율곡의 성학론과 유교적 실천철학

초록

This study examines Yulgok Yi I’s theory of sage learning (Seonghak) and its character as a Confucian practical philosophy, focusing on his Seonghak Jipyo. In the Neo-Confucian tradition, discussions of sage learning are closely intertwined with the discourse of the transmission of the Way (Dotong). In Joseon Korea, this tradition is represented by Toegye’s Ten Diagrams on Sage Learning and Yulgok’s Seonghak Jipyo. In particular, the Seonghak Jipyo, written as a guide for the ruler, is not only a text of kingship but also a comprehensive philosophical work that presents universal principles of moral cultivation, thereby encapsulating the core of Yulgok’s thought. Yulgok defines sage learning as the study of becoming a sage, which extends beyond individual moral cultivation to encompass social and political practice. Grounded in the Neo-Confucian principles of “preserving Heavenly principle and eliminating human desires,” his theory of self-cultivation develops into a broader framework aimed at governing the world and benefiting the people. In this respect, Yulgok’s Seonghak constitutes a practical philosophy that integrates self-cultivation (sugi) and the governance of others (ch’iin), organically linking inner moral development with the realization of social order. Accordingly, this paper analyzes the structure and content of the Seonghak Jipyo and explores the orientation of Zhu Xi–inspired sage learning as well as the development of the discourse on the transmission of the Way. Through this analysis, it aims to elucidate the distinctive features and contemporary significance of Yulgok’s theory of sage learning as a form of Confucian practical philosophy.

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