다산 정약용의 異端論

Abstract

Dasan had the ideal of reforming Joseon society at the time during the transition era of the Eastern penetration of Western force in the history of civilization. He endeavored to overcome the crisis of contemporary studies through interpretation of Confucian Classics Studies (經學) in a way of Shilhak. He sought to criticize the closedness of Joseon Neo‐Confucianism, and at that time, using Matteo Ricci's 『the True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven』, he tried to interpret the Confucianist (儒家) scriptures. This paper attempted to emphasize that the openness of Dasan scholarship was largely driven by the redefinition of the concept of Heresy (異端) in 『the Analects of Confucius』. Dasan criticized the general view of the day, claiming that Heresy is a Heresy evil story which harms the orthodox theory, based on scriptural interpretation. He redefined the concept of Heresy as a term referring to a discipline that has only one‐sided legitimacy, not an evil theory to be rejected. What Kongfu refers to the studies of agriculture (農家) or military tactics (兵家) as Heresy was that it is helpful for the lives of the people, but if you try only for it, it can lead to neglecting the study of life (性命). The reason Mencius criticized Yangzi and Mozi was also not intended to reject both disciplines, but it was thought that it was vigilant here because there was a problem with each excessively leaning on righteousness and benevolence. This interpretation of Dasan's Heresy continues in the evaluation of Catholicism. Catholicism in Joseon society at the time was rejected as Heresy, but Catholicism corresponds only to the discipline of Mozi that was Heresy at the time of Mencius, Dasan argues. Therefore, he sees that it would be criticized to admire Catholicism alone, but that there was no reason to deny the advantages of Catholicism. Furthermore, Dasan says that it is the right attitude not to deny and reject Heresy, but to reveal sages’ learning more in that the appearance of Heresy is the opportunity for the sages’ discipline to be manifested. This was also the way Dasan practiced. He studied Western Learning and put Catholicism to the level of faith, but his ultimate goal was to rediscover the value of studying abroad through Catholicism, which was to innovate the nation’s society. Dasan's interpretation of Heresy has practical implications in that it has provided a conceptual framework for the acceptance of Western Learning.