16세기 후반 朝鮮과 中國 지식인의 국제적 經學 論爭 탐구 – 『大學講語』에 나타난 經學 論爭을 중심으로 –

Abstract

This study examined Neo-Confucian study of Confucian classics and its succession in the Joseon Dynasty demonstrated in the international debate among Korean and Chinese intellectuals over Confucian classics study unfolded in the 16th century. There was a nationwide movement in Joseon to make sure that Neo-Confucianism would take firm root across the society and culture. Scholars who studied Confucian classics until 15th to mid-16th century made efforts to introduce and spread Confucian classics from a Neo-Confucianism perspective. Such efforts, as Neo-Confucianism evolved philosophically, led to a tendency of excluding other offshoots of studies. This explains why the philosophy of Wang Yangming was not accepted in the 16th century. During the Japanese invasion called the Imjin War, intellectuals from each Joseon and China preached Zhu Xi’s Daehakjanggu from different academic points of view. This fueled interests in the philosophy of Wang Yangming. Chinese intellectuals at that time include Song Yingchang (philosopher of Wang Yangming and general); Korean intellectuals include Hwang Shin, You Mongin, and Lee Junggu. They were engaged in this preach for almost seven months, which left a book titled Daehakkangeo. Song facilitated academic diversity by discussing Daehak based on the philosophy of Wang Yangming, justifying his move by mentioning that he intended to teach the philosophies of Chu Tzu amid national crisis. On the other hand, Joseon’s intellectuals advocated the philosophies of Chu Tzu from Chu Tzu’s perspective, and by doing so, they cemented grounds for Daehakjanggu. This international debate over Confucian classics study among intellectuals from Joseon and China is expected to be useful not only in tracing back to Neo-Confucian succession and philosophical transitions in the Joseon Dynasty, but also contributing to proper perspective, viewpoint, and balanced study of 16th century Neo-Confucianism and Confucian classics study.