하곡 정제두의 『대학』 해석과 격물치지론

Abstract

「Discourse on the Great Learning(大學說)」 by Hagok Jeong Jedu is a plan to change Zhu-xi’s interpretation of the Great Learning which focuses on Investigating things(格物致知) with the old version of the Great Learning which is mainly concerned with practicing and self-cultivation. Hagok tried to reinterpret the old version of the Great Learning by dividing chapters or paragraphs in a new way. And he did this to recover the original meaning of the old classic which has been distorted by Zhu-xi. And by his term, recovering means to interpret Investigating things(格物致知) in Yang ming(陽明)’s way. Hagok argued that the main chapter is the chapter on investigating things(格物致知). That is to say, another chapter on Investigating things(格物致知) is not needed because the relation between the highest excellence(至善) and Investigating things(格物致知) is fully explained. And Hagok divided chapters on the basis of Making the will sincere(誠意) to emphasize that Making the will sincere(誠意) to is the essence of self-cultivation. In Hagok’s view, practical ways for self-cultivation are fully explained in chapter on Making the will sincere(誠意) which is the essence of the book from beginning to end. The main chapter tells the basic of the highest excellence(至善) and other chapters explains the methods of it. Therefore, practicing the methods comes down to Making the will sincere(誠意). Based on this theological consequence, Hagok pays attention to the problem of Ki(氣) which blocks the activation of good intention. If Ki(氣) is clear, then the active Substance(本體) can be fully reflected without distortion. As a result, process of purification of Ki(氣) is also needed with Making the will sincere(誠意).