寒齋 李穆의 心茶思想 硏究

A Study of Hanjae Yi Mok's Thought on the Simcha: As to its 『ChaBu』

This study aims to articulate the thoughts on Simcha by Hanjae Yi Mok (1471-1498)『Cha Bu』. Yi Mok, who was one of the disciples of Kim Jongjik, died at the early age of 28 due to the tragedy of Muosahwa. His Cha Bu, an essay developing a profound discussion on tea in the early period of the Joseon dynasty, clarifies the conception of tea in the minds of Confucian elites in that period so that it becomes an important reference point in Korea. In Cha Bu, Hanjae’s original nomination of “Han” and “Pa” as the names of tea is unique. Its importance is great in that his proposition establishes itself as a new theory of tea in a properly Korean perspective, in addition to his volition to articulate the Confucian spirit of the Dao of tea. His theory of tea, which transcends the efficacy and preference in tea, contains a philosophical reflection on the proper cultivation of mind and body. The general idea of Hanjae’s thought on tea is expressed in the phrase “tea of my mind” in that it actually enhances the status of tea from the level of cultivating life to the level of interiorizing tea into our mind. The tea of mind transcends the elements of cultivating mind and body in that it contains Mencius’ magnanimous and spontaneous energy and Laozi and Zuangzi’s pure Dao of emptiness. The tea of mind combines harmoniously the thoughts in Confucianism and Daoism, containing the spiritual transcendence of enjoying the composure of sppontaneous Dao, even in the strictness of Confucianism.