Student Evaluation Examinations in Chosŏn Local Schools
Presented by Martin Gehlmann, Ruhr University Bochum
The event will take place at 18:00 Central European Time/ 9:00 AM Los Angeles Time
Please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAocuCprz4oH90PbiETPC0TUWhKf1fG6HSF
The reform of the student evaluation examination (kyosaeng kogang 校生考講) at the beginning of the 17th century marks a break in the examination culture and educational history of Chosŏn Korea. In order to strengthen the underfunded military after the Japanese invasions of 1592, student evaluation examinations were adjusted to now punish failure by revoking student status and exemption from military taxes and obligations. This stood in stark contrast to the educational ideals promoted by the founders of the dynasty and incited strong opposition among students and scholar-officials. Resistance against the new exclusionary format of the examinations reveals not only a general understanding of examinations and their social role, but the ensuing negotiation between students and state over standards regarding scope and content of the exams offers insight about knowledge of students as well as knowledge assessment practices in Chosŏn Korea.
About the Presenter
Martin Gehlmann is a research and teaching assistant at the Department of Korean Studies at Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB). His research interests include East Asian educational history, institutional history in premodern Korea, Confucianism, and Confucian cultural heritage. Previously, he has worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Korean Studies and the Collaborative Research Center 980 “Episteme in Motion” at Freie Universität Berlin. He received his PhD in December 2020 for a thesis on Confucian Academies. He also is co-editor of the volume “Confucian Academies in East Asia” that was published in 2020 in the Brill book series “Science and Religion in East Asia.”