The pure idea of Confucianism is to benefit all the citizens and those benefits have a ripple effect starting with the individual, through the family, and out to the Korean society and then the world (Canda, p. 1).
Confucianism has had an influence on many spiritual and physical Asian-based traditions; for example, Confucianism had a big influence on the development of martial arts, acupuncture, and meditation, according to Canda.
Shamanism: There are about 300 shamanistic temples within an hour of the capital of Seoul, according to an article in the New York Times (Sang-Hun, 2007, p. 1). The article points out that shamanism is presently enjoying a renaissance after "centuries of ridicule and persecution"; indeed, shamans were "demonized by Christian missionaries and driven underground during the Japanese occupation" Sang-Hun, p. 2). Moreover, there are now more than 300,000 shamans in South Korea, Sang-Hun asserts. Korean shamanism is rooted in "ancient indigenous beliefs" that many folk religions still hold true to; members of this faith believe that the air is "thick with spirits, including those of dead relatives, and a fox in the hills behind a village," Sang-Hun explains (p. 1). What is interesting is there are about 273 categories of "gods" that are prayed to by Korean shamans; among those, Jesus Christ and Gen. Douglas MacArthur (Sang-Hun, p. 2).
Chondogyo: There are an estimated one and a half million believers in Chondogyo in South Korea, according to the Journal of the American Academy of Religion. Chondogyo is actually linked to the ancient system of Hwarangdo, "or the ideal way of life" that was developed during the Shilla dynasty, a way of life that espoused the principles of "chivalry and patriotism" (Beaver, 2010). Reportedly Hwarangdo blended the virtues of Confucianism with the Buddhist "reverence for all living things," Beaver writes.
Buddhism: Buddhism has a powerful history in Korea; during the Unified Shilla Period (668 a.D.) the Buddhists brought "social harmony" to the peninsula; later, Buddhist monks let the people against the Japanese in the 16th Century. The form of Buddhism that is practiced in Korea is Bodhisattva, which extols the six perfections: Generosity, Good Conduct, Vigor, Patience, Meditation and Wisdom (www.buddhismtoday.com). When Buddhism was first introduced to Korea from China (372), the indigenous religion in Korea was shamanism. A "natural blend" was created between Shamanism...
Silence too is an important part of communication in Singapore. It is customary to pause before answering a question, to indicate that the person has given the question the appropriate thought and consideration that is needed. Westerners habit of responding quickly to a question, to Singaporeans, often indicates thoughtlessness and rude behavior. Their demeanor is typically calm, and Westerners more aggressive style is often seen as off putting ("Singapore:
The worship of Mazu shares many elements with other types of Chinese folk religions. Mazu was based upon a historical figure and is said to play a protective role over the people in her region; in Mazu's case, she is said to protect fishermen (Lim 2010). She was worshipped for over 500 years in China, so that many elements of her worship are traditional parts of culture. However, the modern
Culture of the Cold War Espionage and the threat of nuclear drove the two superpowers. According to Whitfield, this is the point in time that highlighted the belief about other communist agents infiltrating the United States. This led to panic among government and military officials. Once this occurred, is when there was massive response to this threat leading to a Red Scare. (Whitfield, 1996, pp. 27 -- 56) True, with the character
In many ways, this simply underscores the general difficulty of cultural adjustment to life in the United States. But in a more specific way to the Korean culture, this also illuminates the particular difficulty of retaining a valued heritage while finding ways to gain greater cultural comfort in the United States. Kim-Rupnaw (2001) points to this as promoting a tension not just between Koreans and other ethnic groups in
Cults The late twentieth century witnessed a dramatic "rise in the number of obscure cults and the increasingly fevered pitch of their rantings." Three cults that grew in popularity throughout the 1970s through 1990s, having a particular impact on American culture, include The Unification Church, The Church of Satan, and Heaven's Gate. These three cults had nothing to do with one another and in fact their central belief systems can on some
While the dictators of Europe often get the most attention, the Kim family has actually been far more successful in terms of maintaining power, to the point that it has not only managed to exist well into the twenty-first century, but it has also managed to develop its own nuclear weapon program. The existence of North Korea's nuclear weapon program is one of the reasons for the country's extremely serious
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