韓國茶道의 철학적 기반

Philosophical Base of Korean Teaism - Focusing on the spirit of ‘Subtle combination’ and ‘Zhōnghé’ -

Korean teaism has a long tradition. The keywords of Korean teaism are a ‘subtle combination’ and ‘zhōnghé’. These are also at the heart of Korean thought. In this study, attention is paid to the fact that Korean thought and the philosophy of teaism are similar in nature and an attempt is made to philosophically systematize Korean teaism through the theory of a ‘subtle combination and zhōnghé’, which tries to reconcile their ‘differences’, while simultaneously recognizing their existence. Zhōnghé means maintaining the appropriate state all the time without any shortages or excess. This subtle combination results in zhōnghé. Zhōnghé is the core of this subtle combination. Books on teaism in Korea show that Korean teaism has consistently pursued the harmony of spirit and substance and the subtle combination of experience and transcendence, while having different emphasis according to age. The philosophical concepts that can be seen in the mindset of this ‘subtle combination’ and ‘zhōnghé are ‘spirit’ and ‘energy’.