Originally written in Japanese and later translated into Korean, this book discusses the historical development of Korean Confucianism in terms of its social functions. It also examines the types of transfiguration Confucianism underwent and the role it played in each period of Korean history. The book spans from the Three Kingdoms period (18 BCE to 660 CE) to the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). This book emphasizes three ideas. First, the author approaches the significance of Confucianism from the perspective of its cultural and social context. Second, the author explains Confucianism from a perspective that reflects on exchanges between Korea and Japan and the broader context of East Asian relationships. Third, the author criticizes the views of some Korean academics whose works on Confucianism are considered to be distortions and misinterpretations.