Korea as Represented in Eighteenth-Century French Travel Literature
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Year:
- 2006
- Journal Title:
- Review of Korean Studies
- Volume:
- 9
- Issue:
- 4
- Language:
- Abstract:
The most informative texts about the Far East in 18th century France were reports sent home by Jesuit missionaries. Their correspondence was published in a periodical entitled Edifying and Curious Letters. These reports were an excellent source regarding the Far East because the Jesuits, who were genuinely curious about native customs, held relatively cooperative and open attitudes toward the natives. This approach allowed them to have unprecedented access to the lives of the natives in the region as well as those of the Chinese royalty.
This paper focuses on two sources that mention Korea: Jean-Baptiste Du Halde’s Descriptions of the Chinese Empire and Chinese Tartary (1735) and Abbé Prévost’s The General History of Voyages (1748). The references to Korea in both texts are based on the written records of Jean-Baptiste Régis, a Jesuit priest who lived in China.
Although Régis, as indicated in Du Halde’s text, thought of Korea as a Chinese colony, he was interested in the history, geography, and customs of the country, and he actually met some Koreans and made references to their innocent nature. Prévost’s work is a translation of A New General Collection of Voyages and Travels compiled by the Englishman John Green. Its section on Korea consists of a summary of the 17th century Hamel Voyage as well as Régis’ testimony that was also chronicled in Du Halde’s work. The two texts show that the Europeans’ first impressions of Korea were relatively accurate from their scientific standpoint, but largely imaginary in their humanistic descriptions. In addition to the descriptions of the culture and people of Korea, this paper explores the historical, political, and social context of the period in France in which these texts were published. It also examines the influences of philosophers of the day, such as Voltaire, on French society’s recognition of “the other.” Characterized by Enlightenment, 18th century France started to view its own culture objectively based on its observations of foreign cultures. However, the cultural superiority of the West had not yet formed nor had “Orientalism” emerged. While it was a period of exploration not too far removed from the geopolitical ambitions of colonialism, there were even some attempts made to change parts of French society using China as a model.
- Who (Jesuits):
- What (Subjects):
- Where (Locations):
- When (Centuries):
- Page Range:
- 83–101
- ISSN:
- 1225-0076