退溪 讀書法의 樣相과 志向價値

Abstract

The Sung Confucianist who had said the most on the necessity of reading in Joseon Dynasty period was Toegye. Seeing his book, 『Toegye Jeonseo』 that emphasized why we read, we can assert that Toegye aimed at the necessity of reading of all things. Toegye recommended not to read for the past but to read for the completion of character. According to his book, for 'the reading for the completion of character', we have to search the principles of all things in the Classical Canons and practice the conclusions in the sides of Treatise of Human Nature, ontology, and the theory of values. 'The reading for the completion of character' had such a depth and width, he could not help preparing the methods of reading, especially. Teogye suggested 'Jeongjwa- Jangsong', 'Uyu-Yeomeo', and 'Bunseok-Hapil' as main methods of reading. These way of reading calls for two to readers. The two are standing as universal individual who obtains the moral subjectivity and attaining a stage of 'Cheonin-Hapil' through the 'Hahak-i-sangdal'. Though these calls are nearly impossible to apply in our reading life, we must not to criticize Toegye. In that he suggested the idealistic direction and purpose of reading, we have to regard him as the one who presented the superperiodical and absolute standards of reading.