충사상의 본질과 한국적 전개

Abstract

This article is to study the essence of Chung(忠: faith) shown on Confucian classics including the Analects of Confucius and its Korean style development. Needless to say, A Chung(忠: faith) with Hyo(孝: filial piety) is one of the core values of Confucius ideology. Confucianism makes 'Hyoje(孝悌: filial piety and brotherly love)' the beginning of its morality and it is centered around Hyo, Je, Chung(royalty), Sin(faith) or Yin(generosity), Ŭi(trust), Ye(propriety), Ji(knowledge). As many know, the essence of Chung is in the category of personal ethic before state ethic. "My Tao goes only one way for all", said Confucius to one of his students Zēngzǐ, and then Zēngzǐ understood it partially as ChungSeo(忠恕: faithful and affectionate). For this, Zhūxī called Chung JinGiJiWiChung(盡己之謂忠: fully faithful with all your best), which meant, 'Chung is to do your best together with your endless efforts'. It seems that such concept of Chung had changed to ChungSeong(忠誠: faithful to your boss) for kings as kings' power had been getting stronger and the society had been getting more centralized since Hàn Dynasty. Such concept of Chung of Hàn Dynasty was transferred to Korea. Therefore, Five Morals: 'Father and son must be close to each other', 'King and servant must be based on fidelity', 'Husband and wife must have their own roles separately between them', 'The elder and the younger must be rightly positioned' and 'Friends must trust each other', which all was mentioned by Mencius, were transferred to Shinra and then they changed to Five Morals for Common People: 'Servant must be faithful to king', 'Child must be faithful to her/his parents', 'Friends must trust each other', 'Don't run away in battle' and 'Don't kill what you don't have to kill', which the great Buddhist monk Wonkwang said for the loyal youth of Shinra; became the foundation stone for Shinra to unify three Korean countries; and had been continuously taught to later generations: Jeong Mong-ju of Goryeo Dynasty; SaYukShin(死六臣: five servants who died for faith to King Danjong expelled by coup) and SaengYukShin(生六臣: six servants who left the political field for faith to King Danjong) early in Chosun Dynasty; a number of armies raised in cause of justice during Imjin War with Japan; and the fighters for national independence during Japanese occupational period.