VOL.93/2026.04

Conditions for Timeless Books

Korean book critic’s pick

2025.07.07

Having made reading books my profession, I look back and realize that I have read countless books. Although my major was literature, my interests leaned toward the humanities, and I also developed an interest in science, in line with the trends of the time. Most of the books I read were translations, but I also encountered some notable works by Korean authors. I was always delighted to read books by authors who could write about profound topics in a way that was accessible to the general public. One day, I began to wonder randomly what characteristics long-lasting humanities books share. I considered various possibilities, but ultimately concluded that they are books that help readers gain a profound understanding of classics.

The book that played a decisive role in shaping this idea was Mencius, the Politics of Mind (Sakyejul Publishing) by Professor Bae Byung-Sam. This book is a complete translation of Mencius with commentary on the entire text. One might question the appropriateness of giving it such high praise, as it is simply a translation of a classic text, and as there are already many complete translations of Mencius available. However, Bae Byung-Sam’s translation is different. It is based on a deep understanding of Mencius’ philosophy. In the previously published book, What is Confucianism to Us? (Greenreview Publishing), it was argued that the core of Mencius’ philosophy is that yeomin (與民; meaning that the ruler not only cares for the people, but also shares their joys and sorrows), samgang (三綱; three important moral precepts in Confucian ethics), and oryun (五倫; five basic principles to observe in human relationships) are different, and that unconditional obedience is not true filial piety. Because he provides an overview of Mencius as a whole from this perspective, the book differs from existing translations and offers a much deeper commentary.
In particular, it is noteworthy that he placed Mencius’s philosophical contribution in the discovery of the “mind.” As Mencius is commonly known as the proponent of the dynastic circle (易姓革命; yeokseonghyeokmyung; a theory justifying the changing of dynasties), one might expect more radical statements to follow when the title of political science is attached. However, for the dynastic circle to work, people need to understand that everyone is born with a good heart, which is what we call sungsun (性善; innate goodness). The king needs to build on and expand (擴充; hwakchung) this heart, and lay the foundation for people to have a stable livelihood (恒産; hangsan) and a righteous heart (恒心; hangshim) through wise leadership. If the king neglects this responsibility, only then does the dynastic circle gain moral legitimacy. The idea that a good heart is our nature resonates with modern evolutionary psychology’s discussion of the instinct for empathy, making it an intriguing concept.
Furthermore, Bae Byung-Sam clearly stressed that Mencius inherited Confucius’s ideology and developed the idea while in a tense relationship with Mozi, with whom he had ideological conflicts. Reading Mencius in the context of the history of philosophy opens up new horizons of understanding, as this book reveals.

The 18th century was a special time because it marked a global cultural renaissance. Joseon was no exception. This was the era of King Yeongjo and King Jeongjo, a time when brilliant figures such as Hong Dae-Yong, Lee Deok-Mu, Park Je-Ga, Park Ji-Won, and Jeong Yak-Yong were making their mark. Professor Jung Min is someone who has drawn attention to Joseon intellectuals of this period and achieved remarkable results. Among his many books, the most interesting and suspenseful one I have read is The Literary Republic of 18th-Century Korean and Chinese Intellectuals (Munhakdongne Publishing).
Given the author’s exceptional writing skills, it is easy to understand why this book is interesting, but what does it mean to say that it makes you feel tense? This book describes the author’s search for the collection of Chikashi Fujitsuka, who was a professor at Gyeongseong Imperial University, at the Harvard-Yenching Library, the exchange of knowledge between Korean and Chinese intellectuals that he learned about in the process, and his discovery that “Yeonpyeongchoryeonguimodo (연평초령의모도; Zheng Chenggong’s Childhood Portrait),” which is believed to have been painted by Park Je-Ga, is actually not his work, and the story of Park Ji-Won, who became a best-selling author in Northeast Asia with his book The Jehol Diary (열하일기). In fact, Professor Jung Min wrote this article while at Harvard University, and the excitement he felt in discovering and confirming new facts each time is fully reflected in the text, making it impossible to read without feeling a sense of tension.
Some authors produce many works, while others produce only a few. But, one thing is certain: in the end, only one book remains. Enduring the test of time and public taste, and being consistently read, is such a difficult task. These two authors will probably also have only one of their many books remembered and read. I don’t know what they themselves may think, but I expect that these books will survive, be read for generations to come, and be consistently evaluated as achievements in the humanities.

Written by Lee Kwon-Woo (Book critic)