Sharing new research on Japan and Asia

In addition to young researchers from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the seminar had the participation of experts such as Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Kim Son (Hanoi National University), Professor Dr. Do Quang Hung (University of Social Sciences and Humanities),Prof. Dr. Hoa Huu Lan (Hanoi Institute for Socio-Economic Development Research), …

Overview of the discussion

The panel listened to and discussed around 03 main presentations.

Discussion "Tolerant view of life in the thought of monk Shinran (1173-1262)" by Dr. Pham Thi Thu Giang (Department of Japanese Studies). Shinran was a monk who lived during the Kamakura period, known as the founder of Jodo Shinshu, one of the largest Buddhist sects in Japan and only in Japan. The ideology that ran through Shinran's 90 years of religious activities and was also the strongest attraction of Jodo Shinshu was an open-minded view of life. Shinran always kept in mind the construction of a Buddhism for "ordinary people" and "evil people" and sought a path of liberation suitable for them. Through concepts such as Karma, Buddha nature, Desire and the theory of Evil People, Shinran expressed his skepticism towards traditional Buddhism and his boundless sympathy for the sufferings of the common people, who were not considered by contemporary Buddhists to be objects of liberation.

MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong (Department of Korean Studies) presented a paper on the harmony in Korea's economic development strategy in the period 1961-1970.

Discussion "Confucianism and democratic thought (Discussion on Confucian "democratic" thought of Tran Trong Kim in Confucianism)"Presented by Dr. Nguyen Tho Duc (Head of the Department of Sinology). The paper outlines the basic contents and viewpoints of Tran Trong Kim on the Confucian "democratic" thought in Confucianism, on that basis, it evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of Tran Trong Kim's view on the Confucian "democratic" thought. In addition, the article initially places Confucianism in the context of the general movement and development of regional Confucianism in the early 20th century, and preliminarily explores the similarities and differences in the content and modernization of Confucian thought in terms of "democracy" between Tran Trong Kim and modern Chinese Neo-Confucianism.

Prof. Dr. Hoa Huu Lan (Hanoi Institute for Socio-Economic Development Research)speech on the report of MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong

The final presentation of the panel discussion was “Harmony in Korea's economic development strategy in the period 1961-1970, focusing on capital and human resources" by MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong (Department of Korean Studies). The research paper examines the direction of using capital and human resources proposed in the process of planning economic development policies of Korea in the period of 1961-1979 (when the late President Park Chung-hee came to power). On that basis, the article points out the harmonious combination between internal capital and external capital, between the introduction of Western educational methods and traditional Korean ethical foundations such as Confucianism or discipline. Commenting on this scientific report, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duy Dung (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) said that the research paper has chosen the right issue of key significance to create the miraculous "Han River legend" of Korea in the 60s and 70s of the last century, when Korea from a poor and backward country became an Asian dragon. That is the rational use of capital and human resources. The success of the article is not only helps to identify each content in the way of implementing Korea's economic development strategy and also explains the issue in a theoretical and practical way, thereby pointing out valuable lessons for Vietnam's development.

The “New Studies on Japan and Asia” symposium series sponsored by the Toshiba Foundation aims to promote research activities and academic exchanges among young staff, and to promote the sharing of new scientific research results on Japan in particular and Asia in general. The third symposium in this scientific symposium series is scheduled to be held in November 2014.