Establishing a Pluralist Society in Medieval Korea, 918-1170

Abstract

This study has developed from a much larger attempt looking into the issues of the formation of a transregional or national community on the Korean peninsula in the early to middle Koryŏ dynasty (918–1170). Anyone who studies the Koryŏ dynasty in depth encoun-ters a rich storehouse of ideas and thoughts that centre upon Koryŏ’s place in the world, its pasts, presents and futures, its descents and its destinies. Th ese ideas and thoughts have different forms of expression and oft en contradictory contents. At times they present incommensu-rable views of life and death and the world and conflicting political, social and religious ideologies.