韓儒宋時烈《朱子言論同異考》的方法論及四七之辯

Abstract

This paper investigates the book “Textual Criticism on Similarities and Differences in Zhu Xi’s Remarks (Zhu-Xi-Yan-Lun-Tong-Yi-Kao)” written by Song Si-yeol. This study includes two main topics: 1. How to deal with the contradictory remarks of Zhu Xi? 2. How to resolve the debates among Korean Confucianists caused by the contradictory remarks of Zhu Xi? Son Si-yeol wrote this book to raise questions about the inconsistencies in Zhu Xi’s remarks. However, Song did not give further explanations about the inconsistencies, and only offered more than twenty explanations. Afterwards, Song ordered his disciple Han Won-jin to re-edit “Textual Criticism on Similarities and Differences in Zhu Xi’s Remarks (Zhu-Xi-Yan-Lun-Tong-Yi-Kao),” which is richer in content compared with that written by Song. Therefore, there are two versions of “Textual Criticism on Similarities and Differences in Zhu Xi’s Remarks (Zhu-Xi-Yan-Lun-Tong-Yi-Kao).” One version is brief, and was written by Song Si-yeol. The other version includes more details, and was edited by Han won-jin. This study probes into the issues that these two versions of book intend to resolve. In particular, this study investigates the methodology for dealing with differences in internal interpretations of Zhu Xi learning, in order to resolve the contradictions in Zhu Xi’s remarks. People tend to be confused with the inconsistencies in Zhu Xi’s remarks and have no idea what the conclusions are when reading the works of Zhu Xi. Therefore, there are usually controversies about modern interpretations of Zhu Xi learning. However, such controversies are not only products of modern times, and were also discovered in Kingdom of Joseon. There were three major controversies in Korean Confucianism: 1) Four-Seven debate; 2) the similarities and differences between humanity and thingness in Ho-rak Debate – pure kindness of heart or existence of both the good and the evil; 3) whether Zhu Xi learning can be interpreted as learning of “mind is principle.” In general, the said controversies of Korean Confucianists were based on Zhu Xi’s remarks. It is difficult to immediately determine what the orthodox school is. Based on the above, this study found that Song had discovered the controversies, and thus wrote “Textual Criticism on Similarities and Differences in Zhu Xi’s Remarks (Zhu-Xi-Yan-Lun-Tong-Yi-Kao).” This study investigates this book, and mainly focuses on “Four-Seven debate.”