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@article{ART002316104},
author={JONG-HO CHUN},
title={On Voltaire’s documents about Korea},
journal={Korean Review of French History},
issn={1229-702X},
year={2018},
number={38},
pages={163-205},
doi={10.51786/RCHF.2018.02.38.163}

TY - JOUR
AU - JONG-HO CHUN
TI - On Voltaire’s documents about Korea
JO - Korean Review of French History
PY - 2018
VL - null
IS - 38
PB - KOREAN SOCIETY FOR FRENCH HISTORY
SP - 163
EP - 205
SN - 1229-702X
AB - Voltaire was one of the few European authors in the eighteenth century who dealt with Korea in his works. In this paper, we propose to study, through the analysis of all of Voltaire’s texts, in which works this author mentions Korea and how this country is represented there. Then we will try to find the sources of Voltaire about Korea. As a historian, and not only as a thinker, Voltaire speaks of Korea in these historical and philosophical works. Even if it is done very briefly, he use sit to justify his ideas on “universal history”, that is, to demonstrate the cultural diversity of the world. Thus, Korea is a country located at the end of the world while being a country with a very old culture. There is a kind of cultural affinity between Korea and China. However, Voltaire is cautious about dealing with his country in his entire system of “world history”, and he does not treat it in its own right, because the documents concerning Korea are not enough. On the other hand, in his theatrical play, The Orphan of China, Voltaire treats the image of Korea with a certain audacity. Thus, Voltaire gives the Koreans the role of “savior” who defend China against the barbarism of the Mongols. Here, Koreans are described as generous and courageous beings especially as “saviors” of Chinese civilization. So what is Voltaire’s source about Korea? We can see that these are documents of a Jesuit missionary, Jean-Baptiste Régis who influenced Voltaire. The Jesuits’ positive thoughts about Korea are reflected in one of the greatest representatives of the Enlightenment philosophers.
KW - Voltaire;Corée;Jean-Baptiste Régis;Jésuite;Description de l’Empire de la Chine
DO - 10.51786/RCHF.2018.02.38.163
ER -

JONG-HO CHUN. (2018). On Voltaire’s documents about Korea. Korean Review of French History, 38, 163-205.

JONG-HO CHUN. 2018, "On Voltaire’s documents about Korea", Korean Review of French History, no.38, pp.163-205. Available from: doi:10.51786/RCHF.2018.02.38.163

JONG-HO CHUN "On Voltaire’s documents about Korea" Korean Review of French History 38 pp.163-205 (2018) : 163.

JONG-HO CHUN. On Voltaire’s documents about Korea. 2018; 38 : 163-205. Available from: doi:10.51786/RCHF.2018.02.38.163

JONG-HO CHUN. "On Voltaire’s documents about Korea" Korean Review of French History no.38(2018) : 163-205.doi: 10.51786/RCHF.2018.02.38.163

JONG-HO CHUN. On Voltaire’s documents about Korea. Korean Review of French History, 38, 163-205. doi: 10.51786/RCHF.2018.02.38.163

JONG-HO CHUN. On Voltaire’s documents about Korea. Korean Review of French History. 2018; 38 163-205. doi: 10.51786/RCHF.2018.02.38.163

JONG-HO CHUN. On Voltaire’s documents about Korea. 2018; 38 : 163-205. Available from: doi:10.51786/RCHF.2018.02.38.163

JONG-HO CHUN. "On Voltaire’s documents about Korea" Korean Review of French History no.38(2018) : 163-205.doi: 10.51786/RCHF.2018.02.38.163