포은(圃隱)과 포은학(圃隱學)의 성립과 서원향사(書院鄕祠)

Poeun, Poeun Studies, and Memorial service for Poeun in a memorial hall for Confucianist services

포은은 고려조와 운명을 같이했다. 그는 조선조 개국을 지지하지 않고 불사이성(不事二姓)의 지조를 지킨 절의인(節義人)이었다. 원명교체기를 대처하여 고려조를 보위했다. 포은은 명 태조의 환심을 사 정치와 경제적으로 많은 도움을 받았으며, 확고한 반원친명정책은 훗날 조선조의 개국과 정치적 안정에 보탬이 되었다. 몽골제국에 의한 다년간의 폐해를 명나라의 힘을 빌려 청산코자 한 의도도 있었다. 고려사회에 깊숙이 침윤된 몽골 풍을 탈피하여 중원문화로 대체코자 했으며, 불교와 노장 및 무속을 배척하고 유교문화를 부식하려했다. 후인들은 이 같은 포은과 포은학이 배향서원(配享書院)을 통해 전승 심화되는 현상을 두고, 모든 강이 바다로 흐르고 뭇 별들이 북극성을 옹위하는것에 비유했다. 포은은 성리학을 중시하여 성리학적 개혁을 시도했고, 아울러 당시 중원의 신유학이었던 주자의 성리학을 수용하여 동방 성리학의 비조가 되었다. 포은이 창도한 성리학은 공리공론이 아닌 실천을 중시한 실학이었다. 조선조의 국시가 억불숭유(抑佛崇儒)인 것은 포은의 영향으로 볼 수도 있다. 고려조의 불교 폐해에 대해 그는 상당한 거부감을 가졌고, 장례제도와 민간의 불교식 생활양식에도 호의적이지 않았다. 포은은 명 제국에 대한 사대(事大)와 일본에 대한 교린(交隣) 책을 적의하게 구사하여, 조선조 개국 이후 임지왜란 까지 200년 간 미증유의 평화시대를 열었다. 포은이 창도한 성리학은 조선조가 문명국가로 나아가는 기초가 되었다. 대륙세력의 위협과 일본의 노략질이 없었던 2세기 동안, 조선조는 민족문화의 기반을 착실하게 닦았다. 동북아시아의 이 같은 평화는 명 태조와 포은과의 우호적 인간관계가 작용했다.

Poeun faced the same fate with the Goryeo Dynasty. He did not support the opening of the Joseon Dynasty. He was a man of integrity spirit. He adhered to his principle for refusing to serve two dynasties, serve but one dynasty. He coped with a difficulty in changing time of Yuan(元) and Ming(明) in China to preserve Goryeo intact. He ingratiated himself with the first king of Ming and had help from the king politically and economically. His firm policy of reprobation against Won and endorsement for Ming helped the opening of the Joseon Dynasty and political stability. He intended to remedy accumulated evils caused by The Mongol Empire with Ming’s strength. He tried to break the trend of Mongol and replace it with culture of Han Chinese. He also made an effort to exclude Buddhism, Taoism and shamanism, and to propagate Confucianism culture. Poeun and Poeun studies were handed down from generation to generation by a memorial hall for Confucianist services. People regarded this phenomenon as a natural. It’s like that all rivers flow down into the sea and all stars revolve around the Pole star. Poeun considered neo-Confucianism as important and tried to attempt social reform based on it. He also accepted neo-Confucianism which was new paradigm in China at that time, and became the founder of neo-Confucianism in Korea. Poeun advocated neo-Confucianism which was as practical science, not as an academic discussion. The national policy of Joseon was to suppress Buddhism and adore Confucianism. I think this policy of Joseon was influenced by Poeun. He was very repulsed by the evil of Buddhism of Goryeo. He did not feel comfortable about Buddhist funeral ceremony and the Buddhist style of living among people. Poeun practiced a diplomatic policy to serve Ming dynasty as the powerful and have a friendship with Japan as a neighboring country. So Joseon could open a unheard-of peaceful age for about 200 years, from founding a country to Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. Neo-Confucianism which was advocated by Poeun became foundation stone of Joseon as a civilized country. For 200 years in Joseon, there were no threat from China and no pillage by Japan. Joseon could improve foundation of national culture during this period. Peace in Northeast Asia during that time was indebted to the friendly relationship between the first king of Ming and Poeun.