‘질문’에 기반한 주희의 독서관 분석 = Analysis of Zhu Xi’s reading theory based on “question”

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Zhu Xi’s view of reading can be summed up in one phrase: “Reading is a Question”. He felt that reading without questions is not reading. Zhu Xi’s view of reading, referred to as “Question reading”, is well chronicled in compilations of his work, and describe the reading method he employed while teaching. Asking questions while reading a book is an endless act, and the questions indicate the depth of the reader’s understanding. Moreover, questions are not limited or tied to the speed or amount of reading. Before reading a book, the reader must first cast away his or her preconceived notions. Additionally, if a question arises and one cannot find an answer to it after trying, it should be set aside for some time. This is due to the fact that, as one continues to study, the answer to the question may manifest at a later time, or one may refer to commentarise written by predecessors. The question I have is likely the same as the one those before me had, and I too will leave behind my own commentary on the subject. However, when it comes to deep reading, a good approach is to closely examine the differences in these predecessors’ commentaries, without actually stopping to refer to them. Zhu Xi’s view of reading as a question, which built the reading system in East Asia, is a guide for reconsidering the reading awareness that epitomizes our modern society, and will also have important implications for today’s reading education.