Confucianism is one of, if not the most, influential of ideologies and philosophies that has shaped the thinking and culture of much of east Asia. (When I was at Cornell studying Chinese history and culture we used to refer to Confucianism as "the C-word" because whenever we used the term to discuss an aspect of Chinese history, a professor or class mate would be quick to seize on its use and demand that we clarified not just what we meant but which aspect or variation or interpretation of Confuciansm we were referring to.)
Confucianism with its strong emphasis on learning, education, and social training for the benefit of all has had great influence in this part of the world.
Some, mostly Koreans, would argue that nowhere has the influence of Confucianism on society and culture been greater than in Korea. (It's worth reminding people that for most of modern history until 1945, the Korean peninsula had been one unified nation and one unified people.) I remember once in Taiwan having a Korean state that Korean society was more Confucian than that of China and Taiwan. ( a statement many in China or Taiwan would disagree with, by the way, but interesting in that at least some Koreans claimed their society to be the best example of a Confucian society on the planet.)
But what about North Korea? Does its not just Communist, but extremely Communist, society show Confucian influence? Believe it or not the answer is a resounding yes and in many ways.
Remember this symbol, perhaps the best known Communist symbol in the world today?
This symbolizes the union of farmers and factory workers in Communist society. The scythe or sickle, symbol of the farmer, linked with the hammer, symbol of a factory worker, united together for the benefit of both. (at least that's the idea. Like many things, Communism was a great idea in theory but not so wonderful in practice, but that's a subject for another day. Just work with me here and enjoy the pretty symbols please.)
So, is this symbol used in North Korea? Well, kind of. Check this out.
This is the flag of the symbol of the Korean Workers' Party, the Communist party of North Korea. On the left, of course, we have the hammer, symbolizing the factory workers, and on the right, we have the scythe symbolizing the farmers, but what's this thing in the middle?
That is a brush, known in Chinese as a "mao-bi"( 毛筆 ) the traditional writing instrument of a Confucian scholar. After all, what would society be without the inclusion of scholars?
This "hair pen" (some say the word "brush" is disrespectful in this context) is given a place of reverence and cared for carefully. It is a symbol of education, learning, good manners, and tradition and should be treated as such.
And in Korea, even after decades of Communist dictatorship, it is still treated as one of the symbols of a sound and healthy society, something that needs to be included if people are going to work for the greater good.
MORE READING
Korean Calligraphy
The Flag of the Korean Workers' Party
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