A Korean Confucian's Advice on How to Be Moral: Tasan Chŏng Yagyong's Reading of the Zhongyong by Don Baker (2023)

A Korean Confucian’s Advice on How to Be Moral: Tasan Chŏng Yagyong’s Reading of the Zhongyong by Don Baker (2023)

Publication title: A Korean Confucian’s Advice on How to Be Moral: Tasan Chŏng Yagyong’s Reading of the Zhongyong

Publication year: 2023

Author: Translated, annotated and with an introduction by Dr. Don Baker

About the book

Tasan Chŏng Yagyong (1762–1836) is one of the most creative thinkers Korea has ever produced, one of the country’s first Christians, and a leading scholar in Confucian philosophy. Born in a staunchly Neo-Confucian society, in his early twenties he encountered writings by Catholic missionaries in China and was fascinated. However, when he later learned that the Catholic Church condemned the Confucian practice of placing a spirit tablet on a family altar to honor past generations, he left the small Catholic community he had helped found and ostensibly returned to the Neo-Confucian fold. Nevertheless, the Christian ideas he studied in his youth influenced his thinking for the rest of his life, stimulating him to look at Neo-Confucianism with a critical eye and suggest new solutions to problems Confucian scholars had been addressing for centuries. A Korean Confucian’s Advice on How to Be Moral is an annotated translation of Tasan’s commentaries on the Confucian classic Zhongyong (usually translated as The Doctrine of the Mean) in which he applies both Confucianism and Christianity to the question of how to best develop a moral character.

Written as a dialogue with King Chŏngjo, (r. 1776–1800) these texts reveal how Tasan interpreted his Confucian tradition, particularly its understanding of how human beings could cultivate morality, while the king’s questions illustrate the mainstream Neo-Confucianism Tasan was reacting against. Tasan challenged the non-theistic standard, insisting that living a moral life is not easy and that we need to be motivated to exert the effort necessary to overcome our selfish tendencies. He had abandoned his faith by the time he wrote these commentaries but, influenced by Catholic works and determined to find a more effective way to live a moral life than non-theistic Neo-Confucianism provided, Tasan constructed a Confucian philosophy of moral improvement centered on belief in God. This translation, helpfully annotated for context and analysis, is an exploration of early Korean engagement with the West and a powerful guide to all those interested in Confucianism, Christianity, and morality.

Death of a Crow translated by Christina Yi (2022)

Publication title: Death of a Crow

Publication year: 2022

Author: Kim Sok-pom, translated by Christina Yi

About the book

Kim Sok-pom (b. 1925) is widely considered one of the most important zainichi (literally, “resident in Japan”) Korean writers of his generation. His seminal short story collection Death of a Crow (Karasu no shi) features three interlinked stories about the April 3 Incident of 1948 on Cheju Island and two texts centered on the history of zainichi Koreans. Published by Seoul Selection, the English translation is part of a larger Korean Diaspora Literature series supported by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea; other titles in the series include Lee Yangji’s Nabi T’aryǒng and Other Stories; Kim Tal-su’s The Trial of Pak Tal and Other Stories; and Yang Seok-il’s Blood and Bones.

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Tenure-stream Assistant or Associate Professor in Punjabi Language, Literature, and Culture

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Application deadline: December 31, 2022

Date of posting: November 14, 2022

 

The Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, invites applications for a tenure-stream Assistant or Associate Professor in the field of in Punjabi language, literature, and culture. Preference will be given to candidates with research and teaching expertise in literature, film/media, popular culture, or language pedagogy. Applicants are expected to have full professional proficiency in English and Punjabi. Experience in interdisciplinary research, pedagogical innovation, program building, or community outreach will be a plus.

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a relevant field or expect to have successfully defended the dissertation before July 1, 2023. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate excellence in research, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and to maintain an active program of research, publication, teaching, graduate supervision, and service. The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues in the department specializing in South Asia, and with future hires in the field. Further information about the Department can be found on its website, www.asia.ubc.ca.

