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Focusing on the Development of Seohakjungwonron (西學中源論) and Its Implications

  • Journal of Korean Classical Chinese Literature
  • Abbr : 한문고전연구
  • 2020, 40(1), pp.243-267
  • DOI : 10.18213/jkccl.2020.40.1.008
  • Publisher : The Classical Chinese Literature Association of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > Korean Language and Literature
  • Received : May 25, 2020
  • Accepted : June 16, 2020
  • Published : June 30, 2020

Ham Young Dae 1

1성균관대학교 동아시아학술원

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Seohak is the West’s sciences handed down by Chosun envoys that came and went between Chosun and China after the 17th century, late Ming the early Qing. In fact, Chosun scholars’ logic to cope with Seohak is still equipped with present meaning because it is intellects’ logic to recognize new civilization. In the academic circles of Chosun at that time, there was Dogi(道器) Divided Acceptance Theory intensely supported. It means that they had to follow the logic of acquiring superior scientific technology even if it was from Western civilization but would never accept heretical ideas associated with social order or moral practice unlike advanced technology. The layers of coping with Western civilization were, in fact, very diverse then. One of the interesting points about the coping logic is Seohakjungwonron(西學中源論). Seohakjungwonron was insisted by Chinese scholars during late Ming and early Qing, and it means that the advanced West’s science originated from China’s ancient civilization. It was not just about ethnocentrism but what was developed into logic to accept new civilization. Of course, considering the historical development, transmission, and acceptance of scientific technology in the holistic viewpoint, we can find Seohakjungwonron is hardly equipped with historical authenticity and can never disregard its logical absurdity. Despite that, in the process of acculturation, the logic of Seohakjungwon was maintained for more than about 150 years. This is not simply because of their stubbornness about knowledge and recognition but because of the difference of viewpoints over science and civilization which headed for different directions. Through that, we can examine recognition logic as an object of sciences, problems in the goals and methodology of sciences, and the matter of cultural identity. Yet, what is obvious is that exact recognition on heterogeneous civilization and desirable attitudes to cope with changes should be grounded on righteous understanding as well as thorough analysis on new civilization and the counterpart preferentially. Although establishment of the subject is what is demanded all the time, that subject becomes mature not from an isolated subject but from that being able to receive the aspects of change in its entirety.

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