[KS] Re: More on HKT

[Mickey Hong]

I should've specified "Korean Neo-Confucian society, that which was
hypocritical as any society then as now."  I'm sorry if you missed the
sarcasm.

Yes, character was supposed to be more important than one's birth but...I
think we're all aware of the actual practice that took place.  Confucianism is
a highly structured moral order & it believed in the mandate of Heaven.  Very
lofty--if only the Heaven ever actually struck dead someone unfit to rule.
Pls take this w/ a sense of humor.

Of course, in any "ideal" system, including modern democracy, one should be
evaluated upon one's own skill than connection yet this doesn't always work
out.  Sigh.

To just believe & to practice are 2 different things.  Ho^ Kyun did both--it's
what distinguishes him.  He explicitly expressed his beliefs in writing, not
only in _Hong KT ch^on_ but also in _Yujae ron_.  He had no qualms about being
friends w/ many so^ja.

Something really was rotten in the Kingdom of Choso^n when one realizes that a
genius (I also hate to use that word but...) like O^ Sukkw^on was only a minor
official b/c of his origin.

-Mickey Hong

Kirk Larsen wrote:

> A comment and a question motivated by this very interesting thread:
>
> Mickey Hong wrote:
>
> >His basic belief was that one should be recognized for his skill than his
> pedigree.
> >It's close to the basic idea of democracy (all men should be treated
> equal)...imagine
> >that in a Neo-Confucian society.
>
> Correct me if I err, but I thought the idea of meritocracy (e.g. that
> people should be recognized, recruited and promoted based on skill or
> virtue or character rather than blood) is as "Confucian" as it is
> "democratic." One of Confucius' key tenets is that the idea of the
> virtuous "Noble Man" (junzi) should replace the idea of the "Nobleman" who
> possessed a right to rule based only on his birth. This is one of the
> explicit purposes of the civil service exam system. Of course the reality
> has never lived up to this ideal in any "Confucian" society, Korea not
> excepted. Aristocrats seem to have always found ways to ensure success
> regardless of their "merit" however defined. That someone in 17th century
> Korea should believe in the idea of meritocracy doesn't seem too
> surprising to me.



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