‘中和’의 具現과 ‘中通人義’의 實現 - 中和經을 中心으로-

Abstract

“Junghwagyeong 中和經” which was handed down by the founder of a new religion Kang Jeungsan in the Empire of Korea seems to have supplemented and reorganized Confucianism. Most of the studies on the new religion regarded Jeungsan’s thoughts as being Taoistic, the mixed principle of three religions including Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism based on the shamanistic prototype, or the integrated pluralistic principle around certain religions thoughts. The lack of academic approach from the perspective of Confucianism in studying Jeungsan’s thoughts is thought to have been attributed to the lack of cognition and research on “Junghwagyeong 中和經”. This study aims at identifying how Jeungsan succeeded to the ‘Junghwa(中和)” concept in “Jungyong” and accepted it through “Junghwagyeong” in an effort to consider the aspects in accepting Confucianism to develop the Hucheongaebyuk(後天開闢) thought through ‘Cheonjigongsa(天地公事)’. From the author’s perspective, Jeungsan seems to have oriented to an integrated religious pluralism as he evenly accepted three religions including Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Among others, “Junghwagyeong” belongs to a representative literature that Jeungsan accepted, reorganized and systematized Confucianism. Jeungsan pointed out that Confucianism had been criticized due to negative elements and evil practices although it had been recognized for positive functions which had been demonstrated in the feudal society. Accordingly, he attempted to hand down righteous values and positive functions of Confucianism through “Junghwagyeong”. The ideal world which Jeungsan wanted to realize is a world where everyone can achieve ‘Jungtonginui(中通人義)’ and can be positioned as a universal existence. This is the ideal world where everyone can reach the world of ‘Chijunghwa(致中和)’. Jeungsan defined the ideal world as the coming world while defining the world like the feudal society system which was thought to be irrational as the preceding world. The preceding world is a world based on the structure of ‘Hado(河圖)’ and ‘Nakseo(洛書)’ where conflicts, irrationality, concoction and grudge were created. Jeungsan wanted to develop a new world through ‘Cheonjigongsa’ as ritual actions for plans to overcome it. This world is the ideal world to be developed by the righteous order. Jeungsan seems to have discovered norms and thoughts for a new world by reorganizing the values of Confucianism at the point when he looked forward to the modern times. Jeungsan’s direction as such can be said to have great significance in motivating the formation of a new order toward the future as well as solving problems confronting the mankind living in the modern times.