近庵柳致德의 삶과 경세인식

The Life and Awareness of Ruling the World by Chideok Ryu with the Pen Name Geunam: Centering around Imryeo Mundap

이 논문은 近庵 柳致德(1823~1881)의 삶과 경세인식을 조명한 것이다. 근암이 살았던 19세기는 국내외적으로 격변의 시기였다. 이러한 시대적 분위기 속에서 근암은 한평생 처사로서의 삶을 살았다. 큰할아버지인 大埜 柳健休(1768~1834)와 족형인 定齋 柳致明(1777~1861)으로 전해지는 가학적 전통과 存齋 李徽逸(1619~1672)·葛庵 李玄逸(1627~1704) 형제의 경세론의 영향을 받아, 현실적이고 경세적인 학문을 추구하였다. ｢林廬問答｣은 근암이 당시 국가 제도의 폐단을 지적하고 개혁안을 제시한 經世書이다. 즉 근암의 경세적 관심에서 비롯된 학문적 결과라고 할 수 있다. 근암은 ｢임려문답｣에서 유가에서 이상 정치를 행했다고 일컬어지는 ‘二帝三王’을 본보기로 삼고, 『周禮』의 이념을 수용하여 나라를 다스릴 것을 강조하였다. 그리고 옛 성현의 법이라도 폐단이 생기게 되면 낡은 제도를 時宜에 맞게 바꿔 다스려야 한다고 하면서 隨時變通의 입장에서 당면한 과제를 해결하고자 하였다. 근암의 ｢임려문답｣ 저술은 이휘일·이현일 형제에 의해 고조되었던 영남학파의 경세론이 그의 제자 塤叟 鄭萬陽(1664~1730)·篪叟 鄭葵陽(1667~1732) 형제에 의해 계승 발전되다가 점차 사그라지게 되었는데, 그 餘緖를 이었다는 점에서 큰 의의를 가진다.

This study is intended to examine the life and awareness of ruling the world by Chideok Ryu (1823~1881) known by his pen name Geunam. The 19th century when he lived was the time of national and international fluctuations. In the midst of such social atmosphere, Chideok Ryu lived a life of Confucian scholar who never held a public office. He was influenced by his familial scholarly tradition, which was handed down by his great uncle Geonhyu Ryu (1768~1834) with the pen name Daeya and Chimyeong Ryu (1777~1861) with the pen name Jeongjae, a distant relative of his in the same degree of relationship. Chideok Ryu was also affected by the theory of ruling the world built up by Hwiil Lee with the pen name Jonjae (1619~1672) and Hyeonil Lee with the pen name Galam (1627~1704), who were brothers. Under these influences, Chideok Ryu sought after the practical philosophy for ruling the world, which was different from the main stream learning trend followed by Namin people of the Yeongnam Area in the 19th century. Imryeo Mundap is a book of ruling the world in which Geunam pointed out negative effects of national systems and proposed reform plans. It was the result of Geunam’s learning that stemmed from his concern with ruling the world. In Imryeo Mundap, Geunam put an emphasis on ruling the nation by accepting the ideology of Jurye (周禮) and following the examples of two rulers and three kings, who were referred to as idealistic rulers of their nations in the Confucian classics. Geunam insisted on ruling the nation by changing ancient regimes with negative effects so that they might be proper to the case, even if the regimes were built up by old sages. Geunam tried to solve current problems by quick accommodation to circumstances through instant changes. The Yeongnam School’s theory of ruling the world was enhanced by Hwiil Lee and Hyeonil Lee who were brothers, was inherited and developed by Manyang Jeong (1664~1730) with the pen name Hunsu, and Gyuyang Jeong (1667~1732) with the pen name of Jisu, who were also brothers. Then the theory became less and less influential. In such a situation, Geunam’s Imryeo Mundap was very significant in that it kept alive the weakened trace of the Yeongnam School’s theory of ruling the world.