이상적 인간상 추구의 君子 함의 고찰－≪四書集註≫를 중심으로－

Abstract

This study examined the definition of “Junzi (君子)”, which people commonly use, and the connotations of Junzi in the “Interlinear Analysis and Collected Commentaries on the Four Books (四書集註)”. As a result, the connote of Junzi has a close relationship with the purpose of writing for every Four Books and their primary principal. Thus, it can tell that Junzi appears as an ideal human image of Confucian scholar pursued in each book, or a politician who embodies political ideas. Junzi in “Confucian Analects” is the original form of Junzi; the characteristics of Junzi appears as the person who realizes “benevolence”, the core idea of Confucius. The features of the connotation of Junzi in “Great Learning” describes Junzi as a person with the virtue that a politician who can reform others based on the gaining knowledge by the study of things as “a door to enter the virtue.” On the contrary, Junzi from “Doctrine of the Mean”, which forms a line with “Great Leaning”, internalizes through the primary principal, “Tradition of Moral Philosophy”, and signifies same meaning as a saint. Junzi from “Mencius” is described as a man with big morale based on “virtuousness and righteousness.” Hence, the significance of Junzi is expressed with different aspects depending on ideals each aims for; from this point, Junzi implies different meaning depending on the person’s thoughts and ideologies.