묵자 ‘생사관(生死觀)’이 지닌 본질과 의의 고찰

Abstract

Mozi expresses his opinion related to ‘Life and Death’ at his writings: Disbelieve in Fate(非命), The importance of Righteousness(貴義), Identification of a Ghost(明鬼), Simple Funeral(節葬). First of all, he emphasizes that human beings are completely dependent on their own power, and strongly denies that our fates are determined by the absolute beings. According to him, “A good life”, that is the value of life, is not just a physical life but overcoming the hardships of oneself and community by independent efforts. Second Mozi regard a life of practicing righteousness as an ideal existence. ‘The Righteousness’ is based on eliminating the harmful effects of the world and realizing the benefits. At the same time, he noted where the value of death lies, arguing that even the death to realize ‘justice’ is to die well. Third, Mozi acknowledges the existence of ghost(鬼神). According to his opinion, humans become ghosts after death, and the ancestral rites for ghosts should be valued. This is because ghosts are beings that help the benefits of human life and punish the harms. Fourth, the essence of Mozi’s ‘View of Life and Death’ is evident in his writing, ‘Simple Funeral(節葬)’. He is critical of ‘the ostentatious display of courtesy(虛禮虛飾)’ in ‘Grand Funeral(厚葬)’, ‘Long Funeral(久葬)’. And he insists on a funeral for both the living and the dead. The theory of ‘Simple Funeral(節葬)’ is not just an argument at the level of Saving(節用), but it gives a certain meaning and value to both life and death. The work of identifying the view of Mozi’s thoughts on ‘Life and Death’ gives us a convincing clue to find out what it is to ‘living well’ and ‘ending life well’.