Practical Learning School

Practical Learning School

 or Silhak

School of thought that arose in 18th-century Korea, dedicated to a practical approach to statecraft. It attacked Neo-Confucianism, particularly its formalism and concern with ritual. Members of the school originated many ideas for social reform and the development of farming. Notable contributors include Yi Ik (1681–1763), who wrote on land reform and the abolition of class barriers, and Pak Chi-won (1737–1805), who advocated the development of commerce and technology. The school contributed to the wave of modernization that occurred after the introduction of Western culture into Korea in the late 19th century.