourcebook of Korean civilization ever assembled. Encompassing social intellectual, religious, and literary traditions from ancient times through World War II, this collection reveals the grand corpus of thought, beliefs, and customs unique to the Korean people. Volume I features three major periods of Korean history: the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla (57 B.C.--935), Koryo (918--1392), and Early Choson (1392-1600). Each section begins with a broad historical introduction to provide context and perspective, and contains representative writings from the era, with commentary, background, and analysis. Contents Preface Explanatory Note Contributors Part One. Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla 1 Origins of Korean Culture The Foundation Myth Tangun Korea in the Chinese Dynastic Histories Yü Huan: Ancient Korea and Yen Accounts of Chosön* Accounts of the Eastern Barbarians Founders of Tribal Federations The Lay of King Tongmyöng King Onjo of Paekche Pak Hyökköse, the Founder of Silla King T’arhae of Silla 2 The Rise of the Three Kingdoms Development of the Three Kingdoms Ülchi Mundök King Chinhüng’s Monument at Maun Pass Development of Agriculture Record of Repair of Luxuriant Dike in Yöngch’ön Political Thought Ü1 P’aso Ch’ang Chori Kim Hujik’s Admonition of King Chinp’yöng Tribal Councils Four Sacred Places (Silla) Administration Rock (Paekche) King Namhae Social Structure King Hüngdök’s Edict on Clothing, Carts, and Housing Sol Kyedu 3 Ancient Customs and Religion Ancient Customs King Sansang: The Levirate Custom Ondal: Hunting Expedition on the Third Day of the Third Month The Festival of Kawi Crow Taboo Day Lord Ch’adük: Attendance of a Local Official at Court Kim Yusin: Worship of the Three Guardian Spirits Peach Blossom Girl, Guardian of the Gate Tower The Introduction of Buddhism Uiyön’s Research into a History of Buddhism P’ayak and T’ien-t’ai Kyornik and the Disciplinary School Hyöngwang and the Lotus Scripture Ado’s Arrival in Silla Pöpkong Declares Buddhism the National Faith Wöngwang Goes to China for Study Chajang Establishes the Monk’s Discipline The Nine-Story Stupa Maitreya and Esoteric Buddhism Maitreya’s Incarnation as a Hwarang Myöngnang, Founder of the Divine Seal School Rapprochement Between Buddhism and Shamanism Holy Mother of Mount Fairy Peach The Bodhisattva Sound Observer on Mount Nak Fifty Thousand Dharma Bodies on Mount Odae Origins of the Hwarang Knight Chukchi Kwanch’ang Kim Hümun 4 Consolidation of the State Unification of the Three Kingdoms Account of the Silla-T’ang War The Life of Kim Yusin Confucian Political Thought Posthumous Epithet for King Muyöl King Munmu’s Edict Concerning the Investiture of An Süng King Sinmun’s Proclamation of His Accession Confucian Learning The National Academy Chinese Learning and the Growth of the Educated Class The Tombstone of King Muryöng Record of an Oath Made in the Year Imsin Kangsu Sol Ch’ong Nokchin Ch’oe Ch’iwön Record of the Manjusrï Stupa at Haein Monastery Taoism Yön Kaesomun (Koguryö) Podök (Koguryö) Inscription on a Monument to Sat’aek Chijök (Paekche) Inscription on an Image at Kamsan Monastery (Silla) 5 The Rise of Buddhism Wönhyo’s Buddhist Philosophy The Life of Wönhyo: Tsan-ning’s Account The Life of Wönhyo: Iryön’s Account Commentary on the Awakening of Faith Uisang and the Flower Garland School The Life of Üisang Diagram of the Dharmadhätu According to the One Vehicle [From Taishö Tripifaka 45:711a] Vow Made at the White Lotus Enlightenment Site Fa-tsang s Letter to Uisang Wönch’ük and the Consciousness-Only School Sung Fu: Memorial Inscription to Wönch’ük Wönch’ük: Commentary on the Explanation of Profound The Life of Sungyöng The Life of T’aehyön Belief in the Pure Land Monks Hyesuk and Hyegong Ungmyön Kwangdök Divination Ceremonies Chinp’yo Copying Scriptures 6 Poetry and Song Master Yungch’ön: “Song of the Comet” Master Ch’ungdam: “Statesmanship” and “Ode to Knight Kip’a” Master Wölmyöng: “Song of Tusita Heaven” and “Requiem” An Old Man: “Dedication” An Old Man: “Dedication” Great Master Kyunyö: Eleven Poems on the Ten Vows of the Universally Worthy Bodhisattva [From Kyunyö chön 7, in Korean Tripitaka 47:2600-26ib] 7 Local