Throughout its 4,000-year history, Korea has created a vibrant and unique culture. Unfortunately, many believe it developed solely due to China's influence, thus leaving no room for an independent history and culture. This is simply wrong. The New History of Korean Civilization explores the existence of a distinctive Korean culture established by the Korean people and separate from its Chinese and Japanese counterparts. Author Chai-Shin Yu, distinguished professor of Korean studies, surveys the history of cultural life in Korea and provides a detailed account of this country's remarkable heritage. From the prehistoric age through the rise of the Chos?n Dynasty and up to the creation of the Republic of Korea, this concise history traces the development of history, politics, philosophy, religion, literature, and art. Chai-Shin Yu shows how Korean culture also played a vital role in the formation of Japanese culture. Written for the purpose of introducing the roots of Korean culture to Westerners and second-generation Koreans living in the West, The New History of Korean Civilization is a bold addition to the historiography of Korea.

This book outlines the major features of Korean culture, particularly highlighting its distinctiveness from its Chinese and Japanese counterparts. It was written for the purpose of introducing the roots of Korean culture to Westerners and second-generation Koreans living in the West. Covering an area of 220,000 km2, Korea is a peninsular nation, includes a number of small islands, and is comparable in size to the United Kingdom and Italy. It adjoins China to the west and Russia to the north, and to its south lie the islands of Japan. The Korean race originated from the Yemaek people whose members came from various tribes in Siberia, Mongolia, and some parts of China. Currently, the populations of South and North Korea are about 40 and 19 million respectively. Introducing Korean culture to the West is a task of great import. Throughout its 4000-year long history, Korea has developed a unique culture. The foundations of East Asian culture and thought were laid by both China and Korea. The Korean contribution in the development of Chinese culture was already discussed in my book, Korean Thought and Culture. Korean culture also played a vital role in the formation of Japanese culture. It should be pointed out, for instance, that the Meiji Reform, which laid the foundation of Japan's modernization, was inspired by the Neo-Confucian thought of the Korean scholar T'oegye. Korea was able to preserve the Confucian and Buddhist thought and culture of East Asia, in contrast to China, where, since the rise of the communist regime, objective study of Chinese culture has been lacking. The communist government's negative outlook towards traditional culture, including the Confucian and Buddhist heritage, led to the destruction of numerous cultural artifacts during the Cultural Revolution. The Confucian rites and royal ancestral rites, which disappeared in China, are still performed in Korea in the National Confucian Academy. Korea, in other words, preserved and developed the traditional culture of East Asia. The rich legacy of Buddhist and Confucian traditions can be seen in the ancient Silla capital of Ky?ngju and in the Andong Folk Village.