부산대학교 도서관

This paper analyzed Jeong Yakyong(丁若鏞)’s political ideas in relation to classical studies and statecraft by examining Jeong Yakyong’s perception of the relationship between junzi(君子) and public officials(官人) by historical time. For this, this study focused on how Jeong Yakyong’s perception of the past, of the era of the three ancient Chinese dynasties, during which junzi were public officials, was reflected in his reform plans in Gyeongse yupyo(經世遺表). As is well known, many studies have focused on Jeong Yakyong’s political ideas, which led to in-depth academic discussions about the topic. However, previous studies on Jeong Yakyong’s political ideas have mainly focused on the power of the monarch and the chancellor. The support and suppression of the monarch’s authority, of course, is one of the most important factors in understanding the political ideas of intellectuals in the late Joseon dynasty. However, there is a point where focusing on the two political agents - the monarch and the chancellor - alone is not enough to fully understand Jeong Yakyong’s political ideas. In this respect, the research findings on Jeong Yakyong’s perception of officials are worth noting. This becomes clearer in the distinction between the junzi and the xiaoren(小人), that is, in the context of the formation of factions. Jeong Yakyong viewed that in the past, during the three ancient Chinese dynasties, during which junzi were public officials and that there were no factions. However, this result was not achieved by the revered monarch or the chancellor, but was possible through self-cultivation of junzi. The same applied to the system presented in Gyeongse yupyo. While some parts of Gyeongse yupyo emphasizes the monarch’s authority, the only agent who actually intervenes in the process of selecting prospective officials and evaluating their morality is the incumbent official.