This study, as a foundational work for the scientific systematization of the Korean aesthetics, examines critically the main trends in the discussion that have been generally considered as ‘Korean aesthetics’, and draws the tasks of the Korean aes...
This study, as a foundational work for the scientific systematization of the Korean aesthetics, examines critically the main trends in the discussion that have been generally considered as ‘Korean aesthetics’, and draws the tasks of the Korean aesthetics in the future.
The study starts with the question: “What is Korean aesthetics?” This is the question about the identity of Korean aesthetics as a study, which requires the clarification of its object, the basic principles, methodologies, and basic concepts. Therefore, this question is not only about its intrinsic characteristics, but also about its scientific system, and it is the fundamental problem first to be considered in order to establish the Korean aesthetics as a systematicity of the Korean aesthetics.
The term 'Korean aesthetics' consists of two part, that is, ‘Aesthetics’ and ‘Korea’. In its combination ‘Aesthetics’ is generic concept and ‘Korea’ is specific concept. For in various ways the combination of two concepts can be made, it is not easy to answer clearly the question: "what is the Korean Aesthetics?" Among various possibilities of the combination, if one would claim that one particular way is more valid than the other, than such a claim would require the much elaborative and extensive argument. In actual practice, the conceptual establishment of the Korean aesthetics is not treated as the one of major themes. Even the genealogy of hitherto discussions is hard to find and it has been tried just occasionally by some researchers.
In the situation, in which the question “What is the Korean aesthetics?” has not been sufficiently discussed in the conceptual side, how is the Korean aesthetics understood? Unlike the clarification and establishment of the concept 'Korean aesthetics' still remain in difficulty, the ordinary use of the term 'Korean aesthetics' is not unfamiliar. These days, 'Korean aesthetics' is mainly mentioned in the field of the traditional artworks of Korea. The term 'Korean aesthetics' appears when they discuss the so-called 'the Korean beauty', which refers to the intrinsic characteristics being distinct from artworks outside of Korea. Then, why has been the meaning of 'Korean aesthetics' so formed? What is its significance in the realm of the entire aesthetics? Could it become an exemplar for Korean aesthetics as a systematic project? When it is just an example, not a exemplar, then what lessons could we learn from it? Answering these questions will serve as the conerstone and at the same time the bridge to the far-reaching investigation of what Korean aesthetics is, what it can be, and what it should be.
Faced with the question “What is the korean aesthetics?”, this articles first of all tries to present necessary conditions for answering this question. After that, this study analyzes major preceeding researchs, so that it is examined, whether the preexisting Korean aesthetics could be sufficient answer. Finally, I argues that Korean aesthetics should be expanded and deepened in its theoretical discourse, not merely remain in the discourse 'Korean beauty'. For this purpose, I suggest in this study the direction of the further development and tasks in the Korean aesthetics. It is expected that this study performs the role as a groundwork for the future scientific reaserchs, which consider a particular Korean aesthetics, i.e. the discussion of the Korean beauty from the universal perspective. And through this study, hopefully the current Korean aesthetic be able to go beyond the discourse of the Korean beauty and be expanded and deepened in its scientific and theoretical discussion.