Neo-Confucian Dynasty

The rise of the Chosŏn dynasty, the last and longest reigning dynasty in Korean history, represents a time of gradual change for the people of the Korean Peninsula. The people of early Chosŏn experienced societal, cultural, and political changes as the previous reigning Koryŏ dynasty fell. One of the changes the people faced was the introduction of Neo-Confucian values. Anti-Buddhism leaders, like Chŏng Dojŏn, was instrumental in the overthrow of the Koryŏ kingdom . With the use of governmental and educational reforms, Neo-Confucian scholars were able to quickly convert the once Buddhist society, to a society whose values despised Buddhism and align with Neo-Confucianism. Because Neo-Confucian values on the surface seem to promulgate a more

Im Yunjidang was married into her husband’s family, but was shortly widowed after the death of her husband. Even though her husband had passed, Im Yunjidang continued to fulfill her duties as daughter-in-law. During her life, she studied Confucian classics with her eldest brother, and when she passed, her works were published by her brother and brother-in-law. Her works include research on Confucian classics, her interpretations on the theories of Neo-Confucianism, and her comments on Chinese historical figures and instructive verses . Kang Chŏngildang, another female Neo-Confucianst scholar during the Chosŏn dynasty, was married into her husband’s family at the age of twenty. Her husband, Yun Kwangyŏn, failed to pass the civil service exam, leaving him without a job within the government. Her husband’s family was stricken with poverty, but despite that, Kang Chŏngildang fulfilled her duties as daughter-in-law under the Neo-Confucian values. Although her personal life was pre-occupied, Kang Chŏngildang was still able to immerse herself in the study of Confucian classics. During her life time of studying Confucian classics, Kang Chŏngildang completed numerous scholarly writings, letters, and poems that were published posthumously by her husband. During the time period that the Chŏson dynasty was in power, it was uncommon to have female’s literary pieces published. That being said, it is incredible to see two different accounts in Korean history where women were named “scholars,” as they have contributed to Confucian philosophy. On top of their designated domestic duties, that is to tend for the family, husband, and in-laws, both Kang Chŏngildang and Im Yunjidang delved into Confucian Scholar and contributed to the philosophy as