• Title/Summary/Keyword: the king exercises government by means of his virtue

Search Result 1, Processing Time 0.014 seconds

Academic Enrichment from The Great Learning(大學) to The Essentials of Sagely Learning(聖學輯要) when looking at it in the dimension of Governing of Others or Governance of humankind (治人) (치인(治人)의 차원에서 본 『대학(大學)』에서 『성학집요(聖學輯要)』로의 학문적 심화)

  • Shin, Chang Ho
    • (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
    • /
    • no.36
    • /
    • pp.375-402
    • /
    • 2009
  • In this study, the researcher put together the changing process of Chinese Confucian into Korean Confucian Thought in the dimension of Chiin 'Governing of Others. By analyzing 'Seonghak jibyo' which is reinterpretation of 'Daehak' and also academic enrichment, the researcher investigated the aspects of acceptance of 'Daehak' in Joseon Period. 'Daehak' was the basic textbook for 'Emperorship Learning'(帝王學, 'Jewang Hak') as well as 'Sage Learning'(聖學, 'Seong Hak') over the whole Joseon Period, and it can be understood that 'Seonghak jibyo'- the Essentials of Sagely Learning compiled by Yulgok(栗谷) is the totalization of such learning. Yulgok organized the system of 'Seonghak jibyo' largely in five volumes and placed Samgangnyeong(三綱領, Three Doctrines or Essential Principles) and Paljomok(八條目, Eight Articles) of 'Daehak' in an appropriate manner. Among those, 'Chiin' was discussed intensively in the Volume Three, 'Jeonga'(正家-Family in Correct State) and also the Volume Four, 'Uijeong'(爲政 the king exercises government by means of his virtue). In the volume, 'Jeonga', Yulgok clearly arranged the core virtues for which the family is obliged to put into practice in everyday life having segmented the contents of the doctrine of Jega(齊家-to order family relationships) in 'Daehak', and, in 'Uijeong', Yulgok deepened the contents of 'Chiguk Pyeongcheonha'(治國平天下, ordering the state, bringing peace to the whole world) and presented consciousness on the spirit of contemporary as well as the practice of the state managements in an affirmative manner. These prove the validity of learning steps by presenting the practice guideline to fit the situation while well preserving the basic system of Confucian thought that leads to 'Chiin' (治人-'Governing of Others' or Governance of humankind) based on 'Sugi'(修己, the cultivation of the self). And such viewpoints feature the characteristics of Joseon Confucian Thought which had been through more abundant enrichment process than Chinese Confucian. Therefore, Yulgok's thoughts expounded in The Essentials of Sagely Learning(聖學輯要, 'Seonghak jibyo') can be regarded as criteria to understand humanity and arts cherished by Joseon people, as well as the distinctive features of politics.