sadaebu

The sadaebu were a class of scholar-officials in Korea during the Goryeo dynasty (1392–1910). These men generally managed small farms in their home districts and were critical of superficial interpretations of Confucianism. They embraced neo-Confucianism, which offered a more metaphysical understanding of the universe.1

The sadaebu, along with General Yi Seong-gye, eventually seized power, ending the Goryeo dynasty and establishing the Joseon dynasty. This new dynasty officially adopted Confucianism, replacing Buddhism, and established institutions of learning. Society was dominated by the hereditary aristocratic class known as the yangban, who held public office through civil service examinations and controlled most of the land.2