河濱 愼後聃의 四端七情論 ─ 貞山 李秉休와 茶山 丁若鏞에게 끼친 영향을 중심으로 ─

Abstract

This article analyzes the meaning and significance of Habin Shin Hu-dam’s theory on ‘four beginnings and seven feelings,’ and discusses its influence on later scholars of Sungho School, such as Jeongsan Yi Byung-hyu and Tasan Jeong Yag-yong. Shin’s main idea on the topic of Four-Seven, which was first initiated by Toegye Yi Hwang, is that although seven feelings are ‘generally’ neutral feelings arisen from the physical body, ‘some’ seven feelings, such as that of the sages, are arisen from the moral, ‘public’ nature of humans. Those public feelings are no different from Four beginnings described by Mencius. His theory was severely criticized by fellow scholars of Sungho School, for it deviated from the traditional Southern scholar’s line of Toegye and tilted toward the theory supported by the oppositional party of Yulgok. In developing such a theory, Shin held three suppositions that made a huge impact on later scholars. First one is that there are two kinds of li the principle and ki the material force. There is “li of yin-yang and five phases” that both four and seven feelings are comprised of, as well as “li of moral goodness” that only the four beginnings (and some moral seven feelings) are consisted of. Likewise, there is “ki of perceptual mind” that both four and seven are comprised of, as well as “ki of physical body” that only seven feelings are consisted of. Later scholars used this dichotomy in explaining the difference between Toegye and Yulgok. The second premise of Shin was that human feelings are not only confined to “four” or “seven”; there are countless feelings that can be abstracted into either ‘love’ or ‘hate.’ The feeling of love and hate, however, are of two different kinds: one is the love for the good and hate for the evil, and the other is the love for the benefit and hate for the harm. Later scholars adopted this idea into their theory of love and hate. The last argument of Shin was that the two kinds of love and hate are innate, and can arise simultaneously. Later scholars established the theory of ‘human nature as inclination’ out of this notion. Many scholars find Tasan Jeong Yag-yong’s theory of human nature and mind original and innovative. It would be helpful, nevertheless, to dig deeper into the root of his theory — then, one may meet Shin Hu-dam and one great original mind.