『순언』 군주론의 내적구조 연구 - 율곡의 『순언』 저술 동기를 중심으로

Abstract

This study focuses on analyzing the development of Confucian kingship of 『Sun Eon』 through Yulgok’s motivation of the very writing, based on scrutiny of his will for social reform. In addition to 『Gyeongmongyogyeol』, 『Sun Eon』, that is assumed to be written in Yulgok’s latter years, contains his attempt to diagnose problems of the society and his will to seek for practical plans so as to solve them in the capacity of one of governmental officials and intellectuals involved with realistic politics. However, unlike other Yulgok’s writings 『Sun Eon』 is based on Lao-tzu’s philosophy which was classified as a heresy in those days. Furthermore, Confucian Kingship reflected in 『Sun Eon』 retains a wider significance of contextuality beyond the Confucian view of the world. And this book is relevant to his practical way of learning oriented towards mutual unification of different ideas including Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Around the time when Yolgok wrote the book, 『Sun Eon』, he corresponded with Gubong. Through correspondence between them, we can get a sense of Yulgok’s own perspective and understanding toward the actual society, unlike Gobong’s. In light of Yulgok’s perspective of the function and role of learning, timeliness and activeness matter. Therefore, an justification-oriented aspect of learning, that the intellectuals―including Gubong who valued the Confucian view of the world above everything else― of the time had, is contradictory to his, because he thought such their aspect had a limit to solving actual problems in the society. For him who emphasizes motivation for change through mutual unification of Yigijimyo (理氣之妙) to create a new society, to overcome constraints of learning divorced from reality corresponds to a paramount task during his time. Until lately, academic research of Yulgok’s annotation on 『Lao-tzu』 has been done, focused on Neo-Confucianism―in other words, a way of interpretation on 『Sun Eon』 has only revolved around the Neo-Confucian view of the world that Yulgok holds as a Neo-Confucian scholar. Such approach, however, leads to abating a significant sense of motivation for writing 『Sun Eon』. Namely, his true purpose of writing 『Sun Eon』, influenced by political situations and necessities, becomes undermined. On this account, it is considered that a study for establishing the appropriate approach and interpretation toward 『Sun Eon』 is required rather than concentrating on the Neo-Confucian perspective. Viewed from this light, the study on Yulgok’s motivation of writing 『Sun Eon』 belongs to a task beyond his personal understanding of 『Lao-tzu』 in order to investigate his critical awareness towards the actual society that has social and historical meanings. And it is also a process of analyzing in connection with a practical way of learning, that is emphasized by Yulgok, development of his awareness of the problems in regard to the real world. Therefore, examination of his motivation of writing 『Sun Eon』 leads to a series of processes to definitize an internal meaning and structure of Confucian kingship suggested by the very book.