세도정치기 산림의 현실인식과 대응론

Abstract

Oh, Hui-sang(오희상) and Hong, Jik-pil(홍직필) were representative members of in the era of so-called in-law government during which the influence of the Sallim faction was significantly weakened. Although they were appointed to the official position of Sallim scholar and treated as such, they showed a slight willingness to participate in politics. That was because they were critical of the reality of the era of in-law government. Thinking that when the authority of the throne was dominated by royal in-law families, participating in politics with little capacity to reform society was only to pursue practical benefits, they gave up entering government service and devoted themselves to academic activities.

With regard to such attitudes, it is generally appreciated that what Sallim scholars studied failed to reflect reality, and thus futile. This is not appropriate. Their refusal to participate in politics virtually originated from vigorous interest in reality, and their academic concentration on Ri or principle was somewhat outdated but not futile. While keeping a distance from politics, they had consistent interest in social matters and even showed interest in the study of governance based on Uirijihak.

Oh, Hui-sang and Hong, Jik-pil also observed the spread of Catholicism. They thought Catholic expansion was attributed to the weakened consciousness of righteousness. In order to respond expanding Catholicism, they aroused intellectuals" interest in rejecting heterodoxy. Although they did not specifically state the doctrine of rejecting heterodoxy, they showed the fundamental direction of rejecting heterodoxy and urged attention to the movement of Western powers. Such attitudes were short-sighted and close-mined. However, given that the government resorted to stopgap measures to respond to the movement of Western powers with little awareness of the crisis, their attitudes are considered quite meaningful.

Oh, Hui-sang"s and Hong, Jik-pil"s way of recognizing and handling reality had a significant influence on junior literati who followed them. While agreeing to their seniors" consciousness concerning social problems, junior literati expressed their willingness to reform reality and acted differently from their seniors. As for the doctrine of rejecting heterodoxy, they publisheds『Byeogwi Sinpyeon』, a book about rejecting heterodoxy, in consultation with their seniors" doctrine of rejecting heterodoxy. Therefore it is necessary to evaluate again Sallim scholars and related people in the era of in-law government.