• (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
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• no.54
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• pp.213-233
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• 2014

The present study examines Bangsanjib(舫山集, Collected Works of Bangsan) written by Heo Hun (許薰, pen name: Bangsan), a scholar of the late Joseon Dynasty. Chapter 2 reviews the author's life and his academic orientations against the backdrop of his times. Chapter 3 goes on to select some of his essays and analyze their contents and characteristics. In Chapter 2, Bangsan is portrayed as a hermit scholar who devoted his entire life to his scholarly achievements. Although he tried to develop his academic theories based on both the Geungi and Yeongnam Schools of Neo-Confucianism, the scholar was more inclined to the Geungi School. Chapter 3 analyzes Bangsan's essays in Classical Chinese with a focus on two themes: The first is the author's loyalty to the academic tradition of the Geungi School, which is demonstrated by his positivistic and pragmatic approach to philosophical issues. The second is his awareness of self-reliant national defense as is revealed by his assertion that Joseon should have knowledge, and provide education, on new weapons in order to be better equipped with such military equipment and become a powerful nation.