이재 황윤석의 대외인식

Abstract

In this paper, we have analyzed Yijae Hwang Yoonseok’s foreign recognition of China, Japan, and West into the following. Yijae insisted for China where Confucian culture was born, but in the period of ancient, it was no different from barbarity. Although it was expressed moderately, Yijae denied the view of Sinocentrism. As he had already fully understood the Western astronomy, he could see that the center of the world was not fixed in any one place. Yijae also expressed an interesting view in the evaluation of the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. He brought up the example of Emperor Kangxi(康熙帝), saying that the Ruzhen were originally Barbie, but some of them were squeaky and polite. In addition, the Qing Dynasty appreciated the diplomatic method for Joseon in comparison with the corrupt behavior of the late Ming Dynasty. It is the claim of the so-called Qing-positive theory. Yijae has also been interested in Japan, investigating Japanese geography and language. It is also noteworthy that he commented on Amemori Hoshu(雨森芳洲), a thinker in middle of the Edo period and a diplomat for Joseon Dynasty, and left a commentary on the writings of Ito Jinsai(伊藤仁齋), the founder of the school of Gogaku(古學). In addition to Japan, he was deeply interested in the geographical information of Ryukyu and Southeast Asia. The most prominent part of Yijae’s foreign recognition is his perception of the West. It has unique aspects such as positive acceptance and high level of understanding in terms of the amount of related articles. Yijae’s understanding of the West reveals a clear distinction between Catholicism and natural science. He has seen three volumes of Mateo Ricci’s “Heavenly Mercy(天主實義)” on February 7, 1764, and has focused on western science books since the late 1768’s. Yijae, however, criticized Catholicism and accepted western science. He has criticized Catholicism in various places. However, despite the danger of Catholicism, the natural sciences and the law of the craftsman are very good and strongly insisted that they should never be prohibited. It is a dualistic approach, and it is a practical attitude that science knowledge and information are selectively accepted. Yijae has raised doubts about the theory of Hui-kan(華夷觀), which can be regarded as the basic framework of the external recognition of the Joseon Dynasty, but it has not reached the discussion to overcome the view of sinocentrism like Hong Daeyong. In this regard, it can be said that Yijae was also a thinker who played a bridge role in the transition from the traditional society to the modern age.