{"product_id":"9788962065961","title":"Taekwondo, Embracing Korean Culture","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"info_text\"\u003eIf I were to express the essence of the cultural phenomenon known as\u003cbr\u003eTaekwondo in a single phrase, I would not hesitate to call it the \"simultaneity of\u003cbr\u003ethe non-simultaneous\"(Gleichzeitigkeit des Ungleichzeitigen).* This term refers\u003cbr\u003eto a situation where elements that cannot chronologically coexist appear\u003cbr\u003etogether at the same moment. It describes a phenomenon where\u003cbr\u003eheterogeneous temporal elements are intertwined-much like a grandfather\u003cbr\u003eand grandson sitting across from each other at the same dinner table,\u003cbr\u003esharing a meal while harboring entirely different thoughts and value systems\u003cbr\u003eToday, Taekwondo is the cultural arena where this \"simultaneity of the\u003cbr\u003enon-simultaneous\" is most vividly manifested. Unlike relatively closed\u003cbr\u003ecultural domains such as religion or ritual, Taekwondo has maintained an\u003cbr\u003eexceptionally open attitude throughout its historical evolution and\u003cbr\u003eregional exchanges. Consequently, Taekwondo exists as a layer of\u003cbr\u003ecohabiting traditional and modern values, as well as Eastern and Western\u003cbr\u003enorms. Specifically, what Wilhelm Pinder described as the \"difference in\u003cbr\u003egenerations\" also appears in Taekwondo as a \"difference in regions.\"\u003cbr\u003eWhile Taekwondo in Korea has evolved into a modern sport integrated\u003cbr\u003ewith cutting-edge sports science, thousands of Dojang s across the globe\u003cbr\u003estill emphasize strict martial arts hierarchy and mental cultivation,\u003cbr\u003epreserving original forms from decades ago. This coexistence and\u003cbr\u003eintersection of values from different timelines within the single system of\u003cbr\u003eTaekwondo constitutes its unique and core cultural attribute.\u003cbr\u003eThe definition of Taekwondo as a \"martial arts sport,\" as prescribed by\u003cbr\u003eKukkiwon, perfectly illustrates this attribute. This expression multi-\u003cbr\u003edimensionally implies the pre-modern value of \"Oriental martial arts\"\u003cbr\u003ealongside the modern rationality of \"Western sports.\" This combination,\u003cbr\u003ewhich may seem like an oxymoron at first glance, is the very core of\u003cbr\u003eTaekwondo's identity. In the Dobok(uniform), the archetype of traditional\u003cbr\u003eclothing and modern functionality coexist; in the figure of the\u003cbr\u003eSabum(instructor), the strict \"traditional image of a master\" and the rational\u003cbr\u003e\"modern image of an educator\" overlap. I planned the writing of this book\u003cbr\u003eto academically illuminate these complex and subtle cultural layers.\u003cbr\u003eBeyond my scholarly curiosity, my responsibility as an educator served\u003cbr\u003eas a primary motivation for bringing this book into the world. Since around\u003cbr\u003e2009, I have operated a liberal arts course titled \"Taekwondo and\u003cbr\u003eTraditional Korean Culture.\" I have strived to convey the history and\u003cbr\u003ephilosophy of Taekwondo, and the Korean culture embedded within it, to\u003cbr\u003enon-majors in a manner that is comprehensive yet accessible. Out of the\u003cbr\u003e16-week semester, I covered a new topic every week across 14 core\u003cbr\u003ethemes, excluding orientation and exams, communicating with students\u003cbr\u003ethrough materials summarized from my previously published papers and\u003cbr\u003ebooks. The moments when students, initially unfamiliar with Taekwondo,\u003cbr\u003efound their eyes sparkling as they discovered the Korean spiritual heritage\u003cbr\u003ewithin the art were deeply rewarding for me. While I always lamented the\u003cbr\u003eabsence of a proper textbook and postponed writing for various reasons,\u003cbr\u003emy desire to compile my years of lecture notes into a single volume has\u003cbr\u003efinally borne fruit as I conclude my tenure of research and teaching.