교육이념인 ‘弘益人間’의 유교철학적 고찰

Abstract

Korea's educational idea Hongik-ingan(弘益人間) has been criticized from people, even though it is a desirable education idea with historicity, universality, and permanency. Hongik-ingan has not been practiced concretely, because the idea is comprehensive, abstract, unrealistic, and unscientific; however, I believe lack of awareness and effort of reflection with deep research are the true reasons. Insufficient traditional idea understanding and severance, and educational reality of unquestioning acceptance of western educational philosophy are also the reasons of criticism. Therefore, I looked into Korean racial identity and ideological root by analyzing the myth of Dangun. Through the myth of Dangun, I examined which view of the world and man influenced our people to deduct Hongik-ingan idea, and how Hongik-ingan changed and developed historically. Also I examined how Hongik-ingan, re-pronounced to modern educational idea, has been changed in the educational reality. The myth of Dangun expresses our racial idea symbolically as birth myth of a nation with our race’s wish according to historical facts. The social structure of Korea is similarly changing to western social structure, but Korean values and concepts cannot be changed easily. Therefore it is necessary to gradually reform educational system based on traditional education with the pace of society changing. The educational idea,‘Hongik-ingan’, expresses independence from original idea of Korean people, has universality to all mankind's co-prosperity as win-win philosophy besides the Korean race, and still effects as a modern idea in the 21st century. Hongik-ingan idea was continued as combined Korean Buddhism and Confucianism spirits even after the introduction of buddhism and confucianism. Therefore as we can learn the new from reviewing the old, it is significant to look into the Confucian educational idea, which influenced on our traditional education enormously. I have looked into Confucian educational idea and purposes, because it is very similar to Hongik-ingan idea. By examining the Confucian education, it will be possible to find educational contents and method for the realization of Hongik-ingan spirit as our educational idea, and it would be valuable to refer them to our drifting educational field due to the indiscreet adoption of western education.