Yéol Lecture 2014
“Engaging China and Discovering Korea’s True Strengths
The Philosophy of Park Jiwon”
Emanuel Pastreich
Director of The Asia Institute
11:30 AM on Monday, March 3.
Yéol, the Korean Heritage Preservation Society, is pleased to announce its 2014 English lecture series featuring distinguished scholars and experts in the fields of Korean art, culture and history. Since 2003, Yéol has aimed to appeal and inspire cultural enthusiasts, expatriates, as well as the general public so as to increase understanding of the Korean society and culture. Such efforts are a critical part of our foundation’s mission. This year lecture series consists of six lectures at the Seoul Museum of History and two walking lectures which offer customized guided tours of specific cultural sites or unique cultural and heritage experiences.
The Yéol Lecture welcome a diverse audience to our program in 2014. We are committed to a dialog with all individuals and groups drawn to Korea and its culture. Yéol will provide a light lunch (by reservation) for this event to encourage participation of the working professionals.
To attend, please RSVP with Choi, Hee-Hyeon atyeol400@daum.net or 010-4692-6851.
“Engaging China and Discovering Korea’s True Strengths-The Philosophy of Park Jiwon”
Monday, March 3.
“Engaging China and Discovering Korea’s True Strengths-The Philosophy of Park Jiwon” will be held onMonday, March 3.
The international community wrestles with a response to the increased cultural and economic influence of China in East Asia. Yet we can learn much from the insights of the Korean scholar and writer Park Jiwon who formulated a practical and thoughtful response to China in the 18th century that stressed an informed engagement. Park Jiwon also wrote about contemporary society and the gaps between social groups in an increasingly polarized society. His suggestions for how such issues can be addressed through cultural activities are as relevant today as they were when he wrote. Moreover, Park’s writing suggested a potential within the Confucian tradition for innovation that has often been overlooked by contemporary writers.
Park Jiwon was one of the most important intellectuals of the 18th century in Korea. But as he strove to transform the nation, he realized that he could not do so simply through policies or arguments to the government. He had to change people’s perceptions. His answer was a series of compelling novels that described for the first time the lives of ordinary people and drew attention to what was so extraordinary in their experiences. He made visible the world of beggars, farmers, con men, day laborers and widows. Those who had no voice in Joseon society suddenly had a chance to articulate their perspectives.
Emanuel Pastreich is director of the Asia Institute in Seoul and associate professor at the College International Studies of Kyung Hee University. Pastreich studied the classical literatures of China, Japan and Korea, producing two important books on Korean and Japanese classical novels. He has taken a strong interest on the writings of Park Jiwon over the last decade, translating ten of his novels into English.
Pastreich has a B.A. in Chinese literature from Yale University (1987), Master’s Degree in comparative culture from the University of Tokyo (1992) and a Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University (1997).
Directions
Venue
Education room (1st floor), Seoul Museum of History, Shinmunro
Time
Lecture : 11:30 A.M. to 13:00 P.M. (Mon)
Walking Lecture : 9:30 A.M.~12:00 P.M. (Sat)
Fee
10,000 won(Sandwiches and drinks are included.)
* Donation receipt can be issued.
Payment
KEB
a/c#631-000503-181 (YÉOL)
or at entrance
Language
All lectures and tours are conducted in English
Registration (highly recommended)
Send name and contact details to yeol400@daum.net for registration
Contact
Email: yeol400@daum.net
www.yeol.org
T: 82-2-735-5878, 82-2-736-5868 F: 82-2-736-5878
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