Dasan’s Approach to the Ultimate Reality

This study aims to provide a more balanced approach to Dasan Jeong Yak-yong’s understanding of Sangje (Lord on High) as the ultimate reality by integrating the existing conflicting theories on Sangje in Dasan’s tenets of Confucianism. It also attempts to make the best use of various views posited in previous studies, with an analytic focus on Dasan’s personal reasons for placing the concept of Sangje at the core of his Confucian theoretical system. Research on a scholar should first deal with their formation of thought and background as an individual, and thus the content and direction of Dasan’s thought, the context of his life that influenced his problem awareness and his thinking, and the mode of thinking embodied in him through his life experiences are included in the scope of this analysis. In particular, this article examines the transformation of the Confucian system Dasan sought through his concept of Sangje, the background of the formation of his view on Sangje, his conception of Sangje, the direction of his thought, and the significance of his approach to the ultimate reality.

keywords: Dasan, Jeong Yak-yong, Dasan’s notion of Sangje, ultimate reality, Seohak (Western Learning)

Reference

Jeong, Gyu-yeong. 1921. Saam seonsaeng yeonbo 俟菴先生年譜 (Annals of Saam Jeong Yak-yong).

Jeong, Yak-yong. n.d. Chunchu gojing 春秋考徵 (An Evidential Inquiry into the Spring and Autumn Annals).

Jeong, Yak-yong . n.d. Yeoyudang jeonseo 與猶堂全書 (Complete Works of Yeoyudang Jeong Yak-yong).

Jeong, Yak-yong. 1784. Jungyong ganguibo 中庸講義補 (Supplement to the Discussion on the Doctrine of the Mean).

Jeong, Yak-yong. 1814. Maengja youi 孟子要義 (Essential Meanings in the Book of Mencius).

Ricci, Matteo. 1603. Tianzhu shiyi 天主實意 (The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven).

Baik, Min-jung. 2007. Jeong Yak-yong-ui cheolhak: Zhu Xi-wa Matteo Ricci-reul neomeo saeroun segye-ro (Jeong Yak-yong’s Philosophy: Toward a New System beyond Zhu Xi and Matteo Ricci). Seoul: Ihaksa.

Baker, Don. 2004. “Katollisijeum-gwa yuhak sai-ui Dasan: 1791 nyeon-eseo 1801 nyeon-kkajiui uihok sok-ui 10 nyeon-eul jungsim-euro” (Dasan between Catholicism and Confucianism: A Decade under Suspicion, 1791-1801). Dasanhak (Journal of Dasan Studies) 5.

Choi, Seok-u. 1986. “Jeong Dasan-ui seohak sasang” (Jeong Yak-yong’s Thought on Western Studies). In Jeong Dasan-gwa geu-ui sidae (Jeong Yak-yong and His Era), edited by Kang Man-gil. Seoul: Minumsa.

10.

Chung, In Chai. 2009. “Korean Interpretation of ‘Anima’ during the 18th-19th Century: A Dialogue between the West and Korea on the Topic of ‘Mind.’” Cheolhak nonjip (Sogang Journal of Philosophy) 17.

11.

Ivanhoe, Philip J. 2000. Confucian Moral Self Cultivation. 2nd ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing.

12.

Keum, Jang-tae. 1999. Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (Dasan Jeong Yak-yong). Seoul: Sungkyunkwan University Press.

13.

Keum, Jang-tae . 2005. “Dasan yehak-eseoui jecheon uirye munje” (The Problem of the Heaven-Worshipping Rites in Jeong Yak-yong’s Study of Ritual). In Han-guk-ui sasangga 10 in: Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (Ten Thinkers of Korea: Dasan Jeong Yak-yong), edited by the Yemoon Institute for East-Asian Philosophy. Seoul: Yemoon Seowon.

14.

Kim, Seon-hee. 2010. “Cheon, sangje, i: joseon yuhak-gwa cheonju sirui” (Heaven, Sangje, and Principle: Joseon Confucianism and The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven). Hanguk silhak yeongu (Korean Silhak Review) 20.

15.

Kim, Seon-hee . 2011. “Seohak-eul mannan joseon yuhak-ui ingan ihae: Hong Daeyong-gwa Jeong Yak-yong-eul jungsim-euro” (The Understanding of Humanity in Joseon Confucianism after Its Encounter with Western Studies: Focusing on Hong Dae-yong and Jeong Yak-yong). Dongyang cheolhak yeongu (Journal of Eastern Philosophy) 68.

16.

