16-17세기 퇴계학파의 內聖學과 外王으로의 전개 - 직전제자들의 미발심체·지각 논쟁과 예학을 중심으로 -

Abstract

This paper tried to search the archetype of the self-cultivation learning of ToeGye and his first academical successors. The goal of ToeGye school’s neo-confucian study is being sage and put it in practice. The subject of practice is the sage and his innateness can be expressed the Great Absolute. This thought was from the teachings of Chu-tzu, but there was the historical sense of responsibility to his own time and nation. ToeGye and his student had thought Human Mind, a revelation of the Great Absolute, the real thing which has the discretion. It is the Subject, Reality, and their self-cultivating journey’s end. They think every human being can be a sage by self-cultivating based on this Real Mind. Sometimes this Real Mind can be covered by physiological limitation and acquired selfish desire, but the origin of Real Mind haven’t covered and everyone can recover his Real Mind by self-cultivating. Self-cultivating process of ToeGye School start and end by the Piety. The Piety has three steps. First, self-awakening. Second, preparation before meeting outer things. Third, searching own soul and behavior. All of these steps practiced by the Piety. The Piety is real face of Human Mind. And the Piety is consistent through cognition before and after. All of these self-cultivating theory may convert to administration or enlighten people. ToeGye asserted this thought for Sage King as a neo-confucian sage, but his successors followed as a student who try hard to be a sage like his master. Neo-confucian practice should be based on individual perfectness but they were not sage yet.