한국학의 기원으로서 조선서학의 의의

Abstract

The aims of the globalization of Korean Studies is to develop Korean Studies abroad and to encourage Korean cultural identity and pride, and to define the sphere of Korean Studies. In addition, globalization of Korean Studies intends to improve Korean Studies' international status as an independent Culturology like Sinology and Japanology. In 1990's many scholars put a lot of efforts in the process of globalization of Korean Studies through different perspectives and critical approaches, but the results were not up to par. In many ways the movement toward globalization of Korean Studies was already inherent in the concept, namely Chosun Studies. The interest towards Chosun Studies appeared in 1930's which was reflected in the process of expressing cultural competency as the people raised their voice against colonial rule, though the March First mass political resistance movement ended in failure. Chosun Studies' movement unfolded with the possibility of a universal science without confining only in the category of Ethnology. In this process the Korean scholars found the root of Chosun Studies in Dasanhak (茶山學) to re-orient the universal nature of the study. Indeed, through the influx of Western Learning Chosun Confucianism had to accept challenges and opportunities in studying metaphysics and natural sciences. The tradition of Chosun philosophy of mind underlays the interpretation of these two aspects. This paper attempts to study the nature of modern Chosun Studies, and considers Chosun's Western Learning not only as a Culturology but as a liberal Process Studies. Also, from this point of view point this paper aims to look into the future prospects, possibilities and significance of Korean Studies.