華西學派 心說論爭의 재조명

Abstract

Summarizing the issue between Sungjae(省齋) and Jungam(重菴) is summed up into the following three issues. First, Sungjae saw the mind as belonging to "an object" as "a combination of Li (理) and Ki (氣)," while Jungam adhered to Hwaseo's claim and defined mind as Li. Second, Sungjae saw that the mind (心) and nature (性) were separate beings because 'the mind is the object, the nature is the rule,' and Jungam saw that the mind and nature are in fact just one Li. Third, Sungjae maintained that Li is like a general, and Ki is like a soldier, while on the other hand he maintained that "the help of Ki is needed to realize Li." However, Jungam eventually pursued a Li's self-sufficient system that does not need Ki's help, while claiming that Li is good and Ki is evil. According to the general theory of Neo-confucianism, the mind itself is described as 'the essence of Ki', and 'the mind's initiative' has been described as 'the initiative of Ki.' But if we can not admit the realistic initiative of Ki, and if we define the mind as Li, does the mind actually change to Li? In addition, is it possible to have the ability to act in reality by giving the ability theoretically to Li? Also, by defining the mind as Li and giving the ability of action to Li, has everyone become a saint and this world become a paradise? The answer is obviously negative. In this context, I believe that the argument that Hwaseo or Jungam's "defining mind as Li" (以理斷心) is merely an ideological prescription for the fallen reality of the time. The right prescription for the reality should be found in the context of making the Li fully realized by well controlling the Ki which has realistic initiative. This was the basic line of traditional Confucianism.