Clans and the Rise of the Meditation School The Rise of Local Chiefs Chang Pogo Establishment of the Meditation School The Life of Musang The Life of Toüi Toüi: Questions and Answers with Chief of Clerics Chiwön Muyöm: Treatise on the Tongueless Realm The Life of Sunji Summary of Sunji’s Teachings The Life of Pömil Geomancy Ch’oe Yuch’öng: Stele Inscription at Jade Dragon Monastery Part Two. Koryo Introduction 8 Early Koryo Political Structure Founding of the Kingdom Wang Kön: Enthronement Proclamation Formation of Government Decree on Institutional Reform Wang Kön: Edict at Yesan-jin Wang Kön: Ten Injunctions The Foundation Legend of Koryö Expansion of Confucian Polity I Ch’oe Süngno: On the First Five Reigns Ch’oe Süngno: On Current Affairs Ch’oe Süngno: On Buddhism Expansion of Confucian Polity II Yi Chehyön: The Etiquette of Privy Council Meetings King Hyönjong: Six Instructions to Magistrates King Mokchong: Edict on Coinage Koryö’s Foreign Relations So Hüi: Arguments on War Im On: Memorial on Victory at Yöngju Kim Puüi: Relations with Chin Memorial on Relations with Sung 9 Koryö Society The Confucian Scholar Ch’oe Ch’ung’s Academy Ch’oe Cha: Teachers and Disciples Yi Illo: The Four Treasures of the Studio Life of the Aristocrat The Splendors of the Yi Clan of Kyöngwön The Decadence of Yi Chagyöm and Kim Tonjung Courting of Royal Favor by Palace Attendants The Scholar and Buddhism Kim Puch’öl: The Disciplined Life of Yi Chahyön Hall of Helping People The Family King Söngjong: Rescript on Filial Piety Ch’oe Nubaek: Tomb Inscription of Yöm Kyöngae Social Change Queen Changhwa and the Dynastic Founder The Career of An Hyang The Career of Chöng Kasin Hsü Ching: The Life of the People Peasants and Slaves The Burden of Corvée Labor Inheritance of Slave Status Social Mobility of Slaves 10 Military Rule and Late Koryo Reform Establishment of Military Rule The 1170 Military Coup The Struggle Between the Ch’oe Brothers Ch’oe Ch’unghön: The Ten Injunctions Establishment of the Personnel Authority Personal Security Force Private Armies The Estates of Kim Injun Civilians Under Military Rule Yi Chehyön: Education Under Military Rule Yi Kyubo: Eulogy on O Sejae, a Wasted Talent Yi Kyubo and Impromptu Poems Peasant and Slave Unrest The Slave Leader Mangi’s Protest Manjök’s Slave Rebellion Relations with the Mongols Evacuation of the Capital Resistance to the Mongol Invasion Slave Armies and Mixed Special Patrol Troops Rebellion of the Special Patrol Troops Yi Changyong’s Defense of Koryö Yi Chehyön: Opposition to Yüan Policies King Kongmin’s Appeal to Yüan Proclamation on Liao-Shen Late Koryö Reforms The Reforms of King Kongmin and Sin Ton Yi Chehyön: Reform Proposals Yi Saek: Memorial on Current Affairs Pak Ch’o: Anti-Buddhist Memorial Chöng Tojön: Discourse on Buddhist Transmigration Chöng Tojön: Discourse on Buddhism and Confucianism 11 Buddhism: The Ch’ont’ae and Chogye Schools Buddhism in Early Koryö Monk Yiöm and King T’aejo Teachings of Great Master Kyunyö Uich’on: Eulogy to Great Master Wönhyo Uich’ön: Instruction to the Disciple Ch’isu Buddhism and Koryö Society Ch’oe Chean: On Endowing a Buddhist Monastery Landholdings of T’ongdo Monastery The Monk Irom Igüm, the Self-Proclaimed Maitreya Resurgence of Buddhism Yi Kyubo: On a Trip to Ch’angbok Monastery Clash Between Monks and Military Rulers Im Ch’un: Renovation of Sorim Monastery Essay on Sabul Mountain Chinul: The Compact of the Samädhi and Prajnä Community Chinul and the Chogye School Chinul: Straight Talk on the True Mind Chinul: Secrets on Cultivating the Mind Hyesim: Letter in Reply to Ch’oe Hongyun Publication of the Tripitaka Üich’ön: Preface to a New Catalog of the Teachings of All the Schools Kojong’s Rescript to Ch’oe Hang Yi Kyubo: Royal Prayer on the Occasion of the Production of the Tripitaka 12 Popular Beliefs and Confucianists Native Beliefs Yi Chibaek: Memorial on Territorial Integrity King Uijong: Rescript on Native Traditions Practitioners of Native Traditions Geomancy King T’aejo’s Reliance on Buddhism King T’aejo and Confucian Advice Kim Wije: On the Selection of a Site for the Capital Monk Myoch’öng’s Use of Geomancy Im Wan: Memorial on Calamities Taoism and Shamanism Hsü Ching: