서주(西洲) 김사진(金思鎭)의 삶과 학문성향

Abstract

Kim Sajin(1878〜1954) was a modern confucianism scholar who studied under Lee Byeongho and Kwak Jongseok. He followed Lee Jinsang and Kwak Jongseok in supporting the theory of mind as principle(心卽理說). He explored and wrote about concepts such as theory of mind as principle in depth, and even accepted theory of mind is the principle as proposed by Wang Suin(王守仁). Despite following the tradition of Neo-Confucianism, Kim Sajin also showed academic characteristics of Practical Learning(實學), which emphasized pragmatic attitude and practices, stepping beyond the boundaries of philological learning(訓詁學) from the Han Dynasty and learning of principle(理學) from the Song Dynasty. He understood that the emphasis on Six Classics(六經) came to an end due to the anti-Confucianism imposed by Qin Shi Huang; the Han Dynasty opened the era of reading that places value on old books; and, during the Song Dynasty, the discourse has been shifted to theories again, thus, moving away from Practical Learning which emphasizes governance of the world. As a scholar, he was more focused on virtues and pragmatism than on reading or discussion of theories. He enjoyed reading Bangyesurok(磻溪隨錄. Occasional Writings of Pan Kye), written by late-Joseon scholar Yu Hyongwon(柳馨遠) who he revered as the ‘master of the economics.’ Kim Sajin placed emphasis on learning about the world and lamented the futility of the studies from late Joseon until his time. Lee Gawon(李家源) was a scholar who studied Practical Learning based on the pragmatic attitude and facts under Kim Sajin for roughly three decades, as a result of the close relationship between his grandfather Lee Jungin(李中寅) and Kim Sajin. Through letters exchanged between Park Seungjin(朴勝振) and Kim Sajin and from the teachings of the latter, he studied statecraft learning as proposed by Yu Hyongwon, Yi Ik(李瀷), and Pak Chiwon(朴趾源). As a result, Lee Gawon often discussed Practical Learning and wrote on the subject throughout his life. His scholastic focus on Practical Learning and study on scholars of Practical Learning including Park Jiwon was influenced largely by the teachings of Kim Sajin since his childhood.