<홍범연의>의 제왕학

Abstract

Examined in this article is Hongbeom Yeoneui(洪範衍義), written by the Yi Hwi-il(李徽逸) and Yi Hyeon-il(李玄逸) brothers who were also scholars from the middle period of Joseon. This book, examined here from the perspective of viewing it as literally “Studies for the Kings,” has been usually perceived –by today’s scholars- as a book epitomizing the Yeongnam region Southerners’ (“Namin”) aspiration and position regarding societal governance. Yet it is actually much more. The “Hongbeom” chapter inside Seogyeong only has 65 letters. But Hongbeom Yeoneui from Yi Hwi-il and Hyeon-il brothers has over 440 thousand letters in 28 chapters. It is indeed an ultimate guidebook to Hongbeom, as well as a book of political ideology, with plenty of references and explanation to individual lines inside the original Hongbeom. It contains things that should be studied by the kings, as well as the highest principles to be pursued by leaders. The <Hwanggeuk> theme of chapters 23 and 24, and the <Samdeok> theme of chapters 25 and 26, are directly related to this very issue. Also, throughout the entire edition principles that should be observed by kings, acts they should try to follow, and detailed examples of such kind, are all introduced to the readers in abundance. Party politics in Joseon’s middle period took a turn for the worse, especially during the reigns of kings Injo, Hyojong and Hyeonjong. Elevated conflicts often led to full blown political struggles, and the original spirit of party politics based upon constructive criticism and mutual coexistence was eventually compromised. As a result, studies that were to be shared by the ultimate leaders(Kings) had to be modified accordingly. And it was during this time, the reign of king Sukjong to be exact (which witnessed frequent changes in regimes –the “Hwan’guk” incidents-, results of the most volatile form of party conflicts), when Yi Hyeon-il completed the first draft of Hongbeom Yeoneui in 1686. Through Hongbeom Yeoneui, Yi Hyeon-il raised a question concerning the original focus of Neo-Confucian studies for the kings. In this book, he did not question the very idea of pursuing to become a truly Neo-Confucian king. But he did reveal his preference for the value and merits of another kind of leadership, namely the strong one, which had actually been established far earlier, even before Neo-Confucianism was ever conceived. He suggested the pair of a ‘Holy king(聖王)’ –a concept theorized in the “pre-Neo-Confucianism, Classic Confucianism” era- and the ‘Ministers’ -truly Neo-Confucian statesmen(儒臣) serving the King- as an ideal pair in state governance. This was his answer to the political reality of the 17th century’s second half, calling for the king as the new center of politics. This suggestion was actually from a mindset roughly the same with the ‘Hwanggeuk Tangpyeong(皇極蕩平)’ idea, suggested by Park Se-che(朴世采) at roughly the same time. And it came through in real life as well during the reigns of kings Yeongjo(英祖) and Jeongjo(正祖). One could say that Hongbeom Yeoneui laid out the foundation for all the Tangpyeong(蕩平: Equality in personnel appointments) theories and suggestions that followed in subsequent periods.