Scientific and Social Research Research Article Back to the Roots and Create New Prospects, Creating a New Era of Cultural Cooperation between China and South Korea Li Li Kunsan National University, South Korea Abstract: Back to the roots and creating new is used in Sino-Korean cultural cooperation, which prospects refers to the ideological theme of modern means returning to the historical origin of Sino- New Confucianism. "Back to the roots (fǎnběn)" Korean culture and creating a new era of cooperation refers to inheriting the Confucian orthodoxy based on cultural heritage and cultural identity. and promoting the Confucian teachings of inner sagehood; "creating new prospects (kāixīn)" refers 1 Getting to the Roots and Tracing the to the creation of a "new outer kingliness (xīn wài Origins, Sorting Out the Historical Origins wáng)", that is, creating a new teaching of science of Chinese and Korean Cultures and democracy. That is, to return to the origin of traditional culture and develop new prospects on the 1.1 The Historical Influences of the "Chinese Character Cultural Sphere" basis of cultural heritage. Civilization exchanges and mutual learning are important driving forces for the China and South Korea co-exist in the same region of advancement of human civilization and the peaceful East Asia, and a special and close cultural relationship development of the world. China and South Korea was born and developed in ancient times. Chinese are located next to each other and have historical characters have three elements, namely the form, and cultural ties since antiquity. Back to the roots pronunciation, and meaning, with the uniqueness and create new prospects, promoting deeper cultural of the character’s form dictating its meaning. exchanges and cooperation between South Korea and Chinese characters facilitate the exchange of ideas China will benefit the two countries and the world. between different languages, so they were spread to surrounding areas and adopted very early. As early Publication date: December, 2020 as the Han Dynasty of China, Chinese characters had Publication online: 31 December, 2020 * become a tool for people on the Korean Peninsula to Corresponding author: Li Li, [email protected] express their ideas and record their language. From Back to the roots and creating new prospects refers to the 7th century, there was the so-called “official’s the ideological theme of modern New Confucianism. reading (idu, 이두)”, which used the pronunciation "Back to the roots (fǎnběn)" refers to inheriting the of Chinese characters to express Korean particles Confucian orthodoxy and promoting the Confucian and auxiliary verbs that were sandwiched in between teachings of inner sagehood; "creating new prospects Chinese texts as a tool to help reading Chinese (kāixīn)" refers to the creation of a "new outer documents. Although Chinese characters have been kingliness (xīn wài wáng)", that is, creating a new completely replaced by Hangul (Korean phonetic teaching of science and democracy[1]. That is, to alphabets) in Korean texts nowadays, the use of return to the origin of traditional culture and develop Chinese characters for two thousand years has left a new prospects on the basis of cultural heritage. rich cultural heritage. It is said that there are nearly Returning to the roots and creating new prospects 70% of Chinese loan words in modern Korean Distributed under creative commons license 4.0 Volume 2; Issue 3 137 language. By the Tang Dynasty in China 1400 years Second World War, ritual ceremonies representing ago, the cultural relations of the countries in East Asia Eastern Confucian culture are still popular. Kyun that adopted the Chinese characters had developed to Kwan Seokjeon Daeje Ceremony (Confucius a new stage. The "Chinese character cultural sphere" Worshipping Ceremony) was designated by the has a profound influence in East Asian countries[2]. In Korean government as the No. 85 Important National his book "History of Goryeo: Criminal Law History", Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1986. The strong Jeong Linji, a historian during the Sejong era of the Confucian atmosphere in the Korean society is Joseon Dynasty, said that the ordinance system of reflected in every aspects of daily life. The Confucian the Goryeo Dynasty was mostly imitated from the culture and aesthetics are embodied in traditional Tang Dynasty. As for the criminal law, it was also Hanbok dress. South Korea’s 1,000-yuan banknote customized based on the Tang law[3]. is printed with the South Korean scholar Yi Toegye; 1.2 The Spread and Influences of Chinese Civilization and the 5,000-yuan banknote is printed with the with Confucianism as the Main Body Fused with South Korean scholar Yi Yulgok. This shows the Buddhism and Taoism lofty status of Confucianism in the minds of Koreans. The respect for the elderly, the thirst for education, "Confucianism is the mainstream thought of the and the emphasis on ritual ceremonies, Confucian Chinese culture, and it is also a universal human teachings and behavioral norms are internalized into values culture. As the mainstream thought in China, daily habits of the Koreans. it has nurtured China's ancient civilization that is different from the West. As a universal human 2 Back to the Roots and Create New Prospects, values culture, it has formed a unique East Asian Creating a New Era of Cultural Cooperation Confucianism Cultural Sphere". Confucianism had between China and South Korea spread since the Three Kingdoms era in Korea, and it had spread along with other civilizations in China. 