November 8, 2005

This conference explored Neo-Confucianism as a political ideology and tool of governance in three East Asian traditions through the visions of major Neo-Confucian thinkers. Over 45 teachers from the greater New York area were enrolled. The conference got underway with two presentations by Gari Ledyard, King Sejong Professor Emertius of Korean Studies, Columbia University: "The Search for a Perfect Society in East Asia" and "Several Confucian Personalities from China, Korea and Japan." As an expert on East Asian cultures, Ledyard shed light on the origins of Confucianism in China followed by its spread to Korea and Japan, and the divergent development and impact of Confucian thought on these three East Asian societies today. These presentations were followed by a screening of the movie Ssibaji (translated into English as The Surrogate Womb). Hyangsoon Yi, an assistant professor of comparative literature from the University of Georgia, discussed the themes of this movie and related them to the impact of the Confucian heritage in Korea. In a critical vein, the movie explores the alleged secret practice among aristocratic Korean families during the Choson period of relying on surrogate mothers to ensure continuity in the male descent line. Whether or not the practice was commonly in use, the movie does serve to highlight the enormous importance of patrilineal descent in the Confucian ethos of late traditional Korea and the suspicions that sometimes surrounded compliance with this norm. The conference ended with concluding remarks by Donald P. Gregg, president and chairman of The Korea Society, who discussed the current political climate in Northeast Asia and the importance of cultural understanding among Americans as a critical means of strengthening ties with this region of the world.