Virtue That Matters

Chastity Culture and Social Power in Chosŏn Korea (1392-1910)
Erscheinungsjahr 2025
ISBN: 978-0-674-29864-4
Verlag: Harvard University Press

Buch, Englisch, Band 477, 400 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 231 mm, Gewicht: 658 g

Reihe: Harvard East Asian Monographs

Virtue That Matters is a groundbreaking exploration of the intricate dynamics of chastity culture in Choson Korea from 1392 to 1910, shedding light on its political, legal, social, and cultural significance. In this book, Jungwon Kim demonstrates how an emphasis on female chastity came to pervade society as it intertwined with state ideology and elite interests. By analyzing a copious range of sources including governmental publications, legal records, and women’s own writings, Kim unveils the rich tapestry of Choson society’s attitudes toward female chastity and argues that extreme chastity culture was not merely a product of Confucianization but was also shaped by diverse social forces and individual agency. Furthermore, Kim reframes the discourse on chastity by focusing on women’s experiences and perspectives, challenging the traditional portrayal of women as marginal to Choson history.

Virtue That Matters illustrates the complex interplay between state-led indoctrination, socio-legal changes, and gender relations in Choson Korea. Kim also shows how the discourse on women’s chastity evolved over time and continued to influence social dynamics well into the twentieth century. By highlighting the enduring legacy of chastity culture in modern Korean society, Virtue That Matters provides valuable insights into contemporary debates on gender and sexuality.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kim, Jungwon

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Gender Studies, Geschlechtersoziologie
• Rechtswissenschaften Recht, Rechtswissenschaft Allgemein Rechtsvergleichung
• Geisteswissenschaften Literaturwissenschaft Literarische Stoffe, Motive und Themen
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Asiatische Geschichte

Über Autor(innen)

Kim, Jungwon
Jungwon Kim is King Sejong Associate Professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Culture at Columbia University.