군주를 위한 경학

Abstract

This paper aims to confirm one aspect of ‘the study of Confucian classics for the King’, by examining the lectures on Analects and Mencius featured in Sŏyŏn’gangŭi (Lectures from Royal Education) chapter of Lee Chŏngkwi’s Wŏlsajip (Collection of Writings by Wŏlsa). While it is difficult to surmise definitively, it is likely that Sŏyŏn’gangŭi is a record from some time between 1627 to 1631, when the royal prince Sohyŏn was reading Confucius and Mencius. Here, the contents of the Sŏyŏn’gangŭi is discussed in three themes; first is the mindset and attitude of the king. Lee Chŏngkwi understood “leading by example (先之勞之)” not simply as the ruler having set an example for its subjects, but as the ruler having to lead with rightness (正). Also, he stretched the connotation of the phrase “old clothes and coarse food (惡衣惡食)” to mean that the king should be actively wary of material greed. The second theme has to do with the appointment of wise talented men and the political integrity (大節) of vassals. Lee Chŏngkwi argued that while a gentleman (君子) may be artless in small deeds, he does what others cannot in the time of national crisis. And he pointed out that there is a problem to Guan Zhong’s virtues, and that it is the reason of the heavens that the king should appoint a wise man and rule the people alongside him. The last theme has to do with the aim and the mode of the king’s scholarship. Lee Chŏngkwi emphasized that the king should work on his scholarship to not be swayed by outward things, and that he should contemplate and articulate the rightful way through the study of Confucian Classics. And he advised that the annotations of Mencius need not necessarily be comprehended - and that becoming preoccupied with the passages may lead to loss of the essence, as the purpose of the king’s scholarship lies in selecting the rightfulness (義) and the benefits (利) by calmly observing the way of the world and taking it to heart. Preparation for practice is at the core of the king’s study of Confucian classics. The king’s study of Confucian classics is same with, yet different to, the general literati’s study of the Confucian classics. Passages from the classics are interpreted differently in some cases; and emphases shift sometimes. Lee Chŏngkwi’s Sŏyŏn’gangŭi is an interesting text which exhibits those points of distinction. It is expected that there would be many records which feature significant aspects of the king’s study of Confucian classics, among many unprobed records of lectures from royal education. It follows that active efforts for discovery and examination are encouraged.