덕촌 양득중의 시대 인식과 대응 양상 - 「사직소(辭職疏)」와 「등대연화(登對筵話)」를 중심으로 -

Abstract

This research studies Dukchon Yang Dukjung's (1665-1742) awareness of time and aspect of confrontation, focusing on “Sajikso (辭職疏)” and “Dungdaeyeonwha (登對筵話)”. Dukchon's bureaucratic life was in the middle of fierce struggles between the Noron faction and Soron faction, and several changes of regime due to a series of events. In this era, the Noron faction controlled the areas of politics, economy, philosophy, and literature, and regarded the adverse faction as heterodoxy, becoming hostile to the whole area of the adverse faction. Dukchon was excluded from the Noron faction because he was the disciple of Myungje Yunjeung. However, he was granted public office even in his latter years with wholehearted support and trust from King Yungjo. Despite this, he submitted his letter of resignation, the “Sajikso (辭職疏)” when he was in his sixties, protesting against the contemporary vested rights' false consciousness and violence. In “Dungdaeyeonwha (登對筵話)” he also showed an iron will in confronting the King without bending his conviction and principles. Dukchon coped with the irrational situation of continuous political conflicts and frictions by focusing on equality (蕩平) and substantiality (實事求是) rather than unconditionally supporting on his own faction or criticizing the adverse faction. This outlook was repeatedly suggested in his “Sajikso (辭職疏)” and “Dungdaeyeonwha (登對筵話)”. Dukchon did not like to use stereotypical phrases in his letters appealing to King, instead he directly suggested the subject he wanted to achieve. Due to these characteristics his letters had many arguments on the abuses of power by the contemporary vested rights, the political world, and the problem of policy.