[KS] Korea's Confucian Tradition

[Michael Robinson]

This "invention" debate might be overly focused on the definition of
invention.  For all of its faults and ambigulities, the concept was pushed
forward in the Hobsbawm book in close proximity to Anderson's "imagined
community".  With the simultaneous emergence of interest in the constructed
nature of modern statist nationalisms it just took off.  Keith is right,
however, I've never seen anyone try to narrow the meaning or critique its
broad and often rather ham fisted use.  But then nobody ever accused our
cultural studies colleagues of precision.

Mike R.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Koen De Ceuster" <koen.de.ceuster at pandora.be>
To: <Koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws>
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 5:44 AM
Subject: RE: [KS] Korea's Confucian Tradition


> Sure, I am obviously not contesting the existence of a Confucian tradition
> in Korea. At the same time, I do not want to stick too rigidly to
Hobsbawm's
> definition: some (modern) traditions are plainly invented, many also have
> antecedents. What I am interested in, is how these antecedents are
> reinterpreted to suit contemporary demands. You use the word
'translation.'
> Well, that is indeed what I was thinking of. Following all the critique in
> late 19th C Korea on Confucian traditions, some form of 'translation' must
> have taken place in order for it to regain some standing. So, in that
sense
> I am following Hobsbawm in as far as indeed this tradition is
> (re-)'invented' in the process of modernization.
>
> But we may be talking about two different things here: the residue of
> Confucian traditions in Korean societies, and the discourse on Korea's
> Confucian tradition. They are altogether two different things.
>
> Koen
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Koreanstudies-admin at koreaweb.ws
> [mailto:Koreanstudies-admin at koreaweb.ws]  On Behalf Of Frank Hoffmann
> Sent: dinsdag 11 februari 2003 10:55
> To: Koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws
> Subject: RE: [KS] Korea's Confucian Tradition
>
> >... would it be
> >a non-starter to begin our investigation into Korea's Confucian tradition
> >with the statement that it is an invented tradition?
>
> E.g., is the group morning exercise an invented
> Confucian tradition, or is it just the translation of Confucian
> family values to an industrialized Asian society?  In other words, we
> do have to consider that indeed there are Confucian traditions and
> value systems that have formed Korea.
>
> Frank
>
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