退溪詩의 空間認識과 山水觀

Abstract

Toegye’s ideal was in learning and nature. He explained theories based on Li(rational principle, 理) and Qi(material force, 氣). His belief was closed related to ethics. He contemplated the roots of universal rules about human action as the nature’s universal rule or Li(理) can be perceived by human consciousness. First, the roots and universal rule of human action are the same as the universal rules of natural phenomena when all of the natural phenomena are considered as works of Qi(氣). Therefore, ethics is the ethical value conversion of the universal rule, Li(理). Second, the ground for Toegye’s theory of mind is universal truth by the natural philosophical observation and insight. Therefore, he perceived that the historical temporality was connected to and coexists with nowness. The nowness can be found in life of realizing nature, and this is the boundary of the oneness of God and man. Third, the oneness of God and man perceived realization of great cause as the best value. This can be called “beauty of ideology(理念美)” that means return to original existence, love for nature and life in seclusion. Therefore, the oneness of God and man was Toegye’s outlook on the universe and the world and love for nature. Fourth, restoration of ancient text(古文復古) was to restore ancient sages’ life to suggest realistic examples. At the same time, it is the source of universal cultural heritage, a part of mythic original form, and the exploration for essence of roots. Fifth, Toegye suggested prototype of learning in his book Seonghaksipdo(聖學十圖). The book encouraged readers to improve themselves physically and mentally by talking about ancient sages’ life that symbolizes restoration of oneness with ancient sages through ideological sublimation and internal subjectivization. Sixth, Toegye’s poem composition under the theme of nature was artistic activity that gave shape to his ideology with nature as mediation. He could realize his ideal of seclusion through oneness with environment, which contributed to development of imaginary art. Seventh, Toegye’s subjective world pioneered aesthetic boundary of humanization of nature and naturalization of human. Therefore, he sang boundary of laws of nature that participate in roots of all things in the universe with nature. This is the aesthetic status of the originary enlightenment that consists of perspectives on nature. Toegye’s love for nature represents the beauty of ideology(理念美) of the philosophic world that his poems about nature and the assimilation with nature described.