眉巖 柳希春의 尊朱子 학풍과 經書諺解

Abstract

Yu Hee Choon(柳希春) was one of the most representative scholars in the early reign of King Seonjo(宣祖) in Chosun(朝鮮). He led learned circles of the country through actively engaging in Gyeongyeon(經筵) Jingang(進講) and making lots of writings. He was an intellect of greatest learning in his times. Most characterizing his scholarship was his absolute belief of Chu-tzi(朱子). Yu Hee Choon was an official in charge of Gyeongyeon(經筵) who was most reliable to King Seonjo. He was also a man of great learning enough to receive academic inquiries from all scholars of his times. This suggests that Mi Am's own school tradition of respect for Chu-tzi created a considerable sensation in Chosun of the late 16th century. As Sung Confucianism socially prevailed in the early Chosun period, there were developments in relation to the understanding of Confucian classics like Saseo Samgyeong(四書三經). But there were lots of differences among scholars in how they interpreted those classics. For the purpose of making each of the classics given only one interpretation based on Chu-tzi's Sung Confucianism, therefore, King Seonjo ordered Yu Hee Choon to assume the task of translating those classics into Korean, that is, Gyeongseo Eonhae(經書諺解) in the 7th year of his reign(1574). Mi Am started with translating Saseo(四書) into Korean. His own way of Gyeongseo Eonhae was best characterized by that in such translation, he tried to coordinate and unite relevant theories, though thoroughly based on Chu-tzi's annotations. Unfortunately, Mi Am failed to complete Gyeongseo Eonhae of his own till he was dead in the 10th year of King Seonjo. Nevertheless, his accomplishment in relation to the translation considerably affected Gyeongseo Eonhae by Gyojeong- cheong(校正廳) later.