한강(寒岡) 정구(鄭逑)에 관한 한국사 분야의 연구회고와 전망

Abstract

Examined in this study are Korean historical studies done uponHang’gang(寒岡) Jeong Gu(鄭逑), who was a renowned philosopher andscholar in the middle period of the Joseon dynasty. Also included inthis article is a contemplation made upon future research prospects. He was a significant scholar representing the Yeongnam region andhad a vision of how to govern the world. He was one of the mostdistinguished disciples of Twegye Yi Hwang. He is a crucial figure inthe studies of the Yeongnam region’s academic traits, philosophy andthe actions made by the Yeongnam Sarim circle. Jeong Gu’s studiesspreaded to the Southerners in the Giho region as well, and hadcountry-wide influences. Past studies on him, in the area of Korean history, examined manyaspects of his, such as his ritual protocol studies, his geographicalworks, his status in the Yeongnam school, his historical writings, andhis perception of the world and his ideas that concerned how to governit. More studies need to be done in the future. Especially, studies ofJeong Gu’s ritual protocol theories should try to differentiate hisarguments which were considered important during his time, from his other arguments which are considered important today. And not onlyhis theories but also how he tried to apply them to real life situations,especially during his services as a local governor, should be examinedas well. Jeong Gu was very much interested in publishing local countyalmanacs, which shows how the people of the time viewed the localcommunities. This aspect of his efforts should be examined more inthe future, because all these almanacs signified which kind of directionwould be taken in the governance of local regions. Jeong Gu alsoserved as a sort of intermediary between the left and right sides ofthe Yeongnam region (Jwa-do and Wu-do provinces), and between theSoutherners in the Yeongnam and Giho regions. So more studies shouldbe done upon Jeong Gu’s disciples as well.