포은 정몽주와 율곡 이이: 두 성리학자의 은유적 공통점을 중심으로

Abstract

This paper is designed under the grand theme of “Poeun and Kiho Neo-Confucian School”. The author discusses the connection between the ideas of Poeun Jeong Mong-ju(포은圃隱 정몽주鄭夢周, 1337~1392) and Yulgok Lee Yi(율곡栗谷 이이李珥, 1536~1584) by contrasting them metaphorically. Despite the two centuries difference – Poeun is a scholar at the end of Goryeo dynasty when neo-confucianism was first introduced from Chinese Song(宋) Dynasty, and Yulgok is one of the major scholars who established Joseon Neo-confucianism, the founding principle of Joseon – they share one aspect in common, that they share Ultimate Concern as neo-confucian scholar, ‘seonbi’. This paper draws two claims using metaphoric contrast. One, Poeun and Yulgok share Neo-confucianism in common. Two, this paper finds the difference in periodic perspectives by looking at Yulgok’s assessment of Poeun. The former claim is discussed in three aspects. First, this research compares their parents’ goals of growing their children to follow Duke of Zhou(周公), the best Chancellor of Kings Yao(堯) and Shun(舜). Secondly, this paper investigates the union of ingenuity(knowing, 知) as scholar and filial piety(doing, 行) they learned and carried out. Thirdly, this paper finds similarity of the two scholars through bamboo(竹), the symbol of ideal Junzi(君子) in neo-confucianism. The latter studies the misunderstanding in Yulgok’s assessment of Poeun. It is well known that Yulgok’s remarks are dispassionate and keen. Especially, the wide-spread Yulgok’s assessment of Poeun is focused on the negative part of the remark without looking at the context. Yulgok’s official stance about Poeun is referenced in ‘Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty(朝鮮王朝實錄)’, and it has been neglected despite being his objective assessment. In the book, Yulgok clearly states Poeun’s role as founder of Joseon neo-confucianism as well as the limitation of the era that Poeun could not fully assimilate neo-confucianism. This paper claims to be the founding stone to restore Yulgok’s view on the history of Joseon neo-confucianism which started from Poeun.