율곡학파의 ‘理氣渾淪’ 개념 고찰 - 이이와 임성주의 철학을 중심으로 -

Abstract

‘LiKi Honlun(理氣渾淪)’, a concept that represents the non-separateness of ‘li(理)’ and ‘ki(氣)’ is widely acknowledged as a key logic especially used by the Yulgok school in opposing the Toegye school. To date, there has not been adequate analysis on ‘LiKi Honlun’ in the Yulgok school. This research examines the philosophical context in which ‘LiKi Honlun’ was used by two of the major figures of Yulgok camp, YI I and IM Seong-ju, and therefore explains the meaning and role of ‘LiKi Honlun’ in their theories of li and ki, mind and nature, and self-cultivation. For YI, li and ki are honlun(non-separable) in the way that ki is determinative of all phenomena while li is absolute for being the ontological basis of phenomena. ‘LiKi Honlun’ then serves as a theoretical prerequisite of YI’s theories of ‘ki emerges as one route with li mounting it(氣發理乘一途)’ and ‘li is universal and ki restricts li(理通氣 局)’. It also lies the foundation for his viewpoint of ‘rectifying physical endowment(矯氣 質)’. IM pushed forward YI’s idea that ki is determinative of all phenomena. He further interpreted ki as the structural basis of phenomena while limiting li’s role by reinterpreting li as the basis which is crucial only for supporting the quality and features of ki. Li and ki are then honlun in that li serves as ki’s ‘attendant’. By such usage of ‘LiKi Honlun’, IM endeavored to resolve the problems of gap between the ‘che(體)’ and ‘yong(用)’ probably hidden in YI’s concept of ‘LiKi Honlun’, and eventually constructed his ki-monism, which can be seen as an extreme form of YI’s theory of ‘ki emerges as one route with li mounting it’. IM’s usage of ‘LiKi Honlun’ also supports the effectiveness of ‘nurturing the vast moving vital force(養氣)’, a method of self-cultivation that he emphasized. Both the Yulgok and Toegye schools used to share the term ‘LiKi Honlun’ itself. Therefore, knowing ‘how’ the concept was used, rather than ‘whether’ the term itself was used or not, should be a more effective way to figure out the characteristics of any specific school or scholar. In this respect, being a study of the concrete meaning and usage of ‘LiKi Honlun’ in the Yulgok school, this research can help provide a new perspective to survey Korean Confucianism.