History of Koryö Taoism An Hyang and the Shamans The Popularity of Shaman Customs Enfeoffment of the Kümsöng Mountain Deity Yi Yöng’s Corpse Unusual Dreams and Strange Effects Neo-Confucianism An Hyang: The Introduction of Neo-Confucianism The Spread of Neo-Confucianism Chong Mongju and the Development of Neo-Confucianism Chöng Tojön: Philosophical Rebuttal of Buddhism and Taoism [From Sambong chip io:5b-9a] Kwön Kim: Nature and Principle Metaphysics History Kim Pusik: On Presenting the Historical Record of the Three Kingdoms to the King Paek Munbo: Explanation of Tangun’s Significance Part Three. Early Choson Introduction 13 Founding the Choson Dynasty King T’aejo: Founding Edict Admonition to the New King Moving to the New Capital 14 Political Thought in Early Chosön Ruling the New Dynasty Cho Chun: On T’aejo’s Accession to the Throne Kwön Kün: On Royal Action New Government Chöng Tojön: On Rectifying the Throne Chöng Tojön: On the Prime Minister Chöng Tojön: On Censors and Inspectors The Kingly Way Yang Söngji: Discussion on the Kingly Way The Way of Principle Cho Kwangjo: On Problems of the Time Cho Kwangjo: On the Superior Man and the Inferior Man On Sage Learning Yi Hwang: Memorial on Six Points Yi I: Memorial in Ten Thousand Words 15 Culture Invention of the Korean Alphabet King Sejong: Preface to Hunmin chongüm Chong Inji: Postscript to Hunmin chöngüm Ch’oe Malli: Opposition to the Korean Alphabet Education and Scholarship Chöng Tojön: Establishment of Schools National Academy White Cloud Grotto Academy Office of Special Advisers The Recruitment Examinations Song Hyön: On the Civil Service Examination Yu Hüich’un: Diary of an Examiner Compilation of History Chong Inji: Dedication of the Koryö sa Yi Kükton: Preface to the Tongguk t’onggam Printing Books Song Hyön: On Printing On the Typecasting Foundry Pyön Kyeryang: Postscript to the Typecasting Science and Technology The Automatic Striking Clepsydra Kim Ton: Instruments to Measure Days and Nights King Sejong and Scientific Instruments Invention and Use of Rain Gauges Measuring the Amount of Rainfall Regulations for Gauging Rainfall Compilation of Medical Books 16 Social Life Confucian Protests Against Buddhism Yun Hoe: On the Harmfulness of Buddhism Sin Ch’öjung: On the Deceitfulness of Buddhism The Role of Rites Song Hyön; The Fundamental Role of Rites Funerary and Ancestral Rites Yi Chi: On the Establishment of Domestic Shrines Reform of Funerary Practices The Position of Women On Differentiating Between Main Wife and Concubine On Treating the Main Wife Ch’oe Hang: On Remedying the Wedding Rite Prohibition Against Remarriage of Women Ö Sukkwön: Critique of Discrimination Against Secondary Sons Propagation of Confucian Values So Köjöng: Preface to the Genealogy of the Andong Kwön Sin Sukchu: “House Rules” 17 Economy The Land System Chöng Tojön: On Land Promotion of Agriculture King Sejong: Edict for the Promotion of Agriculture King Munjong: Edict on Irrigation Works Wealth and Commerce Kim Sisüp: On Producing Wealth Yi I: On Economy Yu Paeksun: On Commerce Circulation of Currency Precious Metals Development of Rural Markets 18 Thought Kwön Kün (1352-1409) Diagrammatic Treatises: Explanation of the First Diagram [From Iphak tosöl i:ib-2a] Diagrammatic Treatises: Life After Death? So Kyöngdök (1489-1546) The Theory of the Great Void Discussion on Life and Death, Ghosts and Spirits Third Letter to Manggidang Yi Hwang (1501-1570) Twelve-Paragraph Letter The Four-Seven Debate Ki Taesimg: Response to the Sixth Paragraph Yi Hwang’s Response: Items of Partial Disagreement Yi Hwang’s Response: Items of Complete Disagreement Ki Taesüng’s Response Letter to Song Hon 19 Buddhism Treatise on Manifesting Righteousness Kim Sisüp (1435-1493) On No-Thought Pou (1515-1565) On Oneness and Correctness Hyujöng (1520-1604) Mirror for Meditation Students Secrets of Meditation and Doctrine Notes 4. D. C. Lau, p. 68. Glossary Bibliography Index The first of a two-volume sourcebook of the Korean civilization, which emcompasses social, intellectual and religious traditions from Neolithic times to the present day. It focuses on the following dynasties: Three Kingdoms, Koryo, Early Choson, Late Choson and Modern.