명재 윤증의 생애와 사회개혁사상 = Yun Jeung's Thought on Social Reform

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Yun Jeung's political ideas can be seen as a practical way to achieve the political and economic development of Choson Korea, and also as a realistic approach to harmonize two conflicting policies. One policy called for 'respect towards Ming and preserving righteousness' and the other called for maintaining 'diplomacy with Ch'ing.' Yun Jeung's scholarly thoughts were a pragmatic method of Practical Learning with the purpose of revitalizing the decaying Choson society by improving the living conditions of Korean people. Yun Jeung also attempted to overcome the Anti-Ch'ing policy of 'respect Ming and righteousness.'
Yun Jeung was an intellectual who understood the political necessity of rejuvenating the Korean society, which had been economically and socially disarrayed since the 17thcentury. He was also a reform-minded politician. Under the political atmosphere where the policy of 'respecting Ming and conquering Ch'ing'prevailed, Yun contended that the Choson government should wisely take a practical approach to its new international situation, in which the Ch'ing Empire was overcoming the Ming. Accordingly, Yun's ideas were conflicting with the Old Doctrine faction that had considered Chu Hi-ism as an unshakable orthodox. The Old Doctrine faction had labeled other such scholars as 'traitors to true Confucianism', and had suppressed free academic discussions. While attacking both the participants of the unproductive controversy on mourning rites and the advocates of the North Expedition policy, Yun also offered a new realistic policy in order to effectively respond to the Southerners, who were attacking both the Old and Young Doctrine factions.