Sadaejuui Explained
| Sadaejuui |
| Hangul: | 사대주의 |
| Rr: | Sadaejuui |
| Mr: | Sataechuŭi |
Sadaejuui is a largely pejorative Korean term which evolved in the mid-20th century from a more widely used historical concept.[1]
The contemporary term sadaejuui was derived from the Chinese shi da (Korean, sadae) as used by the philosopher, Mencius.
Etymology
The term is a compound phrase. Sadae literally means "dealing with the great" [2] and can be interpreted as "Loving and admiring the great and powerful".[3] Juui means "ideology" and it is conventionally translated as "-ism."[4]
The term "sadaejuui" was invented by early 20th century Korean nationalists.[5] The antecedents of this modern term is the historic term "sadae" (Chinese: 事大), which comes from the word "Chinese: 以小事大" in Mencius's book, which means "service to the great by the small" or "a small kingdom accommodates a large."
- Mencius - Liang Hui Wang II
Overview
Sadaejuui conflates an attitude of subservience with the political realism which accompanies the prudent recognition of greater power.[1] Sadae describes a foreign policy characterized by the various ways a weaker nation-state such as Korea acknowledges the strength of a greater power such as China. Sadae is made manifest in the actions of the weaker nation-state as it conveys goodwill and respect through its envoys.
The utility of the sadae concept in Korea was recognized [6] [2] and demonstrated in the relationship of mid-Joseon Korea towards the Ming dynasty of China.[7] Joseon made every effort to maintain a friendly relationship with Beijing for reasons having to do with both realpolitik and an idealized Confucian worldview in which China is perceived as the center of a Confucian moral universe.[8]
The kingdom of Joseon accepted its place in a Sinocentristic world order.[9] The Joseon foreign policy was organized around maintaining stable Joseon–Chinese relations in the period from 1392 through 1910. It contrasts with limited trade relationships or kyorin diplomacy in regard to Joseon-Japanese relations in this period.[10]
The concept of sadaejuui was central in the writings of polemicist Shin Chaeho. His ideas and voice became prominent features of Korean nationalism.[11] Sin is known for having argued that the sadaejuui inherent in Confucian historiography served
- to devalue the ethnic origins of the Korean people and state [12]
- to subjugate Korean history within a Confucian interpretive framework [12]
See also
References
- Alford, C. Fred. (1999). Think no evil: Korean values in the age of globalization. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ; OCLC 247000674
- Armstrong, Charles K. (2007). The Koreas. London: CRC Press. ; ; OCLC 71808039
- Kang, Etsuko Hae-jin. (1997). Diplomacy and Ideology in Japanese-Korean Relations: from the Fifteenth to the Eighteenth Century. Basingstoke, Hampshire; Macmillan. ;
- Levinson, David and Karen Christensen. (2002). Encyclopedia of Modern Asia. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. ;
- Mansourov, Alexandre Y. "Will Flowers Bloom without Fragrance? Korean-Chinese Relations," Harvard Asia Quarterly (Spring 2009).
- Pratt, Keith L., Richard Rutt, and James Hoare. (1999). Korea: a historical and cultural dictionary, Richmond: Curzon Press. ; ; OCLC 245844259
- Robinson, Michael. (1984) "National Identity and the Thought of Sin Ch'ae-ho: Sadaejuüi and Chuch'e in History and Politics." Journal of Korean Studies 5: 121–142.
- Robinson, Michael. (1988). Cultural Nationalism in Colonial Korea, 1920–1925. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ; OCLC 18106164
- Michael J. Seth (2019). A Brief History of Korea: Isolation, War, Despotism, and Revival: The Fascinating Story of a Resilient but Divided People. https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/a-brief-history-of-korea-isolation-war-despotism-and-revival-the-fascinating-story-of-a-resilient-but-divided-people/
Notes and References
- Armstrong, Charles K. (2007).
- Pratt, Kieth L. et al. (1999). Korea: a historical and cultural dictionary, p. 384.
- Alford, C. Fred. (1999).
- Duchatel, Mathieu. Nationalisme et sentiment nationaliste en Corée (Nationalism and Nationalist Sentiment in Korea). IEP Paris, DEAA comparative des Aires Politiques, p. 4 n1.
- Mitchell, Anthony. "Happier Economy Better Than Larger Economy," Korea Times (Seoul). October 12, 2008.
- Michael J. Seth (2019). A Brief History of Korea: Isolation, War, Despotism, and Revival: The Fascinating Story of a Resilient but Divided People
- 구도영 (Koo Do-young). 중종대(中宗代) 사대인식(事大認識)의 변화 - 대례의(大禮議)에 대한 별행(別行) 파견 논의를 중심으로 ("Changes regarding ‘Perception of Sadae’(事大認識) that became apparent during the reign of King Jungjong - Examination of Discussions over the issue of dispatching a special envoy(別行) about the Grand ceremony(大禮議) in Ming(明) dynasty’s court"),
- Mansourov, Alexandre Y. "Will Flowers Bloom without Fragrance? Korean-Chinese Relations," Harvard Asia Quarterly (Spring 2009).
- Michael J. Seth (2019). A Brief History of Korea: Isolation, War, Despotism, and Revival: The Fascinating Story of a Resilient but Divided People
- Kang, Etsuko H. (1997). Diplomacy and Ideology in Japanese-Korean Relations: from the Fifteenth to the Eighteenth Century, p. 49.
- Robinson, Michael. (1984) "National Identity and the Thought of Shin Ch'ae-ho: Sadaejuüi and Chuch'e in History and Politics," Journal of Korean Studies, Vol. 5, pp. 121–142.
- Robinson, p. 129.
