동양 지식 체계의 계보화 - 姜春山의 「東洋道學의 體系如何」 -

Abstract

Korean modern studies have been shaped as traditional knowledge system ran afoul of new knowledge system, and as competitions and attempts to bridge the gap between the two different knowledge systems repeated. Genealogy of Oriental knowledge systems by Kang Chun-san serialized in Gaebyeok in 1921 is remarkable as an example that reinterpreted and genealogized the traditional knowledge system by embracing western academic concepts and thoughts. The writing is differentiated from the traditional Confucian orthodox style of narration, though it is titled ‘Dohak’, because Kang In-taek having a religious disposition based on the doctrine of Cheondogyo referred extensively to the philosophical books published in China and Japan in the same period. Like a discourse on the Orient, oriental supremacy emphasizing spiritual culture in the writing is more of an ideological artifact than the result derived from an in-depth academic analysis. The attempt to rediscover the traditional knowledge system focused on the dualism between spirit and material and the morality reflects a struggle caused by self-denial to obsession with modern western civilization and self-consciousness over the ignorance of identity. Kang In-taek’s reconstruction theory which puts more stress on renovating spirit than material is not much different from the one of Cheondogyo. Kang In-taek reinterpreted the traditional knowledge system by quoting a number of western philosophical concepts. Meanwhile, traditional and western academic concepts were blended, and the semantic conflict between ‘philosophy’ and ‘Dohak’ arose. In addition to many different western academic concepts, social evolution theory and socialism powerful at that time were involved. It is characterized by ‘Yangzhou’ and ‘Mukjeok’ held equivalent academic positions even though once excluded as heresy from Confucian tradition and by ‘Mencius’ criticized and degraded relatively. It is Kang In-taek who devoted himself to the national independence movement through cultural movement and enlightenment campaign of Cheondogyo and reconstituted the genealogy of traditional knowledge system by taking sole possession of western academic concepts and thoughts. Genealogy of Oriental knowledge system demands to have an interest in Korean modern history of philosophy during the Japanese colonial era. Particularly, the conceptual approach is an efficient method to analyze combination and transformation of the concepts, exclusive possession of discourse and semantic extension appeared in those days.