顧齋 李炳殷의 學問과 思想

Abstract

Confucianism is a scholarship that, inwardly, embodies the truthfulness of humans and, outwardly, establishes the public order through enlightenment. This Confucianism was newly systematized and it is Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty. Joseon accepted Neo-Confucianism and applied it to the overall nation and the society in order to preserve the foundation of the nation. However, Joseon faced political, social, and cultural troubles at home and abroad after the mid 19th century and confusion started to prevail all over. The intellectuals, at that time, opposed to the western civilization with 'Chuksawijung(斥邪衛正: excluding the wickedness and preserving the justice)' and resisted the invasion of Japanese imperialism with 'Kukisuho(國基守護: guarding the foundation of the nation).' This thesis examined the scholarship and ideas of Gojae Byungeun Yi who carried out his activities until the mid 20th century. He pursued his learning under the instruction of Ganjae Woo Jeon. He, going through the rapid changes and working in the Japan's colonial rule of Korea, adhered to his concrete belief in the traditional ideas of Confucianism only. Byungeun Yi placed great emphasis on academic efforts believing that nature and human lives were all dependent on the Providence but academic achievements should not be so completely. Thus, he made an effort to farm and read together in his righteousness-oriented life. Farming is a strenuous effort for self-sustenance and reading is another for looking right at the history and world of the past and the present. Especially pursued the yi-centered thinking which required through studying of and mastering yi, the objective standard, by reading and insisted on 'the theory of Ilihamhmansu (一理涵萬殊說).' He, based on such scholarship, followed Woo Jeon's theory of Shimbonsung(心本性: the original nature of mind) and another theory of Sungsashimje(性師心弟: nature is the master; mind is the disciple), and he stressed all the more that nature should be the master to have the mind's own will head to the path of righteousness. From his putting much importance on yi(理: the basic principles) and nature, he showed his loyalty to his principles; he pursued the way which valued the most specific and realistic ethics and morality moved toward a direction in which he urged the corrupted Confucian scholars for playing moral roles.