한말 지식인들의 ‘國民精神’論 전개와 그 의미

Abstract

The “civilization” that appeared since 1880, at the end of Joseon was a supreme task to Koreans. It meant western materials like clothes, electricity, railroads until Russo-Japanese War(1904~1905). Korean intellectuals, however, criticized these material civilization after the war because they thought that the “spiritual civilization” was more important to Joseon. So they gave shape to the spiritual civilization as “the theory of national spirit”The theory focused on a nation. Korean intellectual explained some attitudes to fulfill the necessary conditions as the nation. They discussed about a martialism in the theory. They emphasized that the nation had to keep the martialism to carry out the national spirit. They thought that the Koreans had to be warriors who could give their lives for their country. Also Korean intellectuals paid attention to a constitutional monarchy to support the national spirit institutionally. Russo-Japanese War inspired this idea. Korean intellectuals thought that Russo-Japanese War was a conflict between a constitutional monarchy and an absolute monarchy, so the triumph of Japan was the victory of the constitutional monarchy. They consider the war as not only the conflict of system but also the competition of two nations. They took a deep interest in Japanese samurais’ attitude, and they wanted to establish the constitutional monarchy to make Koreans as brave warriors. The theory of national spirit since 1906 has three historical meanings. First, it shows that Korean intellectuals in that time had more interest in the international situation. Their perception that the international issues could be solved by Elements of International Law was changed through the war. They realized that most important thing was a military power not Elements of International Law in a world where the strong prey upon the weak. And they thought that the military power could establish by the martialism inhering the national spirit. Second, the theory imprinted an importance of the martialism and the military education on Koreans. They insisted the cause of social ills of Joseon was the deplorable custom worshiping literary art and despising military art. So they emphasized an importance of physical education to overcome the custom. These Korean intellectuals’ efforts influenced on Koreans to realize an importance of the martialism. Lastly, the theory had a decisive effect on an independence movement during the Japanese colonial period. After national ruin, Korean intellectuals exiled and established schools for Koreans. They carried out Korean education and military education in these schools. The military education was linked closely the education for a nation army in the theory. The theory appeared since 1906 influenced the armed struggle organizing one set of an independence movement against Japanese imperialism like this.