18세기 후반~19세기 전반 名物學의 전개와 성격

Abstract

The appearance of Myeongmulhak is one of the most significant phenomenonsin the cultural community of the late Joseon Korea. Myeongmulhak, also knownas Myeongmuldosuhak or Myeongmulgojeunghak, became a significant object ofan academic interest in the late 18th century. At that time, scholars started togive more attention on the external affairs which had always been neglected bythen, and tried to collect relevant information. Knowledge gathered in this waywas arranged in various publications. The nature of Myeongmulhak is not anti-Neo Confucianism, but the new trendof science was recognized as a fundamental threat to the dominant philosophyof the time. King Jeongjo of Joseon Korea looked at the possible danger and, thereforehe tried to change the nature of Myeongmulhak by an academic policy. In 19thcentury, while a group of renowned scholars were fascinated by Myeongmulgojeunghakwhich was not relevant to governing philosophy at all, some others supported andinherited the King’s policy and tried to stop the wide spread of the new scholarship. Thus it can be said that there were two different trends in the surroundings ofthe development of Myeongmulhak; the one actively studying on Myeongmulhak,and the other restraining it. This new academic trend of Myeongmulhak has an important significant, butit has not been profoundly discussed. To properly understand the history of the late Joseon Korea and culture and ideas of the modern Korea, it is essential togain a fundamental understanding of Myeongmulhak. Therefore this study aims to elucidate the historical surroundings of the developmentof Myeongmulhak in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Profoundly definingthe concept of Myeongmulhak itself is an important task to conduct, but this studydoes not deal with that matter too deeply. It will just use the term Myeongmulhakas an academic trend concerning the external affairs of the world. This study willhopefully help to shed a brighter light on the accounts of cultural or ideologicalhistories of the late Joseon Korea.