This study aimed to analyze the learning experiences of Crown Prince Sohyeon of the Joseon Dynasty, as documented in Sohyeon-Donggung-Ilgi(The Diary of Crown Prince Sohyeon), from an educational psychological perspective. By interpreting this pre-mode...
This study aimed to analyze the learning experiences of Crown Prince Sohyeon of the Joseon Dynasty, as documented in Sohyeon-Donggung-Ilgi(The Diary of Crown Prince Sohyeon), from an educational psychological perspective. By interpreting this pre-modern educational case through the lens of contemporary educational psychology, the study sought to bridge historical educational practices with modern theoretical frameworks. While most existing research in educational psychology has focused on contemporary cases, few studies have examined historical documents through this lens. Accordingly, this study applied educational psychological analysis to Sohyeon-Donggung-Ilgi, focusing on learning motivation, teacher-student relationships, and the interaction between learners and their educational environments.
The theoretical framework included self-determination theory to examine learning motivation; Bowlby’s attachment theory and Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development to explore teacher-student relationships; and Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to analyze the interaction between the learner and the educational environment. The analysis was based on a comprehensive review of the different formats of Sohyeon- Donggung-Ilgi, from which passages related to the Crown Prince’s learning and psychological development were selected. As the diary offers a detailed account of his daily life and educational experiences from his investiture to his death, it served as a valuable source for educational psychological analysis.
The findings revealed three key aspects. First, Crown Prince Sohyeon’s learning motivation gradually shifted from extrinsic to intrinsic. Initially, he responded to praise, reprimands, and external expectations. Over time, however, he developed a self-directed goal of embodying the ideals of a Confucian ruler, which strengthened his sense of autonomy and led him to find meaning and satisfaction in the learning process itself. Notably, extrinsic and intrinsic motivations were not strictly separated but existed along a continuum, reflecting a gradual internalization of external motivations. This progression supported the continuity model of self-determination theory.
Second, the relationship between the Crown Prince and his teachers, including officials of the Seja-Sigangwon(Royal Lecturers’ Office), was built on deep emotional attachment and trust. This relationship provided both emotional support and instructional guidance appropriate to his developmental stage. The teachers adjusted instructional content according to his progress and guided him toward self-directed learning by offering appropriate discipline and encouraging reflective thinking, rather than providing unconditional acceptance.
Third, the Crown Prince’s educational environment was shaped not only by physical conditions but also by sociocultural factors such as war, political captivity, and epidemics. These factors interacted dynamically with the learner. He actively sought to improve the structure and conditions of his learning spaces and demonstrated a strong will to continue studying despite external disruptions. His psychological responses to crises—including emotional distress and recovery—reflected a dynamic mental state that could be interpreted through the lens of resilience.
Through this analysis, Sohyeon-Donggung-Ilgi emerges not merely as a historical record but as a vivid case of pre-modern education, where complex interactions occurred among learners, teachers, and their environments. The learning experiences of Crown Prince Sohyeon demonstrated that even in pre-modern society, learners were not passive recipients of knowledge. Rather, they actively regulated their motivation, built emotional stability through relationships, and engaged with their environments as autonomous agents. This educational psychological analysis opens new interpretive possibilities for understanding historical educational contexts and offers meaningful insights for reflecting on the direction of contemporary education.
Keywords: Sohyeon Crown Prince, Sohyeon-Donggung-Ilgi, The Diary of Crown Prince Sohyeon, learning motivation, self-determination theory, teacher-student relationship, attachment theory, zone of proximal development, educational environment, ecological systems theory