조식 敬義思想의 철학사적 함의

Abstract

Nammyeong Jo Sik found the cardinal point of science in Gyeong-Ui. His Gyeong-Ui ideology can be approached in two aspects of theory and practice. First, his Gyeong-Ui ideology has its theoretical origin in pre-Chin Chinese Confucianism and Sung Confucianism of Song Dynasty. There is a phrase, “Making the inside straight with Gyeong and the outside even with Ui” in the Book of Changes. Here, Gyeong is the foundation of an internal rise in the world, whereas Ui is the standing rule of external conduct of life. The Gyeong concept in the Book of Changes made tremendous growth in Sung Confucianism and became a theoretical ground for the theory of Jugyeonggongbu, which means focusing on Gyeong and gathering Ui in the process of moral cultivation. Placing emphasis on Gyeong, Zhu Xi said “Studying Gyeong is the most important duty under the guidance of sages. One must not stop studying Gyeong even for a minute, being thorough with it.” Influenced by the ideology of internal Gyeong and external Ui in the Book of Changes, Jo Shik argued that “Gyeong lights up the inside of the mind, while Ui takes an action on the outside.” He also emphasized that one should cultivate his or her body and mind with a focus on Gyeong, being influenced by the Jugyeonggongbu theory of Sung Confucianism. Second, Jo Sik took pre-Chin Chinese Confucianism and Sung Confucianism of Song Dynasty as his academic foundation and devoted himself to cultivating the mind and implementing righteousness based on the spirit of Gyeong-Ui rather than analyzing and developing them theoretically. He highlighted that the goal of pursuing reason was to put it to utmost use in daily life, which is possible by lighting up the mind with Gyeong and taking an action for worldly matters with Ui. That is why he decided to live in the mountains and forests, train himself intensely, criticize the contradictions of the times fiercely, and propose specific alternatives for them instead of taking the path of government service in the absurd political reality of the times. Adhering both to Gyeong and Ui will lead to the integration of in and outside, the purification of up and down, and the union of heaven and man, which is the actual implementation of Gyeong-Ui ideology yearned by Jo Sik. In short, Jo Sik’s Gyeong-Ui ideology had pre-Chin Chinese Confucianism as the suzerain on the upside and Sung Confucianism of Song Dynasty as the core on the downside. Even though his Gyeong-Ui ideology remained in the scope of Sung Confucianism in theory, it went beyond Sung Confucian scholars in practice. That is its implication in the history of philosophy.