Philosophical Joy of Korea, Jeong, in a Comparative Perspective

This article explores the philosophical implications of “Jeong,” a concept cluster that represents the emotions of Koreans today. “Jeong” originated from the Chinese character 情, but after going through a long and persistent debate on emotions in Joseon Confucianism and riding through the conceptual history of the modern period when Eastern and Western cultures clashed and merged, thereby establishing itself as a core notion representing the basis of Korean minds. 
Since its meaning has evolved between the waves of Eastern and Western cultures, to gauge the context and semantic nuances of “Jeong”, I first examine the philosophical discussed in ancient Greek and Chinese traditions from a comparative philosophical perspective. Then, I will argue that “Jeong” is a philosophical joy that reflects and encompasses other emotional keywords that express emotions in Korean culture and arts, such as the two aesthetic emotions in a dynamic relationship, joy (heung) and sorrow (han).