陽明學 志向者에게 보이는 ‘狂’의식 考察

Abstract

The 16th and 17th century oriental society had historically been a period where the old establishment revealed its limits. It was an era where objections toward the old and desperate desire for change had solidified due to various social contradictions. It was also an era where geniuses who produced eminent achievements in literature and philosophy appeared. Li Zhi and Heo Gyun were amongst those who displayed such genius in literature and philosophy. However, the two met their end, marked out by the ruling class who, under a powerful absolute monarchy, took Neo-Confucianism as the ruling ideology. The following study first tracks the meaning of “lunacy” which was the problem that both Li Zhi and Heo Gyun had to confront in their days. The study also examines the course and stage of how people who challenged limits to find new order for society had been rejected by society in the Ming and Chosun Dynasty. This will help find the hidden meanings of the background behind such ostracism. Across the ages and in all countries of the world, the acts of genius displayed by masterminds are known to be similar to madness. Such eccentricity and madness is observed particularly frequently for masterminds of the arts. Nevertheless, we do not believe that such geniuses deserve to be eliminated because of their eccentricity. The flash of genius from a few of these masterminds which in times may seem like madness has made the History of Literature, Science and Political Thoughts much more affluent. Such eccentricity is what has driven the world to a more brighter place and has greatly contributed into making the world more culturally prosperous.