위백규의 原體散文 「原事物」考

Abstract

The presents study examined Jonjae Wi Baek gyu’s(1727-1798) 「Wonsamul」, focused on its composition writing method, principles and orientation of thinking, meanings and purposes. 「Wonsamul」 was what Wi Baek gyu wrote in order to reform Confucianists’ practices when he as a youth pursued knowledge himself and educated children in his family at his hometown. The writing, which was Won style prose with philosophical nature, tried formative changes of short piece series and was based on ‘Gwanmulchalri’ (realize cosmetic rules through observing phenomena and things), which was the Sung Confucian way of thinking. In Sung Confucianism, the specific practice of ‘Gwanmul’ (observing things) is represented by ‘Geogyeong-gungri’ (deliberate on principles in a humble attitude). ‘Geogyeong’ is the moral training of body and mind, and ‘Gungri’ is the pursuit of knowledge based on ‘Gyeokmulchiji’ (reach the highest knowledge through penetrating phenomena and things), which was also emphasized and pursued by Wi Baek-gyu through 「Wonsamul」. The ideal form of ‘knowledge’ pursued by Wi Baek gyu can be defined by ‘Bakhak’ (extensive learning) and ‘Myeongbyeon’ (bright discernment). Broad knowledge ranging over the merits of scriptures and all famous scholars’ writings and erudite knowledge perceiving differences in understanding, practices and deeds between men of virtue and others come all from thorough reading until the reader becomes one with the scriptures rather than respecting and studying old literature for the civil service examination. For Wi Baek gyu, the way of observational speculation had been maintained through his whole life, and displayed its usefulness in various areas including the compilation of his intellectual achievements, the expansion of the world view, and efforts to diagnose and solve social problems. In reality, he organized clan meetings such as ‘Mugigye’ (a society of people without envy and jealousy) and contributed to the unity and stability of the rural community. Wi Baek gyu’s 「Wonsamul」expresses various results of speculation in the form of ‘Won’ style prose, which is strongly speculative, and based on Sung Confucian epistemology ‘Gwanmulchalri.’ As it was written for reforming Confucian scholars’ practices and the short pieces of speculation in it were considerably expanded and reflected in 「Gwanmulseol」 written at the age of 46 and 「Gyeokmulseol」at 65, we can review the original purposive nature of Won style prose as well as the nature as the germ of philosophical discourses.