The application dossier should include:

  • a letter of application;
  • a curriculum vitae;
  • a 1-page statement of teaching philosophy
  • a 1-page statement identifying the applicant’s contributions, or potential contributions, to diversity, and ability to work with a culturally diverse student body;
  • one writing sample (maximum 30 pages);
  • evidence of teaching effectiveness (course evaluations, any other evidence of teaching effectiveness, and two sample course syllabi, preferably one at the undergraduate-level and one at the graduate-level); and
  • names and contact information of three referees who could provide confidential letters of recommendation should the candidate be long- or short-listed.

The deadline for receipt of complete applications is December 31, 2022. The anticipated start date of employment is July 1, 2023.

This position is subject to final budgetary approval. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

All application materials should be submitted electronically through the Department’s careers website, https://asia.ubc.ca/department/careers/ by December 31, 2022.  Inquiries may be sent to asia.jobsearch@ubc.ca.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

Given the uncertainty caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, applicants must be prepared to conduct interviews remotely if circumstances require. A successful applicant may be asked to consider an offer containing a deadline without having been able to make an in-person visit to campus if travel and other restrictions are still in place.

Lecturer in Korean Language and Culture

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Application deadline: December 31, 2022

Date of posting: November 2, 2022

 

The University of British Columbia, Vancouver Campus, invites applications for a full-time Lecturer in Korean Language and Culture, for three years with a possible renewal/extension, commencing September 1, 2023. In accordance with the Collective Agreement between UBC and the UBC Faculty Association, lecturer positions at UBC are appointments without review (i.e., non-tenure track), renewable for successive terms subject to availability of funds and demonstration of excellence in teaching and service. This position will entail a probationary first year.

We seek an exceptional teacher of Korean language courses at all levels. The workload for this position includes teaching plus service. The full-time teaching load for a Lecturer is 24 credits (eight 3-credit equivalent courses) per year: for Winter Session 3-3, and for Summer Session either 1-1 or one six-credit intensive course. Courses will range from first- to fourth-year undergraduate courses and the bulk of the annual teaching load will be courses in Korean Language for both heritage and non-heritage learners. Experience in online teaching and distance learning is desirable.

Requirements include full professional fluency in both Korean and English; an M.A. or higher degree in Korean Linguistics, Teaching Korean as a Second/Foreign Language, or a closely related field; extensive teaching experience in North America at all levels of post-secondary Korean teaching; experience in curriculum development and the preparation of teaching and testing materials; experience supervising and/or training new teachers or TAs; experience organizing co- and extra-curricular activities; experience with student placement; a strong background in teaching innovation, such as computer-assisted teaching, community-based learning, and content-based instruction; a record of full participation in teamwork and program affairs; and evidence of keeping up with recent developments in the field. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an excellent record of teaching, to engage actively in professional development, to perform instructional duties in coordination with instructors in parallel sections and at other levels, and to participate fully in program affairs and service. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position is subject to final budgetary approval.

The application dossier should include:

  • a cover letter;
  • curriculum vitae;
  • one- to two-page statement of teaching philosophy;
  • one- to two-page equity, diversity and inclusion statement speaking to the applicant’s experience working with a diverse student body and contributions or potential contributions to creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion,
  • sample teaching videos of at least 30 minutes each for two different levels (* Applicants are required to upload their teaching demos to Youtube as unlisted public videos and include the links as part of their application submission.)
  • lesson plans for each of the lessons shown in the teaching videos;
  • other evidence of teaching effectiveness;
  • names and contact information for three referees who could provide confidential reference letters (* Applicants should arrange for three reference letters to be sent directly from the referees to KoreanLanguage.References@ubc.ca. Reference letters should be in PDF format. Please have the letters and emails titled in the following format: applicant last name-first name-referee last name-first name-Reference-KoreanLanguage.)

 

All application materials should be submitted online at http://asia.ubc.ca/careers. The deadline for receipt of application materials is December 31, 2022.

 

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the British Columbia Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, but Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.  For information about the Department of Asian Studies, please visit www.asia.ubc.ca.