Son, Heung-chul. 2006. “Joseon hugi cheonjugyo suyong-ui haksulsajeok uimi gochal: Dasan Jeong Yak-yong-gwa sinseopa gongseopa-reul jungsim-euro” (A Study of the Significance of the Acceptance of Catholicism in the Academic History during the Late Joseon Period: Focusing on Jeong Yak-yong and the Pro- and Anti-Catholic Sects). Dasanhak (Journal of Dasan Studies) 9.

17.

Song, Young-bae. 1995. “‘Cheonju sirui’-ui naeyong-gwa geu uimi: Matteo Ricci-ui yugyo munhwa-e jeogeung-gwa geu-ui yugyo-reul neomeoseoneun gidokgyo-ui dori-wa yulligwan-ui iyagi” (The Content and Significance of The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven: Matteo Ricci’s Adaption to Confucian Culture and Christian View on Ethics and Morality beyond Confucianism). Cheolhak sasang (Philosophical Thought) 5.

18.

Song, Young-bae . 2000. “Dasan cheolhak-gwa cheonju sirui-ui paereodaim bigyo yeongu” (A Comparative Study of Jeong Yak-yong’s Philosophy and the Paradigm of The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven). Hanguk silhak yeongu (Korea Silhak Review) 2.

19.

Yang, Myung-su. 2008. “Cheonju sirui-e natanan Aquinas sinhak-gwa Matteo Ricci-ui seongnihak ihae-e daehan bipan: ri-wa cheonju-ui gaenyeom-eul jungsim-euro” (Criticism on Thomas Aquinas’ Theology and Matteo Ricci’s Understanding of Neo-Confucianism in The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven). Cheolhak sasang (Philosophical Thought) 28.

20.

Yang, Myung-su . 2009. “Cheonju sirui-ui cheonju-wa seongnihak-ui ri-ui chai: Aquinas-ui mokjeogin-gwa neungdongin-ui gwangye-reul jungsim-euro” (Difference between the Lord of Heaven in The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven and the Principle in Neo-Confucianism). Cheolhak sasang (Philosophical Thought) 31.

21.

Yi, Dong-hwan. 2005a. “Dasan sasang-e isseoseo-ui ‘sangje’-ui munje” (The Problem of “Sangje” in Jeong Yak-yong’s Thought). In Hanguk-ui sasangga 10 in: Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (Ten Thinkers of Korea: Dasan Jeong Yak-yong), edited by the Yemoon Institute for East-Asian Philosophy. Seoul: Yemoon Seowon.

22.

Yi, Dong-hwan . 2005b. “Dasan sasang-eseoui ‘sangje’ doip gyeongno-e daehan seoseoljeok gochal” (An Introductory Examination of the Process of Jeong Yakyong’s Adoption of the Idea of “Sangje”). In Hanguk-ui sasangga 10 in: Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (Ten Thinkers of Korea: Dasan Jeong Yak-yong), edited by the Yemoon Institute for East-Asian Philosophy. Seoul: Yemoon Seowon.

23.

Yi, Eul-ho. 1981. Dasan gyeonghak sasang yeongu (A Study of Jeong Yak-yong’s Thought on Confucian Classics). Seoul: Eulyoo Munhwasa.

24.

Yi, Gwang-ho. 2003. “Dongseo yunghap-ui cheungmyeon-eseo bon Jeong Yakyong-ui sasang” (The Fusion of East and West in Jeong Yak-yong’s Thought). Tyoegye hakbo (Journal of Toegye Studies) 113.

25.

Yoo, Kwon Jong. 1991. “Dasan yehak yeongu” (A Study of Jeong Yak-yong’s Study of Ritual). PhD diss., Korea University.

26.

Yoo, Kwon Jong . 1994. “Dasan yehak-ui cheolhakjeok giban: yehak-ui gwanjeom-euro bon Dasan-ui jungyong juhae” (The Philosophical Foundation of Jeong Yakyong’s Study of Ritual: Understanding Jeong Yak-yong’s Exegesis of the Doctrine of the Mean Seen from the Perspective of the Study of Ritual). Dongyang cheolhak (Journal of Asian Philosophy in Korea) 5.

27.

Yoo, Kwon Jong . 2001. “Dasan Jeong Yak-yong-ui jerye gojeong yeongu” (A Study of An Analysis of Ancestor Worship Ceremonies by Dasan Jeong Yak-yong). Gongjahak (Journal of Confucian Studies) 8.

28.

Yoo, Kwon Jong . 2002. “Dasan-ui ingangwan-ui jaejomyeong” (Revisiting Jeong Yakyong’s Conception of Humanity). Cheolhak (Philosophy) 72.

바로가기메뉴

Article Contents

Vol.53 No.2

Dasan’s Approach to the Ultimate Reality

Abstract

Reference

Korea Journal