Seodang: A pilgrimage toward knowledge/action and “us-ness” in the community

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present a Korean theory of epistemology and to provide an epistemological embodiment of Korean epistemology as it appears in a traditional, local village school called a seodang. A seodang’s curriculum is grounded upon individualized instruction and whole person education and emphasizes mutually respectful relationships that sustain supportive local communities. I have attempted to create an intersection between cultural elements present within Korea’s indigenous knowledge and innovative research methodology by making use of multilingual representations, visual interpretations of the text, and cultural poetry. By weaving together these two stripes of epistemology and methodology, I underscore the value of ethno-epistemology in curriculum and cultural studies as well as the need to imagine multi-linguistic, visual representations of Korean epistemology. Major texts and images taught in seodangs are interwoven with these articulations as a means of examining methodological concerns in curricular and cultural studies.