Given the uncertainty caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, applicants must be prepared to conduct interviews remotely if circumstances require. A successful applicant may be asked to consider an offer containing a deadline without having been able to make an in-person visit to campus if travel and other restrictions are still in place.

Lecturer in Japanese Language and Culture

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Application deadline: December 7, 2022

Date of posting: November 2, 2022

 

The Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Campus, invites applications for a full-time Lecturer position in Japanese Language and Culture, for three years with a possible renewal/extension, commencing September 1, 2023. In accordance with the Collective Agreement between UBC and the UBC Faculty Association, lecturer positions at UBC are appointments without review (i.e. non-tenure track), renewable for successive terms subject to availability of funds and demonstration of excellence in teaching and service.

 

We seek an exceptional and experienced teacher of Japanese Language courses at all levels with a track record of innovative curriculum design and employment of innovative pedagogies. The workload for this position includes teaching plus service.  The full-time teaching load for a Lecturer is 24 credits (eight 3-credit equivalent courses) per year, typically with a 3‐3 load in the Winter sessions and 2 courses or one intensive 6-credit course in one of the Summer sessions.

 

Requirements include: full professional fluency in both Japanese and English; a Master’s degree or higher degree in Japanese Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Teaching Japanese as a Second/Foreign Language, or a closely related field; evidence of teaching excellence; extensive experience in teaching all levels of Japanese language courses as well as topic specific or theme-based Japanese courses such as business Japanese, Japanese media, or topics on Japanese language, culture and society at the post-secondary level in North America; experience in supervising/training or working collaboratively with colleagues including parallel session instructors and/or TAs; experience in organizing co- and extra-curricular activities; evidence of teaching innovation, e.g. community-based learning and Content Based Instruction; a strong track record of full participation in team work and program affairs; and evidence of keeping abreast with recent developments in the field. A commitment to teaching upper-level content-based or special purpose courses and lower-level language courses simultaneously in a team setting will be an asset.

 

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an excellent record of teaching, active engagement in professional development and team-based curriculum design/development of teaching materials, perform instructional responsibilities in coordination with other instructors in parallel sections and other levels, as well as fully participate in program affairs and service. Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position is subject to final budgetary approval.

 

The application dossier should include:

  1. an application letter
  2. a curriculum vitae including the names and contact information for three referees who will provide confidential letters of recommendation
  3. a statement of teaching philosophy
  4. sample teaching videos for two courses, preferably one for a lower-level course and one for an upper-level one

*Applicants are required to upload their teaching demos to YouTube as unlisted public videos and to send the links as part of their application submission.

  1. lesson plans for each of the lessons shown in the sample teaching videos
  2. two sample course syllabi, preferably one at the lower-level and one at the upper-level
  3. evidence of teaching effectiveness
  4. a 1-page statement about the applicant’s experience working with a culturally diverse student body and contributions or potential contributions to creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion

 

All application materials should be submitted online at http://asia.ubc.ca/careers. Inquiries may be sent to asia.jobsearch@ubc.ca.

 

The deadline for receipt of application materials is December 7th, 2022. ** Applicants should also arrange for three reference letters (in PDF format) to be sent directly from the referees to japaneselanguage.references@ubc.ca by December 7th, 2022. Please have the letters and emails titled in the following format: applicant last name-first name-referee last name-first name-Reference-JAPNLecturer.

 

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

 

Given the uncertainty caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, applicants must be prepared to conduct interviews remotely if circumstances require. A successful applicant may be asked to consider an offer containing a deadline without having been able to make an in-person visit to campus if travel and other restrictions are still in place.

Assistant Professor in Modern Korean Popular Culture

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Application deadline: December 5, 2022

Date of posting: November 2 , 2022

 

The Department of Asian Studies, University of British Columbia, invites applications for a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in the field of Modern Korean Popular Culture. Preference will be given to candidates with research and teaching expertise in contemporary visual and digital media culture, cinema, literature, TV, music, gaming, fandoms, and diasporic communities. We would especially welcome applicants who can engage with innovative research on Korean popular culture across a range of intellectual contexts and in interdisciplinary environments. Applicants are expected to have full professional proficiency in both Korean and English.

