Seonbi | |
![]() 18th-century painting of a seonbi composing a poem | |
Korean name | |
---|---|
Hangul | 선비 |
Revised Romanization | Seonbi |
McCune–Reischauer | Sŏnbi |
Seonbi (Korean: 선비; MR: Sŏnbi) were scholars during the Goryeo and Joseon periods of Korean history. They were generally seen as non-governmental servants of the public,[1] who chose to pass on the benefits and authority of official power in order to develop and share knowledge.[2] However, some former bureaucrats were seen as seonbi, as they moved to the countryside after retirement and adopted the seonbi lifestyle.[3]
Seonbis in the traditional sense do not exist today, although the term is sometimes used metaphorically to describe people. When applied to a person, the meaning can be complimentary, highlighting a person's intelligence, morality, and composure.[4] However, it can also be used negatively, similarly to the English term "geezer", or to highlight a perceived anachronistic value system.[5] Also, it also sometimes is used with a connotation with hypocrisy, especially due to the rampant corruption of the Joseon dynasty.