남명과 퇴계의 학문관 비교

Cho Sik (1501-1572), literary name Nammyong, and Yi Hwang (1501-1570), literary name T`oegye were both born three years after the literati purge of 1498 and then lived through three successive purges in 1504, 1519, and 1545. Their frustrations and bitterness were intensified by the fact that the victims of the purges came from the Yongnam region(Southeastern Korea) where they also lived. Cho Sik, emerged in this tempestuous period as the scholarly leader of the Kyongsang province, and Yi Hwang shared many of the same characteristics as a representative Confucian thinker of his time. However, there are numerous subtle differences in their perspectives of the world and scholarship. Although they both exchanged criticisms and responses through personal letters, certain mutual differences in their views also appear in their scholarly debates with other intellectuals. Although their differences were in no small way related to the differences in their worldly views or even their individual temperaments, their differences were fundamentally a consequence of differences in their perceptions of truth and learning. This study will examine the differences in the thought of these two individuals through a comparison of their scholarly views. Their respective views of learning are examined in terms of five themes. 1. Their views on truth 2. Their understanding of `reaching the ultimate from the below` (hahaksangdal) 3. Attitudes on reading and writing 4. Opinions on the relationship between theory and practice 5. Cho Sik`s concept of mindfulness and righteousness versus Yi Hwang`s concepts of practicing mindfulness, the investigation of principle, and practice Yi Hwang systemized `reaching the ultimate from below` as the method for reaching an understanding of truth based on specific concepts of what truth is. He viewed knowledge and practice in complementary relationships to each other, and suggested a way to attain truth gradually by the practice of mindfulness, the investigation of principle and practice. Yi Hwang not only emphasized reading as the process for reaching truth but also writing as the tool for transmitting the understanding of truth to following generations. Cho Sik, on the other hand, because truth was perfectly revealed by Song Neo-Confucians, practice was the only thing necessary. Therefore, he emphasized the practice of basic learning rather than attempting to reach the ultimate, something that would require an understanding of metaphysical truth. He viewed mindfulness and righteousness as the two main pillars by which to cultivate one`s inner self and lead a righteous life. Believing that truth had already been fully revealed by earlier scholars, Cho Sik did not place importance on writing. While Yi Hwand stressed a scholar`ly life devoted to truth on the basis of knowledge and practice, Cho Sik preferred a righteous life that emphasizee practice. Such differences between them were synthesized by Chong Ku (1543-1620), Ho (1595-1682) and Yi Yik (1681-1763) and eventually led to development of sirhak (practical learning) thought in the latter half of the Choson dynasty(1392-1910).