South Korea Middle School Classical Chinese Elective Curriculum

Classical Chinese (Hanmun, 한문) is an elective subject offered in South Korean middle schools. Students learn approximately 900 Hanja characters during their middle school years. The curriculum aims to develop students' ability to use Hanja vocabulary, comprehend Classical Chinese texts, and understand the cultures of the Hanja sphere, including Korean traditional culture and the wisdom of past generations.

One middle school Hanmun textbook provides the following structure, which offers insight into the typical content covered in this elective:

I. Introduction to Classical Chinese

• Hanja and Classical Chinese
• Constructing Characters: Pictographs and Ideographs
• Dictionaries and Radicals

II. Everyday Hanja Vocabulary

• Vocabulary Studies (ordered and reverse order)

III. Idioms (Chengyu)

• Idioms with Numbers
• Idioms with Animals
• Idioms with Stories

IV. Short Sayings with Profound Teachings

• Witty Remarks
• Memorable Phrases
• Classical Literature Excerpts

V. Meaningful and Harmonious Living

• Utilizing Everyone's Talents
• The True Rich Man, Mandeok
• Admiral Yi Sun-sin
• Wisdom of the Farmer
• The Reason for Throwing Gold into the River

VI. Splendid Korean Culture

• Shared Holidays
• The Story of Ganji in Daily Life
• Calculation Methods of the Ancients
• Our Precious Land
• The Right Words to Teach the People

VII. Like a Painting, Like a Song

• My Distant Hometown
• Sad Farewell on a Clear Day

VIII. Encounters with Figures from Old Texts

• Princess Pyeonggang's Choice
• Meeting Heo Saeng

It is worth noting that Hanja education in South Korea begins in 7th grade (junior high/middle school) and continues through 12th grade. A total of 1800 Hanja are taught throughout secondary school. While not compulsory in universities, Hanja is often offered as an elective or extracurricular activity.