Attached Paper

An Ecofeminist Extension of Gyeong/Jing (敬) in Confucian Contemplation via Donghak’s Samgyeong/Sanjing (三敬) to Heaven, Humanity, and Nature

Description for Program Unit Review (maximum 1000 words)

This paper examines the significance of ‘gyeong/jing 敬’, or reverence, as an essential virtue within the Confucian tradition. In the rigidly hierarchical class system of the Joseon dynasty (1392 – 1897) and even in contemporary Korean neo-Confucian society, the understanding of reverence has frequently been compromised, legitimizing the authority of the upper class while marginalizing the voices and experiences of lower classes, women, children, and non-human entities. This study posits that reverence must be reciprocal to realize its true relational meanings and ethical values, suggesting that gyeong/jing 敬 should transcend gender, class, and race distinctions, fostering a broader ecological interdependence between humanity and the natural world. By analyzing the core tenets of Donghak (19th-century indigenous philosophical movement in Korea)’s three reverence concepts—reverence towards heaven (gyeong-cheon 敬天), humanity (gyeong-in 敬人), and the myriad things (gyeong-mool 敬物)—this paper argues that a holistic understanding of reverence can empower individuals to cultivate their heart-mind, recognize others as deserving of reverence akin to hanul (the divine or cheon/tian 天), and ultimately develop profound respect for all entities of nature, including the marginalized and overlooked. This perspective aligns with the vision of Hae-Wol, the second leader of Donghak, who framed ‘samgyeong 三敬’ as a theo-anthropo-cosmology characterized by attentiveness and care towards all forms of life as hanul (the divine). Thus, this paper is structured to address the following themes: 1) The meaning and function of gyeong/jing 敬 in Confucian contemplation, 2) A comprehensive analysis of gyeong/jing 敬 as a Confucian virtue, 3) The influence of Confucian principles as illustrated in Donghak’s cosmology, and 4) The ecofeminist implications of an extended gyeong/jing 敬 that fosters a more equitable and interconnected worldview, wherein the entirety of the cosmos is revered as the contemplating other.

Abstract for Online Program Book (maximum 150 words)

This paper examines the significance of ‘gyeong/jing 敬’, or reverence, as an essential virtue within the Confucian tradition. In the rigidly hierarchical class system of the Joseon dynasty (1392 – 1897) and even in contemporary Korean neo-Confucian society, the understanding of reverence has frequently been compromised, legitimizing the authority of the upper class while marginalizing the voices and experiences of lower classes, women, children, and non-human entities. This study posits that reverence must be reciprocal to realize its true relational meanings and ethical values, suggesting that gyeong/jing 敬 should transcend gender, class, and race distinctions, fostering a broader ecological interdependence between humanity and the natural world.