Abstract

The purpose of this article is to make a brief historical review of Confucian psychology from Toegye(退溪) through Dasan(茶山) in Chosun dynasty. Toegye's theory is considered to be one of the best theories in the realm of learning and exercising of mind(心學) in Korean Neo-Confucianism(韓國性理學) tradition. Toegye's Neo-Confucian psychology composed of a variety of theories: principle and material force in mind(理氣論), mind, human nature and feeling(心性情論), four beginnings and seven feelings(四端七情論) and self-cultivation through Kyung(修養論) among others. Toegye in many respects is said to emphasize the theory of Kyung(敬, 修養論); preserving mind and nourishing nature(存養) and reflection(省察) in everyday life and a way to become a sage. After expounding Toegye's theory, his theory was also compared with Yulgok's(栗谷) and Dasan's(茶山). Especially, Dasan attempted to criticize Neo-confucian psychology and develope a more action-oriented Confucian psychology of Silhak. He assumed that human nature (性) consisted of two contradictory preferences: moral virtues(靈知嗜好) and physical drives(形軀嗜好). He hypothesized that conflicts between these two contradictory preferences could be regulated by self-determination of human mind. More specifically, Dasan's self-cultivation theory maintained that human mind can be cultivated through performing actions in accordance with four beginnings. In the latter part of this article, an attempt was made to integrate Toegye's Neo-confucian psychology with Dasan's Silhak psychology. Finally, based upon this integration of Confucian psychology in Chosun Dynasty, implications for reconstructing modern psychology were discussed.