\u003cbr\u003eThis book is organized into three major movements. Part 1 (ChaptersⅠ\u003cbr\u003e-Ⅳ) theoretically investigates the cultural and historical identity of\u003cbr\u003eTaekwondo. It examines the cultural context of Taekwondo's birth\u003cbr\u003ethrough philosophical anthropology and a comparison of Eastern and\u003cbr\u003eWestern physical cultures. It argues for the historical legitimacy of\u003cbr\u003eTaekwondo as a traditional Korean martial art by deconstructing and\u003cbr\u003ereconstructing the very concept of \"tradition.\" Furthermore, it traces the\u003cbr\u003eroots of Korean empty-hand martial arts through the historical flow from\u003cbr\u003esubak (手搏) to Gwonbeop ( 拳法) and finally to taekkyeon .\u003cbr\u003ePart 2 (Chapters Ⅴ-Ⅺ) unfolds the specific cultural elements that\u003cbr\u003econstitute Taekwondo. It sequentially addresses the relationship between\u003cbr\u003ethe Dobok and hanbok; the philosophy of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements\u003cbr\u003eembedded in belt colors; the Kukkiwon building which embraces the\u003cbr\u003eaesthetic of hanok architecture; the essence of the Dojang as a site\u003cbr\u003e(madang ) that must lead from the transmission of technique (sul) to the\u003cbr\u003eWay (Do); the instructor who must build an identity between the\u003cbr\u003etraditional master and the modern educator; the depths of traditional\u003cbr\u003eKorean etiquette; and the meaning and challenges of promotion tests as\u003cbr\u003erituals (uirye ). These chapters demonstrate how much of the Korean\u003cbr\u003ecultural code is implied in the physical language of Taekwondo.\u003cbr\u003ePart 3 (Chapters Ⅻ-XIV)views Taekwondo with a broader perspective.\u003cbr\u003eIt analyzes the layers of Hongik Ingan(broadly benefiting humanity),\u003cbr\u003eDangun mythology, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism within the\u003cbr\u003eTaekwondo spirit. It also surveys the history of the Taekwondo\u003cbr\u003eHallyu (Korean Wave), from civilian-led overseas dissemination in the\u003cbr\u003e1950s to today's government-led soft diplomacy. Finally, borrowing the\u003cbr\u003eunique theoretical framework of Invasive Biology, it explains the reasons\u003cbr\u003efor Taekwondo's success in globalization through the dual concepts of\u003cbr\u003e\"uniqueness\" and \"requisite variety.\"\u003cbr\u003eRecently, as a reaction to the rapid digitalization of our lives, our\u003cbr\u003esociety is once again paying attention to humanistic values. In an era\u003cbr\u003ewhere everything is datafied and the physical body is alienated, the\u003cbr\u003ephysical language of Taekwondo becomes a powerful practical tool for\u003cbr\u003erestoring humanity. Even within the Taekwondo community, the thirst for\u003cbr\u003ehumanistic reflection beyond technical proficiency is deeper than ever.\u003cbr\u003eFor readers accustomed to viewing Taekwondo simply as a fighting\u003cbr\u003etechnique or a sporting event, I trust this book will allow them to\u003cbr\u003ediscover that Taekwondo is a living cultural totality-embracing hanbok\u003cbr\u003eand hanok , Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, rites of passage, Hongik\u003cbr\u003eIngan , and soft diplomacy within a single body. I sincerely hope this book\u003cbr\u003eserves as a guide for students to broaden their intellectual horizons, a\u003cbr\u003ecatalyst for instructors to reflect anew on the depth of what they\u003cbr\u003etransmit, and a stimulant for thought for all who love Taekwondo to feel\u003cbr\u003ethe essence of our culture with their entire being.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJune 15, 2026\u003cbr\u003eHyeong-seok Song\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"레인보우북스 - Hyeong-Seok Song","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55087096561969,"sku":"9788962065961","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0782\/9730\/1297\/files\/9788962065961_1.jpg?v=1783168425","url":"https:\/\/gimssine.com\/products\/9788962065961","provider":"GIMSSINE","version":"1.0","type":"link"}