『天主實義』의 上帝와 丁茶山의 上帝觀

Abstract

This study summarizes Zheng-da-san’s interpretation of Shang-ti in addition to the accommodation method of the Jesuit Matteo Ricci that identified Shang-ti in the Confucian Classics with the Christian God. Zheng-da-san’s interpretation of Shang-ti shows that Confucianism in the later Chosun period embodied the theological perspective of Roman Catholic Church based on Confucianism classics such as Shi-jing, I-jing, Li-ji, and Shu-jing. His perspective on Shang-ti, or “supreme ruler” can be equal to Matteo Ricci’s identification of Shang-ti with Deus in The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven (T’ien-chu-shih-i). The similarity between Zheng-da-san’s interpretation and Matteo Ricci’s work shows an example of the Confucian’s experience of the only, sublime God throughout his life. Zheng-da-san’s interpretation of Shang-ti needs to be discussed in terms of the implication of world religion, rather than being asked whether the interpretation was affected by Xixue(西學) from China or his own enthusiasm for Confucianism classics. This study argues that accusing the Matteo Ricci’s identification of Shang-ti with Deus as distortion of Christianism will neglect the possibility of the historical reception of God by Confucianism in the East Asia. Chinese Confucians in 16th century such as Shu-guang-qi, or Zheng-da-san, one of the representative Confucians in Korea, as well as contemporary Catholic priests testify that Matteo Ricci’s identification of Shang-ti with Deus is not that different from Roman Catholic Church’s theological perspective.