박제가 삶의 마음속 出路, 燕京의 友情

Abstract

This paper started from the critical mind on the reason why the international association and friendship of Bak Je-Ga which was very rare in the history of Korea before the modern times were made in Yanjing(Liulickhang) in 1790 and what was the social environment and psychological basis for such friendship. The friendship has various meanings depending on the approaches and depth of critical mind. Most of previous discussions only emphasized the external beauty and validation of friendship by identifying the phenomenon of friendship. In addition, the conclusion on the meaning of friendship was not differentiated even by the individual perspectives. For identifying the meaning of association and friendship of the intellect in Joseon period and Qing period in China in the 18th and 19th century, this paper assumed that more detailed approach on each issue should be applied. Accordingly, it was found that the friendship of Bak Je-Ga in Yanjing was based on the social contradiction of Joseon period and the severe discord in himself. His friendship was very effective psychological consolation, but it couldn't solve the social contradiction, the basis of his discord. The depth of friendship was in inverse proportion to the social reality of Joseon period. Thus, the friendship of Bak Je-Ga was substantially incomplete on the social aspects. The examination on social environment and psychology as the basis of the friendship of Bak Je-Ga has an inseparable relation with the deliberation on the friendship in the present society. The deliberation on discomfortable reality behind the beautiful and fair phenomenon in the past can be performed only by reflecting upon the problems of friendship in the society at the present. It may be distortion on the essence of friendship and the abandonment of moral and intellectual responsibility creating or overlooking the unfair conditions in this society at present to pay attention only to beauty of specific friendship outwardly exposed and to ignore the conditions of social unfair in Joseon period in 18th century. The times went by and social environment was significantly changed. Furthermore, the social system discriminating the children of concubines was disappeared. And the friendship with foreigners became a usual thing. The friendship of Bak Je-Ga at the end of 18th century was not unique anymore. However, are there any ignorance, violence, inequality or suppression which we can't easily identify at the base of friendship which is emphasized and implemented in different ways in these days? The beautiful friendship of Bak Je-Ga gives out this question to us.