“Korean Philosophy: Sources and Interpretations”
Edited by Youn Sa-soon, translated by Sohn Yoo-taek
(Korea University Press)

“Korean Philosophy: Sources and Interpretations,” edited by professor Youn Sa-soon and translated into English by Sohn Yoo-taek, is a comprehensive, chronological outline of Korean traditional philosophy. Over 39 scholars of Korean and East Asian philosophy have participated, highlighting different theories from ancient to modern periods.

This book aims to reveal the originality of Korean philosophy and how it evolved independently from its neighboring countries. The writers have particularly focused on how traditional myths, Buddhism, Taoism, Neo-Confucianism and the Realist school of Confucianism all took on their own forms throughout Korean history, and strived to “withhold their own opinions so as to paint as objective and accurate as possible a picture of the unique aspects of Korean philosophy,” according to a statement by the Korea University Press, the book’s publisher.

The book is an amalgamation of research, categorized by ideology and time period. Key sources have been inserted into the writings to aid readers in their understanding. The Korean version of this book has long been used as a textbook for university-level philosophy courses. The English version, though translated somewhat abstrusely, aims to serve as a guide for international students seeking to gain an understanding of the uniqueness of Korean philosophy.

By Rumy Doo (bigbird@heraldcorp.com)