CKS Colloquium Series 2007-08/Nam-lin Hur, Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia

A Style of Confucian Politics during the Reign of King Sonjo in Choson Korea

Confucianism is an intriguing institution-one that gave life to Choson Korea for more than five centuries on the one hand, but caused the state’s eventual collapse on the other. The dual faces of Confucianism were, of course, varied, depending on the operational equations of power of the time, but it remained firmly built into politics in Choson Korea.In this seminar, Professor Hur discusses how the dual faces of Confucian politics unfolded during the Imjin War by focusing on the political behavior and governing style of King Sonjo and his top court officials, who were all dragged into the game of politicking and being politicked for mutual survival.