율곡 양병설과 그 도학적 특징

Abstract

Yulgok has been regarded as one of the best capable statesmen in the Joseon dynasty. This article attempts to research his ideas of reforms, in particular, “building up armies.” I shall analyze political backgrounds and specific details of the “building up armies” and as a result, show whether the policy was opportune and what moral significance it had. Yulgok thought that the urgent reforms would rescue the Joseon dynasty from the peril of collapse, which was caused by the long-time peace and four purges of Confucian scholars, and 20-year rule by kings’ maternal relatives. He focused on reforms in two areas: land tax and military administration. He claimed that a ruler should reduce land taxes and labor service out of his mind of love and worry for his people. Also, Yulgok discussed that the ruler should order legal officers to be discreet in executing punishments and make his people have jobs. All of the reforms will give people profits and remove harms from them to the extent that they enjoy their lives. Yulgok’s policy of “building up armies” is the core of his moral government theories, which aim to stabilize people. The details of the policy are to take care of people, to train armies, to hire the talented and to educate people. Therefore, his policy of the building up armies is summarized as follows: First, the policy is one of his moral government theories; Second, it is aimed for “elite troops”, whose details are training armies, hiring the talented, and educating people : Third, the policy is appropriate to the situation. Therefore, we can see that some criticisms against his policy were not fair. Some of his contemporaries argued that his ides would make people disturbed enough to cause disorder, or his idea was founded on pure inventions, and could not be put into practice because the Joseon did not have enough power.