『고려사』의 『맹자』 활용과 유교의 이해

Abstract

This paper attempts to understand the historical value of Goryeosa in the context of the history of scholarship in East Asia by examining Mencius’s political theory in Goryeosa. Late Goryeo scholars studied Sishu jizhu and paid particular attention to Mencius, which considered Confunianism a proper discipline and criticized deviant ideologies. Mencius also provided a framework for governing others based on self-cultivation and presented a political theory to govern the state and stabilize society through recognition. Goryeosa utilized Mencius to articulate the political and social management theory of the Goryeo Dynasty. It regarded Confucianism as a proper discipline and labeled other ideologies diverging from it as heretical. Additionally, it affirmed the innate goodness of humanity and proposed benevolent governance for the welfare of others. In Goryeosa, the ideal human type was portrayed as a “virtuous person(君子),” illustrating a commitment to governing the state and aiding its people, thus positioning themselves as the leader in society. This view presented the discourse of real political engagement, suggesting that figures like the “virtuous person” should be brought into politics in reality. Therefore, Goryeosa's utilization of Mencius reflects an inclination toward establishing a Confucian society by employing the Discourse on Self-Cultivation and the Discourse on Governance. It can be regarded as a valuable source for comprehending the dissemination of Confucianism, a universal thought in East Asia.