19세기 후반 申箕善의 현실 인식과 사상적 변화

Abstract

The theory of Dongdoseogi (東道西器, Eastern Ways and Western Machines, shortened as Dongdoseogiron hereafter) was a new current of thought introduced in the early 1880s when a severe argument of the open-door theory and the doctrine of rejecting heterodoxy in defense of orthodoxy was is at its peak. Sin Gi-seon was the very person who suggested Dongdoseogiron for the first time. This study aims to elucidate traces of his life after 1890s and review his entire career. It is anticipated that the periodical shifts of his thoughts would be revealed during said process. He used to study under the guidance of rustic literati(山林, sallim), however, in the early 1880s, he was fascinated to the idea of Dongdoseogiron. At that time, he suggested the new theory to convince conservative Confucian scholars. He also participated in the open-door movement, but, since he got involved in Coup d’Etat of 1884, he had to experience a huge transition of life. Because he had a close relationship with revolutionaries, he was sent into exile and, ever since this point, he gradually became conservative. His new thoughts in the late 1880s can be found from Yuhakgyeongwi (儒學經緯, Warp and Woof [circumstances] of Confucianism) and it aimed, unlike his old ideas from the early 1880s, to re-secure the significance of Confucian teachings. Witnessing the Reforms of Gabo (1894) and Eulmi (1895), made him even more conservative. He was critical about the reform movements since he regarded the reform as dependent and radical. At this point his only interest was to protect Confucian ways from the radical reformists. Therefore, he had to face a severe criticism from the enlightenment parties represented by the Independence Club. In the late 1900s he suggested the compromising theory of the old and new studies. This suggestion was mainly for the protection of old studies from newer academic trends. But his argument failed to evoke a significant response and, instead, he received a severe denunciation from groups of new academia. Sin Gi-seon once belonged to a progressive group and, thus, was criticized by orthodox Confucian scholars. But after the middle of 1890s he was marked as a conservative by the reformist groups. Shifts of his thoughts from the late 19th century to early 20th century also show the periodical transition of Dongdoseogiron.