Korean Confucianism was introduced to the Gorguryeo kingdom. In the Gorguryeo kingdom, King Sejong established Confucianism. He created Gukjagam, the highest educational institution. At the end of the Gorguryeo kingdom, Jeong Dejeon and Gihwa, monk, changed Buddhism to Neo- Confucianism by a debate. The Gorguryeo kingdom fell and the Joseon kingdom took over. During the Joseon kingdom, Korean Confucian school were built, which has foreign scholars. The Confucian system collapsed during the fifth century of the Joseon dynasty.
Korean Confucianism emphasizes the significance of humanity. Korean Confucianism was used in Korean moral system, laws, and life. It was introduced by the Goryeo kingdom. The Goryeo kingdom was admired the Chinese culture and philosophy while using its own traditions. The Goryeo dynasty used ethics about Buddhism, but Wang Geon used ideas about Confucianism. Wang Geon's ideas were better and developed than the fourth and sixth king of the Goryeo dynasty. Gukjagam, a university, which is about Confucian classics, became the turning point of Chinese culture. Korean Confucianism was adopted by the Baekje kingdom and was accepted at a better level than others by the Silla kingdom. In the Joseon dynasty, people were encouraged by Confucian’s ideas and beliefs.
The five Confucian thinkers are Chong To- jon, Kwon Kun, Yi Hwang, Yi I, and Chong Yak- yong. Chong To- jon made another Choson Dynasty based on Neo- Confucianism. He said that li is a principle that is based on Confucianism and ki is a material force that is based on Taoism and the mind. Ki and the mind are based on li, a principle, so it can’t be a philosophy. Kwon Kun did the same thing as Chong To- jon by making the Choson Dynasty based on Neo- Confucianism. He brought classics to a great height by translating the “Four Books and Three Classics” to Neo- Confucianism. Kwon Kun made the basic concept of Neo- Confucianism and became a famous leader of the study of Confucianism. Yi Hwang made Neo- Confucianism reached a great height. Neo- Confucianism is called the “study of the Way.” Yi I was one of the two excellent masters of the study of Confucianism during the Choson Dynasty. He thinks that ki manifests and li is the one that is manifested. He emphasized that li and ki are always connected. Hos theory is that when ki (material force) becomes effective, li ascends it, so they can become connected. Chong Yak- yong is a Sirhak scholar. Sirhak is an ideology that represents a movement in the tradition. He has a theory about the life of people and the legal system. The five Confucian thinkers discussed things that defined Korean Confucianism.
Korean Buddhism was brought to the Gorguryeo kingdom by a monk named Sundo which came from China. He brought Chinese text and statues to the king of the Gorguryeo kingdom. In 384, a monk named Marananta arrived in the Baekje kingdom. He brought Buddhism to the king of the Baekje kingdom. In the 5th century, Buddhism arrived at the Silla kingdom. During the Silla kingdom, a king named King Chinhung became a monk. Later on, the king established new schools. In 918, Buddhism became the state religion in the Gorguryeo kingdom.
Korean Buddhism was not seen to disturb the act of nature worship, so it was allowed to blend in with Shamanism. Korean monks developed a new thing for Buddhism. Buddhism and Shamanism became Korean Buddhism, but the teachings of Buddha are still the same. After the World War I, the Seon school that was based on Buddhism gained acceptance. In South Korea, 23% of the people are Buddhists and in North Korea, 2% of the people are Buddhists.
Korean Buddhism came to the Goryeo Kingdom by a monk named Soondo. Three years after the second year of King Sosurim, two Buddhist temples were built. Those names are Seongmunsa and Ibullansa. The Buddhist temples led to the event of Buddhism becoming the main religion of the Goryeo kingdom. In P’yongyang, nine more Buddhists temples were built.
Korean Buddhism went to the Baekje kingdom in 384. The culture of the Baekje kingdom became based on Korean Buddhism. In the Baekje kingdom, ten citizens became monks. King Seong sent Buddhist items from the Baekje kingdom to Japan. Korean Buddhism influenced the people of Japan and became Japanese Buddhism in Japan. Korean Buddhism mixed with Shinto, a native religion, becoming Japanese Buddhism. King Seong passed a law saying that a commoner is allowed to become a monk.
Korean Buddhism arrived in the Silla Kingdom. It grew for about 250 years. Palgwanhoe, the Buddhist Festival of Eight Vows, was held throughout the country. Wang Geon wrote instructions about Buddhism, so it could guide his successors. He was served as an ideal model to support the monarch and main control. In the Joseon Dynasty, Korean Buddhism suffered a lot. During the Joseon Dynasty, Korean Buddhism was replaced as Neo- Confucianism. Korean Buddhism became stronger by the Japanese occupation after the Joseon Dynasty ended.
Korean Shamanism developed in the Silla kingdom and Gorguryeo kingdom. Shamanism is one of the most ancient religions in the world.
Korean Shamanism is closely related to series of worship that offers things to the gods of the heaven and it’s added with traditions about Buddhism. Shamanism is known as muism and shamans are known as mudang. Korean Shamanism was influenced by Buddhism and Taoism. Shamans solve human problems through meditation. To some people, shamans are known as magicians. Shamans healed people physically, spiritually, and psychologically.
There are two types of mudang. They are sessumu and kangshinmu. Sessumu are shamans that are found in South Korea. There are two types of sessumu. They are shimbang and tang’ol. Shimbang emphasize the significance of spirituality. The shimbang doesn’t have a shrine and it contacts the god instead of being possessed. Tang’ol is found in most of the southern part of the Korean peninsula. In each area, they perform different types of guts. In guts, tang’ol performs a song by dancing for one god or goddess. A tang’ol is like the shimbang because the tang’ol doesn’t have a shrine. Kangshinmu are shamans that are found throughout North Korea and South Korea, mostly in North Korea. The two types of kangshinmu are myongdu and mudang. Mudang is a shaman that is possessed by momju, a god. Myongdu received a spirit from a dead person. Those are the different types of mudang.
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