Tongmong sŏnsŭp

Tongmong sŏnsŭp (Korean: 동몽선습; Hanja: 童蒙先習), or the Primer for Youth, is an educational text intended for young children that was used during the Joseon Dynasty. It was compiled by Soyodang Pak Semu (박세무; 朴世茂; 1487–1564) during the reign of King Jungjong (r. 1506–1544), and represents one of the earliest such educational texts.^[1][2]

Content

It was a representative educational text for beginner children,^[3] which they were required to study after completing the Thousand Character Classic. It was also used in the royal family for the education of the crown prince.^[4] The "Tongmong sŏnsŭp ŏnhae" (童蒙先習諺解) is a translated hangul version of the "Tongmong sŏnsŭp" into vernacular Korean, first published in 1742 by the order of King Yeongjo.^[5]

This book is notable for being among the first textbooks for children in the Joseon era and served as a foundational text following the study of the "Thousand Character Classic".

Sections

Five Principles of Confucianism: This section elaborates on the core ethical principles of Confucianism, including filial piety, the relationships between father and son, husband and wife, and the importance of loyalty and trust among friends. It emphasizes that these principles are fundamental moral characters bestowed by heaven, with filial piety being the root of all virtues.^[6]

Historical Accounts: This section provides a moralistic view of history, covering Chinese history from ancient times to the Ming Dynasty, followed by a concise yet systematic account of Korean history from King Dangun through the Three Han confederacies (Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan), the Three Kingdoms (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla), and then Goryeo, and Joseon. It aims to instill a positive view of Korean history, highlighting the country's cultural achievements as comparable to those of China.