• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.25
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• pp.355-379
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• 2009

According to the estimations in historical books and research achievements which have been produced, Ji-kang was a prominent Taoist in the Wei-Jin dynasty. But some philosophers, on their opinions, regard Ji-kang as a scholar who withdrawal from ordinary life in the real society. In this sense, this article investigates the Ji-kang's perspective of the life in seclusion, in particular, by analysing the letter to Shan Ju-yuan in breaking off relations與山居源絶交書. The purpose of this thesis is to clarify Ji-kang's the ideal of life, by discussing the reaction to the realistic society, the reflection on the confused society and the change into the new ideal of life of Ji-kang. Ji-kang's the ideal of life in the letter to Shan Ju-yuan in breaking off relations與山居源絶交書 have the following characteristics: First, he has pursued to participate in the real society by passive and immediate way, but he realized how difficult his ideal comes true. Thus, he seek the new ideal of life, hermit. Second, according to the view of hermit in the ancient Chinese tradition, his view of hermit implicates the change in his ideological tendency from the hermit of Confucianism and Taoism to the hermit of Taoism. Third, he tried whatever methods that were passive and seclusive to participate in the real society, but he isn't a common idealist. In this way, Ji-kang applied these thought of the social life and the ideal of life to the philosophy of living.

• Archives of design research
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• v.9
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• pp.1001-1008
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• 1994