도가의 유토피아 — 조선후기 및 일제강점기, ‘소국과민’과 ‘무하유지향’에 대한 이해 —

Abstract

This article examines how the concepts of Taoist Utopia developed during Joseon dynasty and the Japanese colonial period. Three key will be examined in this study: Firstly, Sogukgwamin小國寡民[Small Government and Small People], namely, Laozi's Utopia, it was appeared to be a critical aspect of the political system and an alternative political theory for the aristocratic level at the end of the Warring States Period(战国时代) while Muhayujihyang無何有之鄕 describes the ideal socity which can be survived through brutal wars for the individual level. Secondly, Joseon Confucianists understood Sogukgwamin小國寡民 to the Period of emperors Yao and Shun(堯舜) as one of the Confucian Utopias and described to regain a Sobak朴[Primitive simplicity] based on the level of Confucian meditations. As well as, they understood that Muhayujihyang無何有之鄕 is an ideal world such as Mureungdowon武陵桃源, an idiomatic expression of Taoist Utopia. Thirdly, in the Japanese colonial period, Sogukgwamin小國寡民 tend to be interpreted in anarchism, Muhayujihyang無何有之鄕 was also replaced by one term to understand Western Utopia.