Lee, Byung-Do is the one who established a study of modem Korean history by cultivating such a wilderness of the study of Korean history in the past. A study of Korean history became systematic by Lee and his disciples. Afterward, the study of Korean ...
Lee, Byung-Do is the one who established a study of modem Korean history by cultivating such a wilderness of the study of Korean history in the past. A study of Korean history became systematic by Lee and his disciples. Afterward, the study of Korean history is not only raised in quantity but also high in quality, so that a remarkable progress has been achieved. Lee was more interested in an inner-life history such as history of theology rather than an outer-life history such as history of politics or economy. Therefore, on one side, Lee with Twoi-Gea and Yul-Gok specialized in a study of Korean Confucianism, and also established an apprehension system of Korean ancient history by starting studies on the theory of configuration of the ground, which was ruled the time of Koryu.
Lee managed a foundation of the study of modem Korean history by re-establishing a study of positivism which was based on criticism in literature. Criticism in literature made Lee to have a critical perspective on study outcomes and cultures, but at the same time, it made him seek after truth by pursuing the truth of historical fact. While precisely re-examining the literature, Lee also broaden the historical interpretation in the literature by the introduction of subsidized science such as archeology, folklore, anthropology, etymology, etc. Especially, Lee claimed the results of his firsthand investigation on archeological relics into his study. On the other hand, Lee clarified that criticism in literature has a major key in the study of history, but the introduction of other subsidized science is minor.
The historical study of positivism was based on the German historian, Ranke, Leopold von's study of modem history, By using criticism in literature, to find the truth of history which was wrongly recorded is very important. It is important to bear in mind that the criticism in literature has an intention on restoration of documents by finding out truth from falsehood. If the colonial historians under the Japanese ruling period discarded Korean documents with false criticism, also committed themself to study on the restoration of Japanese documents. Unlike the study of colonial history, Lee devoted himself to his study on the restoration of Korean documents, and it has to be inherited and developed continuously.