The Academy of East Asian Studies in Sungkyunkwan University aims to focus on East Asia as a methodological approach, rather than simply treating the region as a topic of research. In order to clarify the meaning of East Asia as method I would like to discuss some examples in this preface. In approaching East Asia as a method the following two points should be kept in mind. First, the issues examined within the framework of the new East Asian studies should have a universal meaning going beyond the confines of East Asia. Second, the new approach should be informed by a critical reassessment of the conventional framework of East Asian studies. The first and foremost task in approaching East Asia as method is to conduct a fundamental review of the conventional binary division of world history into modern and pre-modern. In East Asian studies, it has been a convention to take the mid-nineteenth century as the dividing point between the two eras. Many recent studies on East Asia have revealed that too many subjects on East Asian history and society cannot be appropriately understood by applying the modern versus pre-modern scheme. Another serious problem caused by the dichotomy of pre-modern and modern is that it has created partitions not only in the fields of research but also more generally in the system of learning and knowledge. The book is composed of four sections. The first section, Questions for East Asian Intellectual History includes discussions on the methodology for studying East Asia. The second section, The Reinterpretation of Confucian Culture includes discussions on the problem of what conception of Confucian learning is indispensable for understanding East Asia. The third section, Rule and Historical Consciousness brings to light a wealth of literary sources and their usage in ruling the people in East Asian history. The last section, Memories and Narratives includes discussions on perceptions and representations of East Asia and Korea seen in literary works and narratives. Needless to say, the originality of individual articles lies with each individual author, yet the collection also reflects the success of fruitful academic debates conducted at the Academy of East Asian Studies. We are looking forward to comments and criticism from interested readers.

How Shall We Study East Asia?

History

Hiroshi Miyajima

Walraven Boudewijin

Asia

Jimoondang

Koguryo Tomb Murals in the East Asian Funerary Art

Ah-Rim Park

Saam Five Element Acupuncture

Sanghoon Lee

Suk-Kyun Hahn

The Domestic Polictics of Korean Unification: Debates on the Nrth in the South, 1948-2008

Hakjoon Kim

The Korea Culture Research Institute (KCRI) at Ewha Womans University is proud to announce the publication of Ewha's Korea Studies Series for Globalization, a comprehensive set of textbooks on Korean language, culture, history and arts that can deliver academic, yet realistic information about Korea to domestic and foreign college level students in and out of Korea, as well as Koreans living abroad. Understanding Contemporary Korean Culture, Ewha's Korea Studies Series for Globalization 2 explores the cultural phenomena in Korea that have resulted from dramatic economic growth and rapid change in society over a short period of time. This book covers various aspects of Korean culture including Korea's daily culture by focusing on food, clothing and shelter, the characteristics of the modern Korean family and the status of women, the religious pluralism of Korea, Korea's 20th Century Popular Culture originating from the Korean Wave Hallyu, and the current situation of divided Korea. Chapter 1 Korea's Everyday Culture takes a look at Bibimbap, Kimchi and the 'Mash-up' Culture, the coexistence of traditional house Hanok villages and modern apartment complexes, modernization of the time-honored garment Hanbok, and Korea's unique 'We-ism' in the internet age. Chapter 2 Characteristics of Modern Korean Family and the Status of Women analyzes a family cycle transition based on marriage and childbearing, and presents both optimistic and pessimistic views with regard to the changing status of women. Chapter 3 Understanding Korean Religion explores the intriguing situation of Korea, in which various religions ranging from shamanism and Buddhism to Confucianism and Christianity coexist in peace, while at the same time eastern Buddhism and western Christianity are competing against each other. Chapter 4 Understanding Korea's 20th Century Popular Culture examines Korean pop culture against the backdrop of gradual changes in society over time, starting from the times of freedom and chaos in the 1950s, through the 1960-70s when economic development was in full force, continuing through the 1980s which witnessed the emergence of a resistant culture as well as the rise of teenagers as new consumers, to the end of 1990s and 2000s when Korea became one of the major international cultural exporters with new digital generation and the Korea's Hallyu boom. Finally, Chapter 5 Cultural History of Division analyzes Korea's social reality through the eyes of Korean literature and popular songs, depicting the destruction of humanity induced by the Korean War and portraying the pain suffered by families separated due to war.

