Virtue That Matters is a groundbreaking exploration of the intricate dynamics of chastity culture in Choson Korea from 1392 to 1910, shedding light on its political, legal, social, and cultural significance. In this book, Jungwon Kim demonstrates how an emphasis on female chastity came to pervade society as it intertwined with state ideology and elite interests. By analyzing a copious range of sources including governmental publications, legal records, and womens own writings, Kim unveils the rich tapestry of Choson societys attitudes toward female chastity and argues that extreme chastity culture was not merely a product of Confucianization but was also shaped by diverse social forces and individual agency. Furthermore, Kim reframes the discourse on chastity by focusing on womens experiences and perspectives, challenging the traditional portrayal of women as marginal to Choson history.
Virtue That Matters illustrates the complex interplay between state-led indoctrination, socio-legal changes, and gender relations in Choson Korea. Kim also shows how the discourse on womens chastity evolved over time and continued to influence social dynamics well into the twentieth century. By highlighting the enduring legacy of chastity culture in modern Korean society, Virtue That Matters provides valuable insights into contemporary debates on gender and sexuality.
Virtue That Matters is a groundbreaking exploration of chastity culture in Choson Korea that illustrates the interplay between state-led indoctrination, socio-legal changes, and gender relations. Jungwon Kim includes womens own writings and argues that chastity culture was a product of Confucianization, social forces, and individual agency.
