This thesis is written to study the "Propriety Thought" of Jang-Saeng Kim(1548 ̄1631), one of the most famous scholars in the area of Korean propriety. It reviews the basis of the thought contained in the formalities related to the propriety describe...
This thesis is written to study the "Propriety Thought" of Jang-Saeng Kim(1548 ̄1631), one of the most famous scholars in the area of Korean propriety. It reviews the basis of the thought contained in the formalities related to the propriety describedin the "Wedding Ceremony" section of the "Garhe-Gypram", one of the most famous books written by Jang-Saeng Kim.
The main reason why "Garhe-Gypram" was chosen as the object of the study is because Jang-Saeng Kim has established the framework of numerous theories related to the Korean propriety and also made great impact in the field. Therefore, studying his "Propriety Thought" is like making a shortcut to understand the profound meaning of Korean propriety ceremonies.
"Garhe-Gypram" was particularly chosen among many propriety books written by Jang-Saeng Kim because in "Garhe-Gypram" he analyzed Korean propriety based on Confucianism theory. In addition to revealing the basis of the thought related to the propriety process, it also presents the theoretical framework that can make one closely feel the propriety thought by going through the process of performing the propriety steps. At the time, this framework became a yardstick for consciously performing the propriety steps, as it revived the meaning of the thought. Therefore, a thorough analysis on "Garhe-Gypram" has important value if one intends to make a study on the basis of the propriety thought and detailed steps of performing the propriety, as this thesis seeks.
For this purpose, this thesis reviewed the characteristics of religiousness versus morality, unchangeability versus changeability and inheritance of family tradition versus social realization of morality.
First, religious characteristics of the wedding ceremony can be observed from the traditional reporting ceremony to ancestors of the marriage held in the place where spirits of ancestors are gathered. This act is an important process of the wedding ceremony and implies the religiousness of holding a ceremony to pray to the god as well as to the ancestors. Showing respect to propriety is the same as respecting the god. As the belief, that the fundamentals of propriety lie in god, has developed into humanism by the Confucius, people started to realize that fundamentals of propriety lie not only in god but also in self-awareness or in judgement of value. Humanism is based on benignancy, faith and propriety. Propriety is acting with benignancy and faith. In other words, wedding ceremony contains the sacred nature of religion that serves the god and ancestors. At the same time, the righteousness of god is contained in the mind of human and it forms the core of human ethics.
The second topic of this study is on the issue of unchangeability versus changeability. Jang-Saeng Kim conducted a comparative study of past propriety thoughts in order to establish the propriety thought that is most suited for at the times. This can be defined as the most typical assertion of Jang-Saeng Kim
on the issue of unchangeability versus changeability. The fundamental principle of propriety is the righteousness of the god, and all the ceremonies related to propriety are forms of the acts that humans perform based on the righteousness of the god. Therefore, wedding ceremony is a process of announcing the marriage, that contains the meanings of both the unchangeability of performing the righteousness of the god and the changeability of ceremonial processes.
The third topic is on the inheritance of family tradition through marriage and on the social realization of morality. Through marriage, the order of family is established and consequently becomes ground stones of a family tradition. Eventually this family tradition develops the order of the whole society. Respect for the family and ancestors will make one to respect his or her own family tree, and it will eventually evolve into the love for the country and other people.
In addition, marriage contains the spirit of benignancy of truly respecting life as life is extended through marriage in the form of succession of generation.
In conclusion, marriage starts from the order and peace on a personal level and expands into a level of the whole mankind, meaning that morality is realized throughout the society by means of marriage.
The objective of this thesis is to present the theoretical grounds of Jang-Saeng Kim's assertion on the changeability of propriety thought by linking traditional wedding ceremony of Korea to changes of the times in the modern society.