Hierarchy- one of significant influences on older life in Korea

Strong Hierarchy between Older and Younger Age in Traditional Society

Hierarchy- one of significant influences on older life in Korea

         As I discuss previous posts, filial piety from the Confucianism and the concept of reciprocity significantly affect into people's later life. Confucianism make people remember what their older generation gave for them when they are younger such as upbringing. The reciprocity cause the duty of descendants that they have to respect older people not just their grandmother or grandfather but all elderly. Regarding this characteristic of Confucianism, one of most significant characteristic that forms older people's life in Korean and most East Asian society is 'hierarchy.' I am going to discuss in this post that how the hierarchy is created in the Confucianism, and it will be the great explanation for why elderly are respected in Confucianism cultural society.  

Why strong hierarchy in Korea and most East Asian countries?  

      In traditional society, it is often seen that grandsons or granddaughters call their grandparents while their mother cook and get ready for dinner. When whole family member gather - usually three generations, grandparents, parents and grandson-, all family don't touch food and wait for until grandparents have food first. When grandparents serve soup and food, parents and children start to eat. It is a manner during family meal.
     And, this is very unusual in American culture !
     The hierarchy between ages or generations in family is strict in Korea traditions because of the filial piety- the Confucianism.

         In our class reading, Olson also mentions about significance of hierarchy in East Asian tradition and the Confucianism. In the book, Age Through Ethnic Lenses, writer states that "Hierarchy is important, and family members have prescribed roles and responsibilities according to gender, age, and birth order. For example, one prescription is that children must obey and care for their parents without question or resentment." (Olson 2001, page 24)

'Hierarchy' from the concept of Reciprocity and Confucianism 

          The hierarchical relationship between older and younger generations is also formulated from the concept of reciprocity like other characteristic of Confucianism. Korean traditions as other East Asian countries of Confucianism culture is based on that current life of offspring is strongly connected with their older generations and ancestors, due to the one common philosophical concept- Confucianism. When people were born, they owed their lives to their former generations who fed and raised them when they were not able to do themselves. People have the unavoidable obligations to serve elderly well, as the reciprocity of Confucianism to ancestors. Therefore, the hierarchical relationship between older and younger generations is founded from the concept of family lineage and reciprocity. 

         We can find an example from ancestor worship. traditional societies of Korea significantly considered ancestor worship to prove or maintain the fine family continuity and the ritual creates the strong hierarchy between family generations. In "Ancestor Worship and Korean Society," Roger L. Janelli maintains that "Domestic ritual obligation in Korea fall parallel to the succession to household headship and the inheritance of household property.... In addition to the obligations toward his parents, an eldest son assumes any ritual responsibilities his father has had toward agnatic forebears within the three generation." (Janeli 1982, page 99) 

     This characteristic is not just limited in Korea but it was happened other confucianism traditional society such as Japan. The following example from Japan proves this. In "Shinohata," Ronald P. Dore also states "Continuity of the family had a triple importance. Securing a successor had a straightfoward bread-and butter importance for one's old age. It also had a ritual importance. Reverence for the ancestors was an important focus of religious sentiment and practice. It was a part of the duty of filial piety towards one's ancestors not only to perform the proper ritual oneself, but also to ensure that they would be performed in perpetuity." (Dore 1978, page 138) 

      Both examples from Korea and Japan explain that the importance of family continuity under the preexisted rules of succession and the hierarchical system. And, this hierarchy affects into elderly's lifestyle with their children and grandchildren in family. We can find a lot of positive influence into later life from this characteristic of Confucianism because it helps family harmony by those manners that people have to follow in family. However, if we see entire society, there could be absurd or unreasonable rules because sometime people's opinions are respected just depends on by older ages not by competences of person. So, at next post, I will discuss how the Confucianism has been changed in today's society and how it can negatively affect into older people's life. 

Reference

   Dore, Ronald P. 1978 Shinohata. Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: University of California Press
    Laura Katz Olson (2001), Age Through Ethnic Lenses: Caring for Elderly in a Multicultural Society. MA, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, INC.
   Janelli, Roger L. 1982. Ancestor Worship and Korean Society. Stanford: Stanford University Press.