[KS] Kyujanggak colloquium: Political Economy of Cheju Shamanism (Yun Kyoim)

[서울대학교 국제한국학센터]

The Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies would like to invite you to the following presentation:

THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF CHEJU SHAMANISM DURING THE CHOSON DYNASTY: MAGISTRATE YI HYONGSANG'S DESTRUCTION OF SHAMANIC SHRINES
Presenter: Yun Kyoim (University of Kansas, Kyujanggak fellow 2009-2010)
Venue: Kyujanggak Insitute for Korean Studies, Seoul National University (Building 103, seminar room on the first floor)
Time: Thursday 27 May, 4-6 PM

For directions to the venue, see http://e-kyujanggak.snu.ac.kr/

Abstract:
In contrast to the Koryo dynasty, which fostered multiple religious traditions, the Choson dynasty is typically characterized as the darkest of ages for Korean shamanism. With the rise of Neo-Confucianism, Choson's scholar-officials suppressed shamanism and attempted to Confucianize shamanic rituals. Records show, however, that shamanism continued to be practiced by various groups of people throughout the Choson period, including members of the royal family and some scholar-officials. While most scholars have traced this tenacity of shamanism to religious or ideological reasons, such explanations overlook the importance of social, economic, and political structures that facilitated its popularity. This paper examines a particular historical event concerning the central government's administration of shamanic practices in a distant locality - magistrate Yi Hyongsang's destruction of 129 shamanic shrines on Cheju island in 1702 - paying close attention to the economic and political forces at play. 
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