최제우의 천(天) 개념 - 고대 무교와의 연관성을 중심으로 -

Abstract

The advocacy of Dong-Hak by Choi Je-Woo was made as an alternative to overcome the overall crisis, especially the infiltration of Western powers, late in the 19th century Chosun society. This article examines the characteristics of Choi Je-Woo's Dong-Hak centering on his Heaven(Chon) concept. Choi Je-Woo thought the total crisis of the Chosun society was basically caused by the Neo-Confucianism's Chon concept which was depersonalized, de-enchanted, and therefore rational. As Neo-Confucianism rationalizes Chon as Ri, people were never afraid of the principle and will of Chon. Acordingly they only took care of themselves, behaved freely as they liked, and as a result didn't know what to do with the invasion of Western powers, Choi thought. As a counterproposal, the idea Choi chose was to recover the Chon concept of the Korean ancient Shamanism. Its Chon meant God who was able to justify the establishment of a new world through its divinity. It also meant the personalized, transcendental and enchanted God who officiated the good and bad luck as well as the weal and woe in people's everyday life. The 'Hanulnim' of Choi Je-Woo's Dong-Hak was also this ‘Chon’ of the ancient Shamanism and furthermore, it meant the whole divine beings existed in the Chosun society including the Lord God. Being confronted with the infiltration of the rationalized and 'modern' Western powers in the 19th century, the alternative proposal of a new world Choi Je-Woo offered was thus a very 'Korean' one but was also based on irrational, sorcerous and retrospective qualities.