구봉 송익필의 예학사상

Abstract

Gubong Yehak(or study of ritual) is represented by his 「Garyejuseol」 and 「Yemundap」. The former, the commentary book on 「Jujagarye」 in earnest, is significant in that it was the first attempt of its kind in the Joseon era, and the latter, composed of questions and answers of conventional and changed ritual manners, has its status as the first question and answer book on manners written by a scholar who belonged to the Giho School. The two books on ritual manners had a great influence on Gubong's disciple Kim Jang-saeng, leading him to write 「Garyejimnam」 and 「Uiryemunhae」. Gubong Yehak is ideologically based on the Confucian thought of Jik (righteousness) and justified legitimacy. Gubong defined Jik as 'the righteous way that was accepted all over the world' and perceived the right mind and right body as the fundamental principle of courteous behaviors. His thought of Jik was passed onto Kim Jang-saeng and then to Song Si-yeol, becoming the ideological basis of the school of Giho Yehak. He also thought of Jeongmyeong (adjustment to names) as the key to Yehak, putting emphasis on the systemization of rituals. His thoughts are directly traced to Jugong's code of clan regulations. The features of Gubong Yehak can be summarized into 「Garye」-focused Yehak, verifying changed ritual manners based on old ritual manners, and legitimate Yehak that emphasizes systemization. Gubong acknowledged 「Garye」 as a ritual book that conveys learning of the way and tried to complement it with old ritual manners. Therefore, he was relatively more unwilling to accept changed and conventional ritual manners. This was proved by the case in which he thoroughly denied the position of concubines in rituals on the grounds that it was not mentioned in books on rituals. Moreover, he emphasized the order of the systemization based on a code of clan regulations. Although he denied the position of concubines in rituals, he thought the position of concubines' sons equaled that of the sons of the legitimate wife. His approach came from the perception that a family lineage should be maintained only through the son regardless of whether he was the son of the legitimate wife of concubine, corresponded with the demand that the sons of concubines should be allowed to become government officers and showed the appropriateness of the demand based on the logical theory of rituals.