여성담론으로서의 任允摯堂의 理氣心性論 - 조선조 후기 여성 지성사 서술을 위한 시론

Abstract

This paper was attempted to prove that Yim Yun-ji-dang's theoretical essays concerning human nature could be read as woman's discourse, and to make a room for view point of women and female philosophers excluded completely from Korean history of neo-confucianism. Yun-ji-dang was on one hand highly regarded as only female scholar participating in philosophical points at issues, but it is true that she was underestimated on the other hand as a just echo of her brother Im Sung-ju, one of the greatest contemporary Sungli philosophers. Nevertheless Yun-ji-dang, different from Yim Sung-ju who paid attentions to logical system, seems to have concerns about facts that the good human nature inherited from Heaven does not show any difference between the virtuous and common people, and the possibilities that the vices caused by real individual life can be overcome by human efforts. In this way Yun-ji-dang regarded human equality and particularity important, it was again strengthened by convictions on woman's moral achievement. This point was rather presented suggestively; nevertheless, her theory could be read as discourse of woman, describing discussions first about both virtuous and common people, but ultimately about 'we women'. It is noteworthy that though his recognition of woman was based upon the viewpoint that woman was equal to man in human nature, and stressed nothing but the point woman could likewise reach the supreme virtue, she was a scholar observing the traditional feature of women strictly. This paper was proposed as an introductory essay to consult the possible establishment of the intellectual history of woman. Recognition of equality between the virtuous and common people appears similarly in literary works by some contemporary major women of letters. It shows the meaning and significance of Yun-ji-dang's discourse of woman in the context of intellectual history of woman in later Chosun.