제임스 레게의 『대학 』 이해 - 『The Great Learning』 주석 내용을 중심으로-

Abstract

This paper focuses on the commentary of The Great Learning to understand how the British missionary James legge (1815-1897) understood one of the Four Books, the Great Learning. On the whole, James Legge's The Great Learning follows Zhu Xi's Daehakjanggu(大學章句). However, in the details, he points out problems with Zhu Xi's newly revised system. In addition, for most of the controversial issues, Legge raises the theories of Zheng xuan(鄭玄) and especially Kong ying-da(孔穎達) and compares them with Zhu Xi's theory, which may reflect his consciousness of recognizing the absurdity of Zhu Xi's theory and trying to overcome it. James Legge's understanding of "The Great Learning" is evident in his commentary, which tends to be critical of Zhu's theory. However, there are some parts of his commentary that defend Zhu's theory. In this respect, James Legge's scholarly tendency to be ‘anti-Zhu’ and ‘following Wang’ is visible, but he refrains from being overly inclined, and it is thought that at the center of it is his own judgment of the Confucian scriptures, which he translated and commented on the Four Books, the Five Sutras, and other scriptures.