朝鮮後期 ‘儀象’ 改修論의 推移

Abstract

From the early days, the Joseon Dynasty made efforts to repair various astronomical equipments on the basis of Confucianism political ideology. Astronomical instruments(儀象, I-hsiang) was provided an overall system during King Sejong’s era, but faced a situation where they needed to be repaired and fixed after the wars. Two ways to repair were proceeded. First was to recover the tradition of Astronomical instruments(I-hsiang) since King Sejong’s era. This was done by the restoration of Kaneuidae(equatorial torquetrum observation platform ; the observatory in the Joseon Dynasty) of Kyeongbok-Palace and other instruments around it destroyed by the wars. The most important of these was restoration and remodeling of Armillary Sphere. Min-cheol Lee’s and I-young Song’s Armillary Spheres were creative ones, both adapted tradition and change. Second was to create new astronomical instruments influenced by western astronomy and calendrical science actively brought since the mid 17th century. A simple equatorial torquetrum and the coordinates of the celestial sphere and vault, and the publication of Chien-ping-i-shuo(簡平儀說, Description of a simple equatorial torquetrum) and Hun-Kai-tung-hsien-tu-shuo(渾蓋通憲圖說, On plotting the coordinates of the celestial sphere and vault) stimulated the construction of new I-hsiang in late Joseon Dynasty. They made efforts to overcome the limits of old astronomical equipments through using western style. Not only the official Kwansanggam(觀象監, the Bureau of Astronomy and calendrical science), but individual Yangbans and mechanics attempted to build western style astronomical instruments with some achievements. Among these people were Ho-soo Seo(徐浩修, 1736～1799) of Soron faction, Ga-hwan Lee(李家煥, 1742～1801) of Keunkinamin faction, Dae-yong Hong(洪大容, 1731～1783) of Noron-Nakron faction Bukhakpa, and Cheol-jo Jeong(鄭喆祚) and Hang-ryung Jeong(鄭恒齡) who were closely connected with the others. On this process, the I-Hsiang Renovation Theory was suggested as a way to reform astronomy and calendrical science. In that background lay a recognition of the importance of actual measurements. The logic was that one needed practical astronomical equipments for a precise measurement. Ga-hwan Lee was one of the exemplary proponents of the I-Hsiang Renovation Theory. He argued for the need of introduction of new laws to reform the I-Hsiang and of mathematics. As one can identify from the names of the houses that preserved astronomical instruments, Heumgyunggak(Pavilion of respectful veneration), Jejeong Pavilion, Kyujeong Pavilion, the restorations projects of Joseon Dynasty was promoted by political purposes. Through these works, the dynasty achieved a method to tell exact time, as well as declared the legitimacy of the nation and the royal power. However, one can detect the possibility of schism in traditional arguments from the logics of the elite intellects who emphasized the importance of actual measurement. Even though they did not intend to escape from the pursuit of traditional political ideology, they were on the way to objective study which recognized the authentic value of natural studies. The historical meaning of the I-Hsiang Renovation Theory of late Joseon Dynasty came from this potentiality.