Confucianism
"Confucianism" is the modern term applied to the teachings of the Chinese philosopher known as "Kong Fu-zi" 孔夫子, whose name is Latinized in the West as "Confucius." It is not a religion in the traditional sense as there is no clear emphasis on deity worship (although ancestor veneration is encouraged), but a philosophy of moral and political ideals.
Details of Confucius's life and personality are constructed only through the Lunyu 論語, which contain Confucius's sayings to his disciples, and bits of pieces of information from histories and folk tradition. It is believed that he lived in the 6th to 5th centuires BCE, in the highly tumultuous Warring States Period of Chinese history, a time of intense competition between several powerful states. Confucius, an idealistic thinker apalled at the repressiveness and violence of his time, devised a philosophy that emphasized heavily on responsibile government, social relationships, and benevolence. Although Confucius stressed the concept of nobility of character rather than nobility of birth, Confucianism became a very aristocratic ideology that was used as a means to justify the social hierarchies and status quo of pre-industrial China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Confucianism in the Three Kingdoms
By the time Confucianism entered the Korean lands, it was already very much established in Chinese politics and culture. Hierarchies in the Han Dynasty as well as the succeeding dynasties was defined along Confucian lines. Confucian literature and ideology comprised of the basic curriculum for upper-class students who were prospective civil servants. These things were imported to the Korean kingdoms.
The Goguryeo kingdom first established the "Daehak" 대학, or "great learning," in 372 CE under the reign of King Sosurim 소수림왕 as an educational institution dedicated to training aristocratic youth in Confucian learning and the skills necessary for serving as an administrator in the developing bureaucratic system. Along with a state-sponsored educational institution, private schools of Confucian education called "gyeongdang"경당 were established not only in the capitals or major cities, but also in rural areas to help spread Confucian ideals as well as train students in archery.
Shortly after Goguryeo initiated its own Confucian-style educational system, the Baekje kingdom followed suit, setting up its own institutions. Details of Baekje's educational system are not well-known since many historical records cease to exist though bits and pieces in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean records refer to histories of the Baekje kingdom. However, the indication of a system of doctorate degrees in Baekje suggest that there was a sophisticated Confucian educational institute in existence. Due to its relations with Japan, Baekje exported Confucian learning to the Japanese islands.
Shilla was the last of the three kingdoms to officially adopt Confucianism as a political ideology for administrative practice, but the lateness in this adoption by no means mitigated the influence of Confucian ideals in Shillan politics and society. The morals espoused by Confucianism was a major part of the Hwarang code of ethics.
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