延平 李貴의 政治論과 學問觀 (Yi Kwi’s Political Theory and Perception of Learning)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국사상사학회
· 수록지 정보 : 한국사상사학 / 29호 / 73 ~ 112페이지
· 저자명 : 김용흠

초록

延平 李貴(1557～1633)는 兩亂의 격동기를 살면서 나름대로의 일관된 政治論에 입각하여 치열하게 정치활동을 전개한 實踐的 政論家였는데, 그것은 동아시아의 知的 傳統에 뿌리박은 그 나름의 學問觀이 있었기 때문에 가능한 것이었다. 이귀는 당시의 지배 사상이었던 朱子學을 부정하지 않으면서도 그것이 변화하는 현실과 모순․괴리될 때는 儒敎 본래의 이념과 정신을 되살려서 새로운 논리와 방법을 모색하였다. 그가 당대의 主流 官人들과는 다른 파격적인 처신을 보인 것은 냉철한 現實認識과 새로운 學問觀의 소산이었는데, 여기에는 그의 政治와 國家에 대한 治者로서의 責務意識이 깔려 있었다.
그는 자신의 스승인 李珥와 成渾의 更張論과 破朋黨論을 계승하여 인조대 전반 내내 變法的 經世論을 정력적으로 제기하였다. 또한 정치․경제․군사․외교적 제반 사안에 대해서는 ‘國事와 民事의 일치를 指向하는 保民論’에 입각한 일관된 입장을 견지하였다. 이로 인해서 朱子學 政治思想에만 집착하는 주류 관인․유자들과는 사사건건 대립․갈등할 수밖에 없었다. 여기에는 朱子學 가운데 義理와 德業만을 내세우는 朱子學 名分論者들에 대해서 識見과 事功을 강조하는 이귀의 새로운 學問觀이 그 저변에 깔려 있었다.
또한 이귀는 조정에서 元宗 追崇 論爭을 주도하여 反正으로 즉위한 仁祖의 宗法的 正統性을 확립하고 王權을 강화시키는 초석을 놓았다. 그 과정에서 이귀는 누구보다도 儒敎思想을 변화된 현실에 입각하여 폭넓고 탄력적으로 해석하여 조정 내 추숭 반대론자들의 학문적 논리적 모순과 오류를 통렬하게 논파하였다. 이로써 주류 관인들의 臣權論에 맞서 王權論을 정립함으로써 후대 蕩平論의 기초를 마련하였다. 이 과정에서 드러난 그의 새로운 學問觀은 후대 實學 思想으로 계승․발전되었다고 생각된다.

영어초록

Yi Kwi (1557～1633) was a political leader who despite having lived through a tumultuous period marked by the Hideyoshi Invasions of 1592 and the first Manchu Invasion of 1627, carried out activities that were based on a steady political philosophy. This course of action was made possible by the fact that he had established his own perception of studies, one which was based on the intellectual tradition of East Asia. Although Yi Kwi did not reject the then‐dominant ideology of Neo Confucianism, he sought to apply new logic and methods rooted in a restoration of the original ideology and spirit of Confucianism whenever the tenets of Neo Confucianism clashed with the rapidly changing reality. His behavior and attitude was unlike that of the majority of the bureaucrats during this period. This contrast was in effect rooted in his perception of reality and his new concept of learning, a concept which was based on his perception of politics and of the responsibilities of the politician towards the state.
Emerging as the rightful inheritor of Yi Yi and Sŏng Hon’s notions of Kyŏngjangnon (更張論, a national reform theory focused on public welfare) and P΄abungdangnon (破朋黨論, a theory which was based on the vilification of political factions) Yi Kwi consistently advocated the merit of the Pyŏnbŏpchŏk kyŏngseron (變法的 經世論, governance through reforms) during the reign of King Injo. In addition, he steadily adhered to a stance that was based on the Pominnon (保民論, a theory which regarded public welfare and security as being the highest priority) notion of bringing about uniformity between national and public affairs where matters related to politics, the economy, military, and diplomacy were concerned. In this regard, he had little choice but to come into open conflict with the majority of government officials and Confucian scholars who focused on Confucian‐based political philosophies. These conflicts were rooted in Yi Kwi’s new perception of learning, which emphasized knowledge and insight (sikkyŏn) and strove to complete the task (sagong) of countering the Confucian scholars who advanced the concepts of righteousness and virtue based on the theory of myŏngbunnon (justification theory).
Furthermore, Yi Kwi’s decision to lead the charge regarding the matter of bestowing an honorific posthumous title to King Wŏnjong was based on his desire to not only cement the legitimacy of King Injo, who had recently been restored to the throne, and his patriarchal clan, but also to strengthen the royal authority. During this process, Yi began, based on the changed reality, to interpret Confucianism in a broader and more flexible manner and to criticize the scholarly contradictions and mistakes of those who opposed the bestowing of an honorific posthumous title to King Wŏnjong. Yi’s establishment of the Wanggwŏnnon (王權論, theory in which power rested with the royal authority) which ran contrary to the Sin΄gwŏnnon (臣勸論, theory that power should be exercised by the meritorious subjects) advocated by the main officials set the table for the eventual foundation of the T΄angp΄yŏngnon (蕩平論, theory of impartiality). Yi’s new concept of studies exposed during this process was passed down to ensuing generations and ultimately it developed into the Sirhak (實學, Practical Learning) school of thought.

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