大同思想来源于儒家，但与道家、墨家也有关系。对大同、小康思想的描述主要在《礼记·礼运》篇中。生活在朝鲜中期的栗谷李珥则提出了除“大同”和“小康”以外的另一种社会发展目标“少康”，即“稍微安康的状态”。扩展了大同社会论及相关哲学理论的外延。栗谷认为，在实现君王所欲求的“小康”社会之前，实现“少康”是更加切实和必要的。这一思想缘于栗谷自身所处的历史环境。不过，栗谷认为，不管是“少康”还是“小康”都应将最终的目标设定为“大同”。
The thought of Great Harmony is not only from Confucianism， but also related with Taoism and Mohism. Thought of “Great Harmony” and “well-off society” were mainly described in “book of Rites”. In mid time of Korea， Yulgok is proposed another social development goals—a slightly well-off society in addition to “Great Harmony” and “well-off society”. He expanded the extension theory and related theory of philosophy on the thought of “Great Harmony”. In Yulgok's view， a slightly well-off society is more practical and necessary before the king's dreaming of “ a well-off society ”. This thought stems from the historical environment in which Yulgok lived . But Yulgok's position is， the Great Harmony should be the ultimate goal whether it is“well-off society”or“a slightly well-off society”.
