劉向의 災異論 비판에 관한 재검토 — ≪說苑≫ ＜辨物＞을 중심으로

Abstract

In ancient times, natural disasters instilled fear in people, prompting them to seek explanations for their occurrence. In ancient China, such calamities were often attributed to divine influence, with records from the Warring States period documenting various accounts of these events. By the Han Dynasties, sophisticated political and philosophical theories, including Dong Zhongshu’s theory and the interaction between heaven and humanity, had emerged. This theory posited that heaven bestowed authority upon deserving dynasties and leaders, with good governance yielding favorable omens and poor governance resulting in adverse signs. Liu Xiang further developed this theory, extending its application to encompass various political systems and endeavoring to implement it in practical politics. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, critiques emerged regarding the disaster theories proposed by Dong Zhongshu and Liu Xiang, extending their influence into the narrative even during the Joseon Dynasty. Examining Liu Xiang’s Shuoyuan reveals a perspective distinct from the criticisms of the Tang and Song Dynasties, prompting the need to clarify Liu Xiang’s theory of auspiciousness and calamity through his writings. It becomes apparent that Liu Xiang eschewed arbitrary interpretations of calamity, instead emphasizing the leader’s approach towards calamity and advocating for governance prioritizing the well-being of the populace. Therefore a reassessment of Liu Xiang’s theory regarding calamity is imperative.