• Journal of architectural history
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.27-46
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• 2007

Through reinvestigations of early years of King Young-Joe provincial castles, Jeonju Eupsung, this study seeks to broaden the understanding of castle construction of the later period of Chosun Dynasty. Jeonju Eupsung was established by reform-minded king and his loyalist Cho, Hyun Myung. Their new conceptual framework for reconstruction of Jeonju Eupsung was affected by Yoo, Hyung Won, a realist scholar of 17th century. It is obvious that adopted new administrative systems of financing, building and maintaining of Jeonju Eupsung were based on the his theories of castle. This study demonstrates that Jeonju Eupsung built by Cho, Hyun Myung, during the early years of King Young-Joe were based on those new concepts and systems of the new age. The study shows that the designer of this castle had in mind efficient construction design and execution and effective defense of provincial towns located on flat ground. And, the study explains how those original designer sought higher productivity through greater localization of securing resources and more detailed and improved organization of construction responsibilities. In short, this study seeks to prove that the provincial castles of the early 18th century reflected the new thinking on practicality that was spreading throughout the society of Chosun Dynasty at the time.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.29
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• pp.203-230
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• 2010

This article is aimed for to state the rationality of Mojia and reveal the scientific meaning in the theories related to the motion of objects in Mojing: the basic approach to the principle of gravitation in building castle, and comprehension and application of the principle in the lever devised for improving productivity as well as in an inclined plane. It is denied in this article that the technical advance and the positive influence on the people is achieved by Mojias only because they were occupied in the filed of craft. Mojia was one of the schools of Qin in the early stage who realized how important science wass for the better society focused on humanity. Furthermore, they were the frontiers who pursued the proper society through science. Therefore, the scientific theories claimed by Mojia is not emphasized only on the deducting regularity of nature. Instead, it could be theorized only by guaranteeing the welfare for common people and having close relation to it. The Chinese philosophy in the early Twentieth century had vigorous interest in the Mojia's opinions in science and set about conducting study in this part. Based on the study, it was revealed that the Mojia's opinion toward motion is superior to that of the West. Furthermore, it was proved to reflect the main idea in Mojia: the love for common people. Particularly, the theories from Mojia can be so applicable to today's life that some scholars regret the lack of interest in Mojia for the time and even scold themselves for the retarded progress in science of China.