Recreation of the Discourse of Morality-Righteousness (道義) and the Representation of Yi Toegye in the Post-1945 Context of Korea and Japan

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This thesis examines how Yi Toegye was represented in the process of resummoning the discourses of ‘a state based on Morality-Righteousness’ (道義國家) and ‘Morality-Righteousness of People’ in Korea and Japan both before and after liberation focusing the discussion of Yi Toegye in both nations before and after the ruling period of Park Chung-hee (1963-1979). In other words, this means the study of Yi Toegye before and after liberation not focused on the historical and academic research, but rather on what the discussion of Yi Toegye was talking about in this period. At the same time, I would like to think about what the current voices trying to achieve ‘Korea-Japan friendship’ and ‘East Asia peace’ through the ‘cultural icon’ of ‘Yi Toegye’ between Korea and Japan have deceived and concealed.
In conclusion, the main background of the driving force that promoted Yi Toegye researches in both Korea and Japan post-liberation/war were the discourse of ‘Morality-Righteousness’. For ‘Yi Toegye', by awarding the image of “Our model educator” (in Park Jong-hong) in Korea and “The Founder and Builder of the Moral Philosophy” (in Abe Yoshio) in Japan, both Korea and Japan have added momentum to the transmission and spread of the discourse of ‘Morality-Righteousness’. Even today, modern discourse of (the acceptance of) Yi Toegye is spoken as an example that symbolizes ‘symbiosis’ between the two countries in the ‘History of Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange’. Yi Toegye has been fulfilling his role in reconstructing the history of Confucian scholars ‘exchange’ from the three countries in East Asia in the pre-modern era as a history of mutual exchange centered on the nation-state called ‘Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange History’, and at the same time assuring the establishment of ‘the History of Korea-Japan Confucian Studies’. This phenomenon is an obstacle to approach the historical originality of ‘mentality’ and ‘exchange’ of Confucian scholars in the Joseon Be careful of mixing McCune-Reischauer Romanization and Revised Romanization (2000). Dynasty and Edo period. apart from the ‘nation-states’ of ‘Korea’ and ‘Japan’. The dismantling of this ‘completed image of Yi Toegye’ and its practices may be a task that needs to be deeply reflected as a ‘past to be liquidated’ at the present time, the 77th anniversary of liberation from the Japanese Empire. no matter how difficult the task is.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 1. The discourse of “Morality-Righteousness of People” (國民道義) and Yi Toegye (李退渓)
• 2. The discourse of ‘Morality-Righteousness’ and the representation of Yi Toegye during the Park Chung-hee regime
• 3. Discourse on ‘Morality-Righteousness’ and 'a state based on Morality-Righteousness’ and the studies on Yi Toegye in post-war Japan
• 4. The discourse of ‘Morality-Righteousness’ and beyond the ‘completed image of Yi Toegye’