Stages of Human Development and Education in the Choson Dynasty
Jeom Sook Rew
Abstract
This documentary study explored the stages of human development and education in the Choson Dynasty with the use of "Non Eu, Ye Gi, So Hak, Tae Gyo Sin Gi, and Dong Yi Bo Gam. The findings were compared with Western writings of a comparable period. It was found that education in the Choson Dynasty was largely concerned with mental attitude and conduct in ordinary life (education for manners and living). Education claimed to stand for unity of knowledge and behavior. It was founded on a Confucian view of education with a saint as the ideal model to be emulated. In the early years, home influence was emphasized. This was later replaced by institutional education. Additional education frequently extended to ten years and even forty or more years for the development of leaders. Based on the above findings. It was concluded that (1) the Western stages of human development exemplified by the Puritans and by Rousseau were concerned only with progressive changes from the postnatal stage to adolescence but the stages or the Choson Dynasty applied to the entire life span, from prenatal life through old age: (2) the developmental stages of males and females were defined differently as a result of differences in educational contents and sex-role distinctions: (3) life span educational objectives were Confucian and the preparatory stages were long coming to fruition in late senescence: and (4) although education was centered on manners and based on Confucianism, much of human development in the Choson Dynasty corresponds to that of modern times.
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