근현대 충청유림의 유학정신과 위상- 권중면, 권태훈을 중심으로 -

Abstract

This study discusses the spirit and status of Confucianism of Confucian scholars based in Chungcheong region in modern times, focusing on father and son, Kwon Jung­myeon (權重冕, 1856­1936) and Kwon Tae­hun (權泰勳, 1900­1994). Both Kwon Jung­myeon and Kwon Tae­hun were widely known as scholars of the Chinese classics, Danhak (the study of Dan or bio­essence, 丹學) and oriental medicine, than of traditional Neo­Confucianism. But, their published works and activities showed aspects of Confucian intellectuals based on the spirit of Confucianism. When all national authorities of the Korean Empire were seized due to the Japan­Korea Annexation Treaty of 1907 (丁未七 條約), Kwon Jung­myeon abandoned his government post and lived in seclusion in order to remain as a loyal subject of King Gojong. During the retirement in Sangsin­ri near Mount Gyeryong in his late years, the senior Kwon made “Yongsangugok (Nine Poems of Dragon in the Mountain, 龍山九曲)” honoring Koreans’ wishes to save the country and cultivating talents in the region. His son Kwon Tae­hun took Kwak Jong­seok (郭鍾錫), a great Confucian scholar of Gyeongsang region, as his teacher and searched for the core of nationalism through Confucianism while emphasizing the view of sage as ideal (聖人觀) of Confucianism, sincerity and mindfulness (誠敬)­oriented theory of self­cultivation (修 養論), and the sixteen­word message for cultivating the mind (十六字心法).” From such small parts of confucianism they displayed, the two men cannot be affirmed as Confucian scholars. But, they were typical anti­Japanese Confucian scholars who practiced “Defend old values in hiding (去之守舊)” or “Raise the righteous army and defeat traitors (擧義掃 淸)” based on anti­Japanese spirit. Throughout modern times of ups and downs, they did not once desert their loyalty as the royal subject and love for the country and people, while steadfastly guarding their will. In this regard that they made an effort to maintain their loyalty and fidelity to the end without losing the tradition and idealism of Koreans in the Korean Empire, Kwon Jung­myeon and Kwon Tae­hun were authentic scholars and can be evaluated as Confucian intellectuals that practiced the spirit of Taoism, “the unity of knowledge and action (知行合一).”