反思韩国儒家文化的当代表现

Reflection on Confucian Culture and Contemporary Korean Society

受中国文化的影响和自身选择及发展之需,韩国形成了一个比中国还要典型的儒家文化社会。从20世纪60年代开始,韩国加快了现代化进程,在政治、经济、文化等方面取得了较大进步,这其中必然有儒家思想的积极因素在起作用。但韩国对儒家思想从来没有彻底予以反思。从古至今,韩国社会不仅注重形式和拘泥于名分,而且受儒家观念影响强化了韩国人的家国意识和集体意识,过分强调血缘、地缘、学缘,极度强化男尊女卑的理念等等。这些因素都不利于当代多元化社会的健康发展,并成为韩国进入名副其实的先进国家的障碍。最近,中国社会出现了儒家文化复兴热潮,对于这种儒学热,我们应该理性看待,要吸取历史的教训,有选择地继承。

Because of Chinese cultural influences and Korea＇s own choices regarding its development, a Confucian society has developed in Korea that is even more typical of Confucianism than what currently exists in China. Since the 1960s Korea has been modernizing itself at an accelerated pace, resulting in a number of differences from China with respect to Confucianism and its effects on the country＇s economy and culture. It is obvious that Confucianism has many positive aspects, but unfortunately Korea has had few opportunities to properly reflect upon Confucianism. From ancient times, Korea has attached importance to not only formalities and a rigid adherence to social status, but also to the strengthening of the Korean ideals of family, nation, and community by stressing the concepts of Confucianism. This Korean style of Confucianism values blood, local geographical, and school relationships too strongly, and what is more, it reinforces the idea that males are more valuable to society than females. These elements are not at all conductive to contemporary pluralistic society＇s sound development; but instead, they may form a biggest hindrance on Korea＇s path to becoming a veritable advanced society. Recently China has witnessed a marked revival of strong and powerful Confucian culture. Facing such ＂Confucius mania＂ in the current technology-driven 21st century, we should approach such movements rationally while learning lessons from history. This attitude may enable us to selectively adopt those beliefs that are best suited to a modern society.