야은 길재의 도학사상과 그의 출처관

Abstract

This study is about the Confucian ethics and principles of conduct in official duty of Yaeun Giljae. As is well known, Yaeun is one of three ‘eun’s, the rest two of which are Mokeun Lee Saek and Poeun Jeong Mongju, representing the spirit of fidelity at the end of Goryeo and the beginning of Joseon. Giljae learned under Lee Saek, Jeong Mongju, and Gwon Geun and continued the succession of Confucian ethics in Joseon, posing himself as a scholar to enlighten Confucian ethics and denounce heresy. Running a private education institute with dormitory to foster the youth at Geumosan Mountain where he was born, he always tried to follow the will of ancient Confucian scholars- Chenghao, Chengyi, and Zhu xi- in delivering the Confucian classics. In addition, he observed three-year mourning in accordance with Jujagarye (朱子家禮, a book about primary rituals in Confucianism that Zhu xi had preached) and lived with the spirit of fidelity not to serve two kings, but only one. He once said, “When in service as a government officer, care about the people, whereas, when out of service, worry about the sovereign. I always have the sovereign and the people both upon my mind”, which presents the same idea as what Confucius said, “Present yourself when the world is with morality, lay yourself low when morality is absent.” and, “If win the trust, work for the benefit of the people. If fail to do so, discipline to reveal yourself to the world,” as what Mencius said. As his principles of conduct in official duty, Giljae chose to follow the way of Confucian hermit who determines his or her position depending on presence of the truth in the world rather than pursue the spiritual liberation by avoiding the mundane world or enjoying the nature only as Taoist hermit does. On the other hand, he never restricted his offspring and students for serving as a government officer but himself. Rather, as a practical Confucian moralist, he encouraged them to make the society or the world better with what they had learned and cultivated under the teachings of Giljae.