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.
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.