Understanding Contempoary Korean Culture (Ewha's Korean Studies for Globalization 2)

Politics & Social Sciences

Kim, Young Hoon

Choi Joon Sik

Hahm In Hee

Kim Mi Hyun

Lee Ki Sung

Social Sciences

As the world becomes smaller, overseas interest in Korean arts has been on the increase. Korean performing arts and the exhibition of Korea's artifacts have been actively introduced and promoted abroad. However, it is difficult to find overseas academic researchers who specialize in Korean arts and thus contribute to rapid progress in this area through in-depth studies. Overseas research on Korean arts, music and dance has primarily been conducted by Eastern art experts as a subsidiary part of their studies, not by Korean art specialists. Given the current situation in which few English references on Korean arts exist, the publication of a textbook on the art of Korea will assist overseas researchers in expanding their studies and taking more interest in this field. The textbook is equipped with a plethora of images, audio data, drawings and glossaries as well as text, offering basic and specific contents needed to present Korean arts. Understanding Korean Arts, Ewha's Korean Studies Series for Globalization 4 diachronically explores the arts of Korean seven chapters: Prehistoric Age; Three Kingdoms Period and Unified Silla; Goryeo Dynasty; Early Joseon Period; Late Joseon Period, and; Modern Era and Contemporary Period. Each chapter covers various art genres including fine arts, music and dance to help readers comprehend integrated characteristics of Korean arts and culture through history. It is particularly noteworthy that modern and contemporary art in Korea are discussed in this book, which have not been explored enough in other overseas publications on Korea.

Understanding Korea Art: From the Prehistoric through the Modern Day (Ewha's Korean Studies Series for Globalization 4)

Arts & Photography

Suri-pyo Hong

Nam-won Jang

Jin-kyeong Oh

Myung-sook Kim

Suk-hie Moon

History & Criticism

A complete understanding of Korea requires broad knowledge of Korea's history. There has been a sharp increase in the number of foreign researchers who take an interest in Korea and want to learn about Korea's history. Understanding Korean History, Ewha's Korean Studies Series for Globalization 3 is an introduction to the history of Korea for beginners written by Korea's prominent scholars. This book was written after ascertaining, through the KCRI's active exchange with major universities overseas, the level of background knowledge of prospective readers and their academic inquiry. Accordingly, by providing recent studies and varied views, this book will help readers to easily and systematically understand the development of Korea's history and gain overall knowledge about Korea's past and present. This introductory book also offers a great opportunity for its readers to take further interest in various aspects of Korea beyond its history.

Understanding Korean History (Ewha's Korean Studies Series for Globalization 3)

Okkyoung Baek

Won-Buddhism: The Birth of Korean Buddhism

Religion & Spirituality

Joon-sik Choi

Buddhism

Myeangsim Bogam: The Precious Mirror of Bright Mind has sold steadily in Korea for decades. 
With all the change that Korea has witnessed in the past century, what makes this one book such a successful seller over the years in Korea? Going back to the sixteenth century Korea has suffered from invasions by Japan and the Ching Chinese. These invasions influenced Korean leaders ideologically causing schisms and in-fighting within Korea itself. To recover from strife caused by foreign invaders and domestic political confusion average Koreans needed to regain their peaceful mind. 
Myeangsim Bogam emerged to provide relief from this strife and share universal wisdom to guide human relations and balance ones mind. Myeangsim Bogam does this by combining accepted Taoist ideas as well as Confucian manners in it. 
While originally published centuries ago, Myeangsim Bogam became especially endeared to Koreans and enjoyed a resurgence in publication in the modern age during the Japanese Occupation. Koreans have taken comfort from this book nowadays as well as the recent and ancient past. This book is as much beloved by Korean people today as it was in the past.

Myeangsim Bogam: The Precious Mirror of Bright Mind

Heejae Lee

Philosophy

The Kory sa ch ryo (Essentials of Kory History) is one of the most important historical records of the Kory kingdom (918-1392). Presented in 1452 and compiled under the leadership of Kim Chongs and 28 men, it appeared one year after the publication of the Kory sa (History of Kory ). Compressed to 35 books, this is an abridged version of the Kory sa. The Kory sa ch ryo offers a chronological presentation of the events of the Kory kingdom. As each year unfolds the Kory sa ch ryo captures the spirit and feeling of Kory , recording the triumphs and trials of the dynasty. This history describes the actions of the kings, the life of the court and its aristocrats, abbreviated biographies of noteworthy individuals, changes to Kory s social and political institutions, foreign contacts, as well as such natural events as floods, famines, and earthquakes. This volume covers the years from 1147 to 1259.

Koryosa Choryo II: Essentials of Koryo History

Edward J. Shultz

Hugh H. W. Kang

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