 

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a relevant field or expect to have successfully defended the dissertation before July 1, 2023. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate excellence or strong potential in research and undergraduate and graduate teaching and to maintain an active program of research, publication, teaching, graduate supervision, and service. Information about the Department, a leading community of innovative research and teaching in Asian studies in Canada, can be found on its website, https://asia.ubc.ca/.

 

The application dossier should include:

  • A letter of application;
  • A curriculum vitae;
  • A 1-page statement identifying the applicant’s contributions, or potential contributions, to diversity, and ability to work with a culturally diverse student body;
  • A statement of teaching philosophy
  • One writing sample (maximum 30 pages);
  • Two sample course syllabi;
  • Evidence of teaching effectiveness;
  • The names and contact information for three referees who could provide confidential letters of recommendation

 

** Three confidential letters of recommendation should be sent directly from your referees to ModernKoreanPopCulture. References@ubc.ca by December 5, 2022. Reference letters should be in PDF format. Please ask the referees to have the letters and emails titled in the following format: applicant last name-first name-referee last name-first name-Reference-ModernKoreanPopCulture

 

The deadline for receipt of applications is December 5, 2022. The anticipated start date of employment is July 1, 2023.  All application materials (except reference letters) should be submitted online at http://asia.ubc.ca/careers. Inquiries may be sent to asia.jobsearch@ubc.ca.

 

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

 

This position is subject to final budgetary approval.  Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

 

Given the uncertainty caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, applicants must be prepared to conduct interviews remotely if circumstances require. A successful applicant may be asked to consider an offer containing a deadline without having been able to make an in-person visit to campus if travel and other restrictions are still in place.

Lecturer in Modern Chinese Literature and Cinema

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Application deadline: December 2, 2022

Date of posting: October 27, 2022

 

The Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus) is accepting applications for the position of Lecturer in Modern Chinese Literature and Cinema, commencing July 1, 2023.

 

A full-time Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts is responsible for 24 teaching credits (i.e., eight 3-credit courses) annually, typically with a 3‐3 load in the Winter sessions and 2 courses or one intensive 6-credit course in one of the Summer sessions. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in modern Chinese literature, culture, and cinema, primarily in English (ASIA-prefix content-based courses), and in Chinese (CHIN-prefix advanced language courses) as needed. The workload for this position also includes service assignments.

 

This is a full-time position, which entails a probationary first year. Lecturer positions are non-tenure track appointments, renewable for successive terms, subject to availability of funds and demonstration of excellence in teaching and service, in accordance with the Collective Agreement between UBC and the UBC Faculty Association.

Requirements include: A PhD in Chinese Literature, Chinese Cinema, or a related field (ABD candidates must expect to have successfully defended the dissertation before July 1, 2023); full professional fluency in Mandarin Chinese and English; extensive teaching experience in related fields at the college/university level in North America; and commitment to teamwork and service. Desirable qualifications include demonstrated interest and experience in technology-based instruction and curriculum development.

 

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an excellent record of teaching, active engagement in professional development and team-based curriculum design/development of teaching materials, perform instructional responsibilities in coordination with other instructors, as well as fully participate in program affairs and service.

 

The application dossier should include: application letter; curriculum vitae; statement of teaching philosophy; sample undergraduate course syllabi for one content-based (ASIA) course on modern Chinese literature, culture, or cinema and one advanced language (CHIN) course; evidence of teaching effectiveness; a one-page statement about your experience working with a diverse student body and your contributions or potential contributions to creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion; and the contact information for three confidential referees.

 

Long-listed applicants will be asked to submit a link to one sample teaching video, uploaded to YouTube (or equivalent platform) as an unlisted video. Applicants should arrange three confidential letters of recommendation, to be be submitted upon request.

 

All application materials should be submitted online at http://asia.ubc.ca/department/careers. Inquiries may be sent to asia.jobsearch@ubc.ca.

 

The deadline for receipt of application materials is December 2nd, 2022, and the anticipated start date of employment is July 1, 2023.

