栗谷 李珥의 『東湖問答』과 君臣論

Abstract

The Dongho mundap (東湖問答, Catechism at Eastern Lake) presented by Yi Yi in September of the 2nd year of King Seonjo’s reign is a work that served as a blueprint for his reforms. Previous studies of the Dongho mundap have been limited by their overarching focus on the interpretation of the texts and annotations found throughout the entire work. However, this study concludes that the core assertions of the work can be found in the first half of Dongho mundap. This study also departs from existing studies in that the interpretation of Yi Yi’s assertions is based on the prevailing historical and political contexts. In the first half of his work, Yi Yi reviewed the relationship between monarch and subjects throughout the history of China and Joseon, and sought to express the political ‘goal’ that Joseon should pursue and the essential ‘method’ which should be used to achieve the goals. First, the ‘goal’ was the ‘recovery of the governance of three generations (三代之治)’ to counter what Yi saw as being made necessary by the meritorious subjects’ lack of the sincere belief and practical will that he and the members of the reform group possessed. This was a strong criticism of the meritorious subjects blocking the reforms of the time. Next, the ‘method’ involved a power structure based on ‘mutual contentment between monarch and subjects (君臣相得)’. Yi Yi regarded that the reform group should grasp the power to recover the governance of three generations. This already contained the cause of internal conflicts within the reform group, which were exposed with the reform group was spilt into the Eastern and Western parties in the future. Both parties agreed on the ‘goal’ while exhibiting different opinions on the ‘method’.