석정 이정직의 시경론과 시의식

Abstract

This study looked into Seokjung Lee Jeong-jik’s theory on the Book of Odes and poetic consciousness and reviewed its literary historical meaning. With respect to Seokjung’s theory on Book of Odes, <Gwangwanjeogu Jaehajijooseol> and <Jepoong> which were his works on the Book of Odes appearing in <Yeonseoksanbangmungo> were analyzed, with consideration of his poetic consciousness from his poetry and prose revealing his poetic consciousness. Seokjung’s theory on the Book of Odes can be an expression of the spirit of the age through embodying Gowangjirae mentioned by Confucius. From the perspective of Gowangjirae, he proposes Insoisaheung (to think of rise from decline), Soogyohwoose (to hand down teachings to posterity) and Gyeonyojosahyunjae (to think of a benevolent able man when seeing an elegant lady). As a Silhak (practical science) scholar and intellectual in modern period of enlightenment, he tried to hand down teachings to posterity through criticism of sentences. It is in the same vein that he excerpted <Jepoong> from <Book on Odes> in order to make realize the circumstances of the time then. With national administration shaking in the arena of Western powers advancing toward East Asia and its resultant sufferings of people and corruption of public morals, he tried a recovery of order using his exposition on <Gwanjeo>, which keeps hold of the main object of the Book of Odes, and <six chapters of Jepoong> containing the aspects of confusion after losing the main object for teaching aids in discourse. Seokjung’s poetic consciousness based on the theory of the Book of Odes can be summarized into Samusa, Goeui and Haksiron. First, Seokjung defined the Book of Odes’ Samusa as Seongjae (man’s effort to reach truthfulness) mentioned by Jeongja and suggested seeking after the right through this truthfulness and straightening out the prevailing state of society. Second, as a means of reaching truthfulness, Seokjung proposed easiness and candor as Goeui (the ancient will). Here, he makes clear his poetics of not changing the principle following the tendency of the times, deploring the prevailing state of society losing the will of the Book of Odes. Third, Seokjung’s Haksiron is, in a word, incessant acquired efforts. As specific method for seeking Goeui, he proposes the process of close application(Jeol Cha Tak Ma) by setting up persons who have abided well by the spirit of the Book of Odes, such as Han Yoo or Tu Fu, rather than a direct mimicry, in the intermediate stage of learning. Literary historical meaning of Seokjung’ theory on the Book of Odes is that he tried to recognize the times of modern enlightenment through <the Book of odes>. He expressed his logic by accepting extensive Jeon and Jooso in order to embody Confucius’ Gowangjirae. His <six pieces of Jepoong (all fashions) for Sigyeong’s daily work/Sigyeongilgwa> was a learning aid to reflect the times of modern enlightenment. His learning on the Book of Odes corresponds to the last point of time in our history of literature connecting the 19th century to the 20th. Besides, by seeing that he expressed criticism for the spirit of the times, his learning on the Book of Odes is in line with that of Baekho and Dasan.