松山 權載奎의 현실인식과 20세기 유교지식인의 형상

Abstract

This study examined the Confucian scholar Songsan Kwon Jae Gyu who was actively involved in the pursuit of study from the end of the Joseon Dynasty to the middle of the 20th century in Danseong and Sancheong area and his reality recognition and aspects as one of the 20th-century Confucian intellectuals. Under the guidance of his teachers Noh Baek Heon and Jung Jae Gyu, Songsan Kwon Jae Gyu was exposed to and succeeded the knowledge of Nosa Gi Jeong Jin, thus clearly showing his Li-(理) based reality recognition. He was convinced that it was more valuable to keep the teaching of the sages and restore their spirit than to follow the changing world. Songsan Kwon Jae Gyu's such reality recognition and coping with things demonstrated an aspect of Confucian intellectuals' dealing with realities in the historical situations from the end of the Joseon Dynasty to the middle of the 20th century that was tarnished due to the loss of national sovereignty and a fratricidal war. He believed that the lives of the sages were to solidly establish the law of nature(天理) with their toil and painstaking efforts and not to seek for a number of ambition and gain, and he considered what was grand among them as what was essentially in the middle. Such thought of no need to look for ambition and gain and a need to keep a sincere investigation of the law of nature in his late thirties became his firm belief throughout his life, along with Li based world recognition. As achieved in his discussions about Simseong Li-Gi(心性理氣), Theory of Mind(四端七情論) and Theory of Human Nature(人物性論), Songsan maintained his world view centered and expressed by Li. This firmly showed the succession of Nosa Gi Jeong Jin's thought. Such world view was practiced through coping with the period. He was convinced of reasoning things out (道通) for the actions that he maintained and showed a strong intention of repelling heresy(闢異端) and maintaining his true solitary path(孤立) while not following general trend(時流). This was Songsan's brief action that he would neither follow nor accommodate himself to the changes of the world that went into directions different from his values. Therefore, he placed more value on truth seeking(救道) than salvation of the world(救世) and made efforts to restore the country by not losing manners. Such an attitude of valuing seeking truth more than restoring the colonized country was the result of facing up to the world based on Li by understanding that Li would be an eternal principle and have true energy. Such a world view may become a source of protecting himself from the turbulently changing world and having its values, but in fact he may be criticized as failing to deal with changeable realities and to suggest concrete and realistic actions toward Gi's(氣) world. Songsan's choice of the life goal and directions of his knowledge made from Mencius' conviction to the ideal and value for the rule of right may seem to be thoughtless in realities as found in the evaluation for Mencius that he had received from his contemporaries. However, Songsan's choice still have some room for further reflections as found in the re-evaluation of Mencius' ideal and value at present.