Silhak

• Korean: 實學 (silhak)

Silhak, or "Practical Learning," was an intellectual movement in Joseon Dynasty Korea which advocated empirical approaches, engagement with Western ideas, and a search for indigenous Korean (i.e. rather than Chinese or Confucian) culture and identity. In the 18th century, during the so-called Korean Renaissance, Silhak became the dominant scholarly attitude.

Arts

In the arts, silhak inspired a shift away from the painting of idealized landscapes to the depiction of real scenes. Genre scenes, that is, paintings of commoners & their lifestyles and activities, became popular as well.

References

• Hyeonjeong Kim Han, In Grand Style, San Francisco: Asian Art Museum (2013), 56.