So-Yi Chung

This article attempts to examine the life and teachings of Yi Sajudang 李師朱堂(1739–1821), a unique Confucian practical thinker from the Chosŏn dynasty in Korea. Yi Sajudang attached great importance to the situation in which a moral agent found himself, often surpassing in importance that agent’s own will. This is reflected in her own life choices and educational theories. Yi Sajudang led a life of deliberation, seeking a place where she could participate in scholarly conversations, maintain her dignity, and be influential among male scholars. Her theory of education also recognized the crucial influence of the environment on the learner, from before birth to the guidance of a good teacher. She strove to create a safe and nurturing environment that offered protection from harm and negative influences while providing gentle support and guidance. Yi Sajudang’s life and teachings serve as an example of a Confucian woman who was able to live an autonomous and independent life without succumbing to her difficult situation, which can still be an inspiration to us today.