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The Development and Future Value of the Ideology of "Hyo" namely Filial Piety

  • Journal of Korean Hyo Studies
  • 2017, 0(26), pp.173-201
  • Publisher : The Korean Hyo Studies Association
  • Research Area : Humanities > Other Humanities
  • Published : December 31, 2017

Sang-Kwon Choi 1

1한국교원대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The most grave problem of today’s modern society is the loss of character in personal dimension, and the absence of moral ethics in social dimension. Even with the material abundance, we reached the state where mental abatement is untreatable. Therefore, Hyo Sasang (filial piety) can be suggested as an ideological alternative to overcome various problematic situation. Hyo expresses the meaning of filial duty with its literal meaning ‘children attend old parent’ and Hyo Sasang portrays children’s love to parents, in contrast of parent’s love to children and patriarchal lifestyle. Furthermore, it is a basic recognition of confucian tradition that the norm of family community can be developed into the norm of national community. Since all ethical concept is bilateral, filial piety can also be parent’s duty and applying ideological value of Hyo to people who already practiced Hyo can be valid perspective. The meaning of Hyo has been changed throughout the course of history. Hyo in ancient period represented ideological principle of ancestor worship and death under religious influence. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Hyo with Confucian tradition was combined with Buddhist ideology with the influence of Buddhism prosperity. Goryeo Dynasty maintained Hyo Sasang through national education and emphasized practice of proper manner as Hyo. The national authority of Joseon Dynasty put Hyo Sasang as one of the fundamental norms to lead the people and emphasized moral order based on the three bonds and the five moral rules in human relationships in Confucianism (Samgang-oryun). In the late 19th century in later phase of Joseon Dynasty, moral virtues became specialized into filial duty, loyalty and trust and each entity became recognized as independent values through the Enlightenment Thought. This Hyo Sasang can be mainly developed in the religious dimension and the social community dimension. Hyo in the religious dimension regards the ultimate existence of all creation as the rewards for parents in terms of religious aspect. Hyo in social community dimension works as the universal core value of social community by extending the love for parents to the love for the weak, thus constructing communal spirit. In order for Hyo virtue to have the universal legitimacy, unchanging fundamentals in this changing reality needs to be suggested and applied to the reality. Moreover, its various approach and concrete alternative need to be continuously studied by scholars.

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