<Sunghaksipdo VR>, virtual reality embodying philosophical and conceptual heritage

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we introduce the <Sunghaksipdo VR> project, which is based on Sunghaksipdo (聖學十圖). Known as the Ten Diagrams on Sage Learning, Sunghaksipdo was a heritage created by Toegye, the Korean Confucian scholar of the Joseon Dynasty. While conveying philosophical concepts such as Li (理) and Gyung (敬) and their spiritual values of mindfulness from the heritage to VR, we have focused on reconnecting the original visual diagrams and texts into perceivable VR experiences. We approached this task through the following: (1) by constructing conceptual and philosophical VR space and environments based on the original diagrams, (2) by creating conceptual objects inside VR, and (3) by designing diverse user interactions with such virtual conceptual objects. Particularly the interactions allow the user’s embodied experience and performative engagement, which become a way of understanding the meaning of the philosophical message. While explaining these with diverse exemplary cases, we hope to show how new media and interactive VR technologies can be used to realize philosophical concepts and spiritual value. Through this, we hope to discuss how VR could be imagined as a tangible philosophy discovering the plane of immanence.

KEYWORDS:

• Virtual reality
• <Sunghaksipdo VR>
• tangible philosophy
• ‘Ten Diagrams on Sage Learning’
• spiritual heritage

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the researchers including Jinhun Park, Jiyun Kim, Joon Seok Moon, Seung Cheol Hyun, HeeDae Kim, Yuyeol Byeon, Yu-kyung Jang, Jungmin Yoon, Nguyen Ngoc Huyen Tran, Haejin Jung, Dahee Park, MyeongHwan Jo, Moon Kyung Shin, Hyun Soo Kim, Ho-nam Kim, Gwang Min Hong, Boryeon Choi, DongHwan Kim, Mae-Hwe Kim, YeongJu Yang, Saehae Chung, Bori Cha at X-media Art & Research Center at ICONS (Institute of Convergence Science), Yonsei University. We also appreciate gratitude to Soko Jang, Jeong Han Kim, Hyungsin Kim, June Park, Junsuk Park, Sungsil Kim.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Open Heritage webpage: https://artsandculture.google.com/project/openheritage.

2 The online ‘Labyrinth’, http://www.labyrinth.org.uk.

3 The Holy City, https://www.holycityvr.com/.

4 More information about <Sunghaksipdo VR> project is available at http://visionguider.com and the YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeRrC7Fu62fRvfcYdr454Gw.

5 Graham Harman argues for object-oriented ontology (OOO). In The Quadruple Object, Harman describes his theory of object as fourfold. According to him, there are two types of objects—Real Objects and Sensual Objects. These have two types of qualities—real qualities and sensual qualities. Real Objects are objects that withdraw from all experience, whereas sensual objects are those that exist only in experience. We thought that Li or Gyung are similar to Harman’s Real Object. Real Objects have real qualities, however, neither is accessible (Harman 2011).

6 Leah Karlmanson is a Western scholar who pointed out that this momentary penetration (豁然貫通) in Eastern Neo-Confucianism could explain more clearly what speculative realism is trying to say in the West today, ‘In his commentary on the Great Learning (大學), [Zhu Xi (Chu Hui)] describes the moment at which the mind is transformed beyond the limited inner awareness of the petty person: “When he reaches the point where he has exerted effort for a long time, one day [everything] will suddenly interpenetrate (貫通). Then the external and internal, subtle, and gross [qualities] of all things will be apprehended […]” (qtd. in Adler 2004, 134). At this point we can better appreciate the resources that the Confucian tradition brings to the dilemmas of speculative realism. This sudden interpenetration of internal and external—this resonant attunement of mind Qi through the apprehension of Li is speculation par excellence’ (Karlmanson 2018, 24).

7 In February 2021, re-illuminating nine seowons, <Sunghaksipdo VR> was also introduced along with Dosan Seowon in the documentary aired via Korean Broadcasting Station. The documentary particularly depicted <Sunghaksipdo VR> in the perspective of how traditional and cultural heritage is being re-illuminated and revisited in the view of young scholars and artists with new technologies. The part of <Sunghaksipdo VR> in the documentary can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67CeftJEeD4&t=7s, Also about this documentary, refer to the news article, http://www.cha.go.kr/newsBbz/selectNewsBbzView.do?newsItemId=155702537&sectionId=b_sec_1&pageIndex=27&strWhere=&strValue=&mn=NS_01_02_02.

8 Dosan Seowon, which is one of nine Korean Neo-Confucian Academies, was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019. Dosan Seowon was established in 1574 in Andong, South Korea. Having retired to the location in 1549, Toegye began constructing this place, which could offer education and commemoration. This site has been well known as one of the leading academies of the Josun era and home to the Toegye school of thought for over 400 years.

9 The participant interview is also included in the video mentioned in the endnote no. 7.

Additional information

Funding

This work has been supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea [NRF-2017S1A5B6055825]; Yonsei University Research Grant [2021-22-0220]; ICONS, Yonsei University.

Notes on contributors

Hyun Jean Lee

Hyun Jean Lee is a media artist and theorist. Lee earned a PhD in Digital Media at the Georgia Institute of Technology. After earning a BFA from Seoul National University in Korea, Lee studied at the ITP, New York University supported by a Fulbright scholarship and a Rockefeller Brothers Fund Fellowship from the Asian Cultural Council. Currently she is a professor of Media Art at the Graduate School of Communication and Arts and a director of X-Media Art and Research Center, both at Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. Lee leads <Sunghaksipdo VR> project as a director since 2017.

Wonjean Lee

Wonjean Lee is a researcher in comparative philosophy. She received her doctorate in Korean Confucianism, especially Toegye Yi-Hwang’s philosophy, at Sungkwunkwan University in Korea. After earning a BA from Seoul National University in Seoul, Korea, Lee, received her master’s degree in Western Philosophy at Seoul National University and X-cultural Studies at Kookmin University. She currently works as a researcher at the X-Media Art and Research Center at ICONS, Yonsei University. Lee leads <Sunghaksipdo VR> project as a co-director with Hyun Jean Lee.