조선 실학에 끼친 徐光啓의 영향 ― 서유구 가문을 중심으로 ―

Abstract

Xu Guangqi (徐光啓, 1562~1633) is an agriculturist and mathematician in the late Ming dynasty of China, who contributed greatly to the introduction of western scientific technologies into China. There was little records convincing that he had met Joseon persons directly, which made him a relatively unnoticeable figure in Korea-China exchange history. However, it seems that his study left noticeable footprints in Joseon academic world through many books and activities. The typical example thereof is his influence on the studies of Dalseong Seo family descending from Seo Myeong-eung (徐命膺) to Seo Ho-su (徐浩修), Seo Hyeong-su (徐瀅修), Seo Yu-bon (徐有本) and Seo Yu-gu (徐有榘). Seo Yu-gu had researched intensively the agricultural works of Xu Guangqi including 『農政全書』. Seo Ho-su, as Xu Guangqi translated western books including 『幾何原本』 into Chinese, had exerted himself to spread Xu's translations to Joseon. From these facts, it was found that they, though not lived same period, had strong sympathy in their thoughts and studies. Xu entered Roman Catholicism at Nanjing in 1603 and showed the image of devout Catholic to such an extent as to hold his father's funeral in Catholic style. However, the most members of Seo family had strongly took the attitudes of Taoism or Buddhism for their whole lives. Therefore, as of now, it is difficult to find out the evidence to support the suspicion that Seo family's members might have concealed their faiths in Western Teaching (Catholicism).