成三問과 申叔舟의 策文에 나타난 現實認識 比較

Abstract

This study compared the perception of realities between Seong Sam moon(成三問) and Shin Sook joo(申叔舟) using Chaekmun(策文) presented in civil service examination Jungsi(文科重試) in 1447 (19th year of King Sejong). Chaekmun was a means to communicate difficult problems in the country and seek solutions for the problems from young talented people who took their first step into the world through the civil service examination. Furthermore, it was a good instrument for weighing young people’s academic competencies and their view of realities. The Chaekmun of Seong Sam moon and Shin Sook joo examined in this study is a rare case that different answers(對策) remain for the same question(策問). Moreover, Seong Sam moon and Shin Sook joo are ‘rivals of history’ who walked the same road as the scholars of Jiphyeonjeon(集賢殿) but split into the opposite directions at Gyeyujeongran(癸酉靖難, the purge in 1453). Therefore, it is quite interesting to compare the answers presented by the two persons for the same question during their youth. This study compared the two persons’ Chaekmun item by item for the four items suggested as specific examples in the question, and determined differences in their opinions on how to correct evil customs of law, which was the main purport of the question. According to the results of this study, Seong Sam moon suggested being faithful to basic principles and that it was enough to observe the established laws. In addition, he said that the ideal government could be attained by learning historical cases and examining the gains and losses of past governments, and imitating great kings’ governance and keeping their principles in heart. On the other hand, Shin Sook joo suggested that immediate problems should be clarified and corrected if they could or should be corrected. Moreover, he said that the path of discussion should be opened in order to hear just opinions. According to his answer, if opinions were collected from various people like the civil service examination presenting questions and hearing the subjects’ answers, problems would be corrected timely, no evil practice would be established, and everything would go well. Seong Sam moon insisted that the success of government depended on the ruler’s whole mind, and Shin Sook joo maintained that evil customs would be removed if many people’s opinions would be heard and problems would be solved in a timely manner. This difference in their perception of realities was reflected also in their respective life of morality and justice(綱常義理) and life of wisdom and achievement(事功權變). ‘Morality(綱常)’ and ‘wisdom(權變)’ may be considered to be concepts contradictory to each other, but practically both are required. The Confucian ideal is harmony between ‘morality’ and ‘wisdom’ but most of real cases fail to reach the level. For Seong Sam moon and Shin Sook joo discussed in this study as well, they followed their respective thought and belief throughout their life, inclining to either morality or wisdom rather than pursuing harmony between the two. This study attempted to find differences in the perception of realities between the two figures based on Chaekmun that they presented during their youth and, by doing so, to prove that Chaekmun is good material for probing into the base of their thoughts and understanding their extremely contrasting life journeys.