율곡의 관점에서 본 東西分黨의 이해

Abstract

Yi Chunkyŏng’s strongly worded memorial to King Seonjo (r. 1567–1608) in 1572, insisting that the factions existing unofficially among the literati must be abolished, had been vehemently refuted by Yulgok. Both Yi and Yulgok recognized that there were visible signs of conflict between the two sides in the political situation of the time. Nevertheless, Yulgok had some reservations about naming the situation “factionalization,” because the term is frequently used by villainous people (小人輩) to falsely accuse virtuous gentlemen (君子). This is the reason for Yulgok to be in dispute with Yi’s memorial. Yulgok proposed “harmonious compromise" (調劑保合) by developing the “both parties are virtuous” thesis. Harmonious compromise requires agreement on both sides that both parties are groups of virtuous gentlemen, because a harmonious compromise between a virtuous party and a group with incorrect opinions is unacceptable. Regrettably, both parties were adamant that they were correct and the only correct party, and the conflict had hardened into the East Party and the West Party. And public opinion politics (公論政治) vanished along with it. Yukgok saw parties as being entirely composed of virtuous gentlemen, which was a necessary condition for any sound politics to, at the very least, function. Nevertheless, if both parties stick to a factionalized and biased opinion, it requires a different perspective. In his later age, Yulgok advised King Seonjo that the king should look after every affair of politics in person. By criticizing the literati’s political leadership, Yolgok's ideal politics thesis, the public opinion politics thesis, that politics should be carried out by public-minded literati, is contradicted by Yulgok himself.