홍대용과 晩村 呂留良

Abstract

Researchers have thus far believed that Hong Dae-yong had broken away from the doctrines of Chu-tzu(朱子學) to become either a Silhak scholar(實學者) or a post-Confucianism thinker. However, I intend to look at Hong Dae-yong as a thinker who pursued innovation in the teachings of Chu-tzu in Joseon. The essence of Hong’s thinking is clearly revealed through his relationship of influence with Lǚ Liú-liáng(呂留良). Lǚ Liú-liáng was a renowned scholar of the Chu-tzu doctrines during the rule of Qing(淸) Emperor Kangxi(康熙). Emperor Yongzheng(雍正帝) compiled and published Ta-i chueh-mi lu(大義覺迷錄) to refute Lǚ Liú-liáng’s anti-Qing arguments that criticized the Manchu ruling of China. When this book was introduced to Joseon via envoys dispatched to China, interest in Lǚ Liú-liáng was heightened among the Joseon intellectuals. Keeping pace with the trend in the intellectual circle at the time, Hong Dae-yong, too, inquired diligently to obtain published work of Lǚ Liú-liáng during his travel to Beijing in 1766. In the journal of his trip to China written in Korean, Eulbyung yeonhaengnok(乙丙燕行錄), Hong portrayed in great detail the tragic life that Lǚ, Liú-liáng had led and praised Lǚ as a person with the highest learning and exceptional integrity. Hong Dae-yong’s thinking bears a striking similarity to that of Lǚ Liú-liáng in that Hong sought innovation of the doctrines of Chu-tzu. Lǚ Liú-liáng pursued “Silhak(Practical Learning)” to enhance the national prosperity and defense as well as to promote learning from the daily use of the people’s livelihood, and like Hong Dae-yong, revealed his keen interest in Western learning(西學). Furthermore, in his book Uisanmoondap(毉山問答), Hong criticized that Chinese emperors throughout history had blindly pursued their self-interest, suggesting that Hong had embraced Chu-tzu’s disapproval of absolute monarchy. Such criticism is in line with Lǚ’s ideas as well. As explained thus far, Hong Dae-yong’s deep interest in Lǚ Liú-liáng and the similarity of thought between the two scholars clearly indicate that Hong was a thinker who sought innovation of the doctrines of Chu-tzu.