『中庸』의 中思想 硏究 = A study on the Zhong of the『Zhongyong』

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Confucius' core concept called zhong(中) emerged in the era of Yao and Shun(堯舜). For many centuries, this indigenous notion was not only a purely theoretical speculation. Indeed, it was the foundation of social and political life in China. Such a notion is believed to have been systemized and elaborated by Master Kong(Confucius). Thenceforth, zhong has been the underlying notion in various scriptures, particularly in Lunyu(論語) and Zhongyong(中庸). To apprehend the balance between pursuing metaphysical verity and pursuing physical life, zhong will be scrupulously examined in this thesis.
In the light of Zhongyong, zhong implies 3 different meanings. First, in terms of metaphysics, zhong not only denotes 'inward', but concerns xing in all the living and the existent. Xing is written as 性, composed of 심방변(心) meaning the heart(mind) and 生 meaning life or the living(beings). In other words, xing is 'mind to live', granted in the form of the Mandate of Heaven.
Second, zhong is the mean' or the center' as one of the metaphysical factor. The mean is not only the dynamic point or the state but it can also yield the best consequences at all times. This pertinent mean is another aspect of zhong. Roughly speaking, it is the 'Golden Mean' which is analogous to optimization in economics or occidental philosophy.
Third, indicating zhong as the practical factor, it actually enables the external activities following the 'Golden Mean'. If the aforesaid indicates how to explore one's true self harmonizing in the nature and the Way of cultivating one's character pursuing the Middle Way, the third signifies how to extend the inner spirit to the external activities.
Unfortunately, the modern society exists on the material civilization emphasizing material gain prior to all other values, affected by modern, standardized, and westernized perspectives. Society as a whole is neglecting internal values producing ill effects deviating the Mandate of Heaven. In addition, for many decades, it has been believed that the co-existence of industrial capitalism and Confucian values is unfeasible. However, some of Confucian values have become gradually relevant again to today's social, personal and religious life. Particularly, such values embodying zhong will have an instrumental role to play as an important dimension of human spirituality and as a great contribution to the healthy development of society.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 目次
• Ⅰ. 緖論 = 1
• 1. 問題提起 = 1
• 2. 硏究方法 및 範圍 = 4
• Ⅱ. 中思想의 淵源 = 7
• 1. 堯·舜과 文·武의 中 = 7
• 2. 孔子 中思想의 形成背景 = 13
• 3. 孔子 中思想의 內容과 性格 = 17
• Ⅲ. 中思想의 三大 要素 = 23
• 1. 中의 形而上學的 存在構造 = 23
• 2. 中의 形而下學的 性格 = 29
• 3. 中의 實踐原理 = 33
• Ⅳ. 中의 터득 方法과 具現 = 38
• 1. 向內的 修養方法 = 38
• 2. 向外的 分析力의 培養 = 48
• 3. 養勇과 中의 具現 = 52
• Ⅴ. 中思想의 現代的 意義 = 57
• 1. 物質文明의 意味와 限界 = 57
• 2. 物質文明 限界의 克服原理 = 60
• 3. 現代的 中庸의 適用原理 = 62
• Ⅵ. 結論 = 65
• 參考文獻 = 68
• Abstract = 72