湛軒과 惠岡의 유교 大同論과 공동체 정신

Abstract

The final directing point of Confucian ideas is the construction of utopia, ‘Datong’ society presented in Liji (Book of Rites). In the long-standing history of East Asia Confucian ideas, Confucian scholars have constantly presented diverse opinions around ‘Datong’ (Great equality) theory. Thus, this paper dealt with the late Joseon period Silhak scholars (of the Realist School of Confucianism) in such a history of East Asia Confucian ideas and focused on ‘Datong’ theory of Damheon, Hong Dae-yong and Hyegang, Choi Han-ki among them. In short, this paper was planned to explore their Datong theory. Along with this, this paper attempted to discuss the aspects of Datong thought and community spirit of Silhak-pa (Positive School) that newly recognized the Confucianist traditions in the late Joseon period by understanding ‘Datong’ idea as the ‘community spirit’ in Confucian ideas during the Joseon period. As a result, Damheon’s Datong theory was a theory that, expanded the spirit to equality and harmony among nations and countries and community spirit of humanity based on the equality of human beings and things, that is, ‘Gyun thought (idea that all humans are equal).’ In addition, to Hyegang, following ‘ChunyinWunhwa (the Universe and a human being)’ that he defined as the base and standard of Kihak (Study of Chi) was ‘Datong.’ Thus, the world of ‘Datong’ was a world in which all the people of the world run a balanced life, peacefully and harmoniously. Like this, the two Confucian scholars active in the late Joseon period when modern imperialist aspects did not begin yet pulled out Datong thought implied in the traditional Confucian ideas again and devised and rediscovered ‘new Datong theory,’ corresponding to the contemporary challenges, that is, one that was constructed by their own language.