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- The family is the most important part of Korean life.
- In Confucian tradition, the father is the head of the family and it is his responsibility to provide food, clothing and shelter, and to approve the marriages of family members.
- The eldest son has special duties: first to his parents, then to his brothers from older to younger, then to his sons, then to his wife, and lastly to his daughters.
- Family welfare is much more important than the needs of the individual. - Members of the family are tied to each other because the actions of one family member reflect on the rest of the family. - In many cases the family register can trace a family's history, through male ancestors, for over 500 years. Confucianism
- The teachings of Confucius describe the position of the individual in Korean society.
- It is a system of behaviours and ethics that stress the obligations of people towards one another based upon their relationship.
- The basic tenets are based upon five different relationships: 1) ruler and subject 2) husband and wife
3) parents and children
4)brothers and sisters
5) friend and friend
- Confucianism stresses duty, loyalty, honour, filial piety, respect for age and seniority, and sincerity. Korean Ancestors
- Ancestors are based on the male family line.
- Children are raised to believe they can never repay their debt to their parents, hence the popularity of ancestor worship. - They hold ancestral ceremonies for the previous three generations (parents, grandparents, and great grandparents) several times a year, particularly on Chusok and New Year's Day.
- On Chusok, people cook and set out food to celebrate their ancestors. The Concept of Kibun
- Kibun is a word with no literal English translation; the closest terms are pride, face, mood, feelings, or state of mind.
- If you hurt someone's kibun you hurt their pride, cause them to lose dignity, and lose face. Korean interpersonal relationships operate on the principle of harmony.
- It is important to maintain a peaceful, comfortable atmosphere at all times, even if it means telling a "white lie". - Kibun enters into every facet of Korean life. - It is important to know how to judge the state of someone else's kibun, how to avoid hurting it, and how to keep your own kibun at the same time.
- In business, a manager's kibun is damaged if his subordinates do not show proper respect. A subordinate's kibun is damaged if his manager criticizes him in public.
- Nunchi is the ability to determine another person's kibun by using the eye. - Since this is a culture where social harmony is crucial, being able to judge another person's state of mind is critical to maintain the person's kibun. - Nunchi is accomplished by watching body language and listening to the tone of voice as well as what is said. |
