The study on Confucianism and modernity is the central thesis in studies on East-Asia self-modernity. But existing theories have problems which restrict Confucianism as Chinese Confucianism. On the contrary to these, in 1840~1920 Confucianism was ma...
The study on Confucianism and modernity is the central thesis in studies on East-Asia self-modernity. But existing theories have problems which restrict Confucianism as Chinese Confucianism. On the contrary to these, in 1840~1920 Confucianism was made of two major parts, the doctrines of Chu-tzu in Korea and the documental archaeology and the doctrines of Gongyang(公羊) in China. Therefore, in the study on Confucianism and modernity, I think that to determine modernity of Korean Cofucianism suggests an alternative meeting on them, beyond the limitation of existing studies mainly on Chinese Confucianism. In this study, to solve the problems like these I try to compare Liang Gichao(梁啓超) in China and Pak Eunsik(朴殷植) in Korea. And I would like to make an evaluation how to re-form their relations on 'personalty'(個人), 'nation'(國家) and 'culture'(文化).
Liang had joined the Administrative modernization(變法運動) since 1895. To that time from 1902, he had longed for Europe's liberalism and republic system. His longing came to the climax to interpret 'a nation's power is entire people's power.' in his books, Liberalism(『自由書』) and the theory of New People(『新民說』). But in 1903 after America visit, he withdrew the belief about republic system and spoke the change to the German absolute monarchy. His radical change of his thoughts show us that he still thought Confucianism as the past China nation system though he thought that the radical changes of Chinese society brought to the national chaos. In 1917, when the WW1 ended the Allies' victory, he abandoned the German systems and found it in the past Confucianism to reform the modern China. That is, his thought changed 'personality→nation→(cultural) Confucianism'.
Pak Eunsik had tried to change the existing doctrines of Chu-tzu(朱子) to (Japan) those of Wang Yangming(王陽明) since 1898. And after the 1905 treaty(乙巳條約) he would make a speech a theory of national strenuous efforts(民族自强論) and Korea independence. But his first thoughts went to the Reformation about Confucianism through the theory on reform Confucianism. In 1910, he would identified national indentifications like ethnicities instead of Joseon as nation. In biography of Wang Yangming and Meeting the First King of Kim-dynasty in dream written to 1910 from 1911, he wanted to found the Korea national identity through Yang-ji(良知). And in 1915, he also found Korea national identities through the theory of National Body-Spirit in Korea Sorrow History. However, in 1919 3.1 movement made his main thoughts changed in national people instead of national spirit and heroes. Futhermore, in 1925 he emphasized on the theory of Real self(or apperception) and speak a self-awareness. So his thoughts changed 'Confucianism→nation→personality'.
I think that the both thoughts changes are also relation of the difference of the both nations' Confucianism. That is Liang's change of 'personality→nation→(cultural) Confucianism' is alike to Wang Yangming's subjective epistemology. In contrast Pak's of 'Confucianism→nation→personality' is similar to Chu-tzu's objective epistemology. Meanwhile, it is important that Confucianism is various and variable. So the study on Confucianism and modernity is a good guide in terms of a conflict and a reconciliation between a traditional culture and a modernity.