유학의 시대적 대응논리로서의 성인관(聖人觀) - 맹자와 주자를 중심으로 -

Abstract

As you can see through Original-Confucianism of the Pre-Qin dynasty and Neo-Confucianism of Song and Ming dynasty, Confucianism changes its name according to the times. Nevertheless, there is no common denominator in ideals above the common denominator of Confucianism. The common thing is Sugi-Anin(修己安人) that is to train oneself first and then make others feel comfortable. It is the most fundamental and practical task of Confucianism, and many of the theories within Confucianism are also a result of a broad explanation and guidance for this. In the evolution of Confucianism, Original-Confucianism who presented a practical ethic of relativity represented by Sugi-Anin while understanding human beings at the level of relational existence or social existence has developed into Neo-Confucianism with a more complete form of system that aims for Cheon-in-hap-il(天人合一) that is the unity of heaven and human. More specifically, the fundamental explanations of the origins of existence through the Li-Qi theory and the deep understanding of the self through the Mind-Nature theory, and the ideal completion of the subject of self-reliance through the cultivation theory has allowed the essence of the Confucian spirit to be more refined and systematically executed. If Sugi-Anin is the ideological slogan of Confucianism, the existential model of Sugi-Anin is a Saint. A Saint is not only the ideal of human beings in itself, but also the greatest kings such as Yo(堯) and Soon(舜) of historical heritage and the great masters such as Confucius(孔子) and Mencius(孟子) of Confucianism. Hence, the numerous aphorisms in Confucian scriptures is that it will be a Saint to emulate a Saint. However, there is one important fact that one should not overlook from this passage. It is the fact that Confucianism is always important to implement practical changes and growth, rather than resorting theoretically to theories and logic. Both Sugi-Anin and Saint in Confucianism are practical tasks, not the subject of knowledge. However, it should also be noted that the practice must take place on the specific coordinates of now and here. Thus, Confucianism's argument always implies a response to the situation of the times, and is not an exception to a Saint.