 

Other hiring information:

 

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position is subject to final budgetary approval.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

 

Given the uncertainty caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, applicants must be prepared to conduct interviews remotely if circumstances require. A successful applicant may be asked to consider an offer containing a deadline without having been able to make an in-person visit to campus if travel and other restrictions are still in place.

 

For information about the Department, please visit asia.ubc.ca.

 

 

Lecturer in Chinese Language and Literature

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Application deadline: December 29, 2022

Date of posting: October 26, 2022

 

The Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver Campus) is accepting applications for a Lecturer position in Chinese Language and Literature, commencing Sept 1, 2023.

 

This is a full‐time position for a term of up to three years, which entails a probationary first year. Lecturer positions are appointments without review (i.e., non‐tenure track), renewable for successive terms, subject to availability of funds and demonstration of excellence in teaching and service, in accordance with the Collective Agreement between UBC and the UBC Faculty Association.

 

A full‐time Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts is responsible for 24 teaching credits (i.e., eight 3‐credit courses) and service assignments, typically with a 3‐3 load in the Winter sessions and 2 courses or one intensive 6-credit course in one of the Summer sessions.

 

We seek candidates with expertise in teaching advanced content-based undergraduate courses in Chinese covering a wide range of topics including but not limited to Classical Chinese, pre-modern and modern Chinese literature, culture, and film, and English/Chinese translation. The successful candidate may also be expected to teach research intensive courses as well as Chinese literature courses in English translation as needed. We seek exceptional teachers with an excellent track record of employing innovative pedagogies such as online teaching and distance learning, community‐ based learning, creative approaches to teaching, and curriculum/program design. The workload for this position also includes service assignments.

 

Successful applicants must have full professional fluency in both Mandarin Chinese and English; a Ph.D or ABD in Chinese Language and Literature or a closely related field (a Ph.D Degree in Chinese Language and Literature Education is preferred); evidence of excellent teaching ability in courses at the post‐secondary level in North America; a strong track record of full participation in team teaching and program affairs; commitment to teaching innovations in large classes and content courses; evidence of active student‐engagement in teaching; experience in computer‐assisted teaching, teaching online courses or developing online course material for literature courses; and evidence of keeping abreast with recent developments in the field and in the development of teaching materials. Individuals with the expertise to teach both pre‐modern and modern Chinese literature or both classical and modern Chinese, as well as translation theory, English‐to‐Chinese translation, and Chinese‐to‐English translation are particularly encouraged to apply. Teaching expertise in film studies, performing arts, or popular culture will also be assets for the positions. The successful candidates will be expected to maintain an excellent record of teaching, active engagement in professional development and team‐based curriculum design/development of teaching materials, perform instructional responsibilities in coordination with other instructors in parallel sections and other levels, as well as fully participate in program affairs and service.

 

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. These positions are subject to final budgetary approval.

 

The application dossier should include an application letter, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching philosophy, sample teaching videos for two different content courses (one literature course taught in Chinese and one content course taught in English preferred), lesson plans for each of the lessons shown in the sample teaching videos, and other evidence of teaching effectiveness. Applicants should provide a one‐page statement about your experience working with a diverse student body and your contributions or potential contributions to creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion. Applicants are required to upload their teaching demos to YouTube and to send the links as part of their application submission. All application materials should be submitted online at  http://asia.ubc.ca/careers.  The deadline for receipt of application materials is Dec 29, 2022. Please also arrange for confidential letters of recommendation from three referees to be sent directly to ChineseLanguageLiterature.References@ubc.ca by Dec 29. Reference letters should be in PDF format. Please have the letters and emails titled in the following format: applicant last name-first name-referee last name-first name-Reference-ChineseLanguage&Literature

 

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

 

Given the uncertainty caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, applicants must be prepared to conduct interviews remotely if circumstances require. A successful applicant may be asked to consider an offer containing a deadline without having been able to make an in-person visit to campus if travel and other restrictions are still in place.

 

For information about the Department, please visit asia.ubc.ca.

 

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