2.1 Building a Sino-Korean Regional Community Especially in 1392, with the establishment of the or Sino-Korean Cultural Community Joseon Dynasty, the philosophy of Confucianism China and South Korea are close to each other, shared became the foundation of state governance; in the era the same writing system and are people of the same of King Sejong, the cultural relic system was rectified kind. In the face of opportunities and challenges, and the basic framework of Confucian society experts and scholars from China and South Korea was constructed, and the Joseon Dynasty became put forward proposals for jointly building a regional a country of Confucianism. Famous Confucian community of shared future or cultural community. scholars in Korea include Yi Hwang (Toegye) After sorting out the historical development of and Yi I (Yulgok), both of whom were famous for Northeast Asia, Confucianism and Buddhism are the their participation in the neo-Confucian debates on most qualified cultural background and philosophical "Four Ends and Seven Emotions". Their disciples foundation of this community. The Confucian thought or descendants were all intellectuals of the Joseon of "harmony" is very instructive. Not only that, the Dynasty. Until the end of the Joseon Dynasty in 1910, ideal that is revered in Confucianism is "Tian Xia Confucianism has been leading the conceptions of (the world)", that is, the idea of "taking China as one the society. Since then, Confucianism and Confucian person and the world as one family", which aims to culture still influence Korean society and families. build a harmonious and orderly world with a "world The same is also true for Buddhism. After the Goryeo view" that transcends a single country and single Dynasty, the foundation and spirit of Buddhism have [4] race. Some of the core values of Confucianism, been inherited and improved in many ways . such as benevolence, neutrality, "the benevolent Korea is one of the countries in the Confucian loves others", and "treating others as you want to cultural sphere that retains the Confucian traditions be treated", have positive practical significance for most intact. Even in the highly modern Korean international relations, regional cooperation and society, Confucianism still maintains a strong vitality. societal bonds in the world today[5]. China and South Although many lifestyles and ways of thinking in Korea should carry out extensive cooperation to Korea have gradually become Westernized after the creatively transform and develop these Confucian 138 Distributed under creative commons license 4.0 Volume 2; Issue 3 values, and further develop them in the new era; and historical resources of ancient Shuyuan/Seowon at the same time, learn from each other, promote the culture. In 2019, 9 educational facilities that led harmonious building of East Asian civilization in the the promotion of Confucianism during the Joseon new era, and contribute Asian wisdom and strengths Dynasty in Korea were selected as "Seowon, Korean to the progress of the world civilization. Neo-Confucian Academies" UNESCO World Cultural The author believes that the Shuyuan (traditional Heritage, these 9 academies are the Sosu-seowon in academy, Korean: Seowon) is a carrier for the Yeongju, Oksan-seowon in Gyeongju, Dosa-seowon inheritance and innovative development of in Andong, Byeongsan-seowon in Andong, Dodong- Confucianism. Shuyuan is an important form of seowon in Dalseong, Namgye-seowon in Hamyang, educational organization in the history of ancient Museong-seowon in Jeongeup, Piram-seowon Chinese education and academy. It is usually in Jangseong, and Donam-seowon in Nonsan[8]. established by the private sector as a place for They were all private institutions that spread neo- teachers and friends to gather, give lectures, carry out Confucianism and educate Confucian students. academic discussions, honing morality, inherit and In Chinese history, China has four famous practice culture, and nurture talents. In China, there Shuyuan, namely Yuelu Shuyuan, Bailudong have been many Shuyuan such as "Zhu Si Xingtan" in Shuyuan, Songyang Shuyuan and Yingtian Shuyuan. the Spring and Autumn era, "Yuelu" and "Songyang" Among them, Bailudong Shuyuan, as a part of in the Tang and Song Dynasties. The Shuyuan system "Lushan National Park", was successfully selected sprouted in the Tang Dynasty, perfected in the Song as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 1996; Dynasty, and was abolished in the Qing Dynasty.