A Korean War Captive in Japan, 1597�1600

Kang Hang was a Korean scholar-official taken prisoner in 1597 by an invading Japanese army during the Imjin War of 1592-1598. While in captivity in Japan, Kang recorded his thoughts on human civilization, war, and the enemy's culture and society, acting in effect as a spy for his king. A neo-Confucianist with a deep knowledge of Chinese philosophy and history, Kang drew a distinct line between the Confucian values of his world, which distinguished self, family, king, and country, and a foreign culture that practiced invasion and capture and, in his view, was largely incapable of civilization. Presenting the rare voice of a Korean speaking plainly on war and captivity, this volume enables a deeper appreciation of the phenomenon of war at home and abroad.