조선건국기 성리학 지식인의 네트워크와 개혁사상

Abstract

This paper aims to examine how Neo-Confucianism received in the late Goryeo Dynasty strengthened intellectual solidarity and formed intellectual network which led to reformed politics and regime change. Neo-Confucianism received from the Yuan Dynasty in the late Goryeo Dynasty became widely diffused through being adopted as the subject for the civil service examination and the curriculum subject in Seonggyungwan. A close bond was forged between Neo-Confucian scholars, which led to the intellectual solidarity, or intellectual network. It happened that they were sent into exile or divested of their offices because of raising an objection to welcoming the envoy from the Northern Yuan Dynasty in the first year of King U’s rule. This led them to bear a sense of comradeship. In the meantime, Neo-Confucian scholars insisted on the system improvement or change as a part of the reformed politics against King U’s conservative politics. It is important to note that Cho Chun, a leading exponent of intellectual network, did not express his personal opinion but the collective opinion in his appeal to the King. They participated in the compilation of Kyeongjemungam and Kyeongjeyukchon written by Chung Do-Jeon even after the founding Chosun Dynasty. It is my contention that the Neo-Confucian scholars in the late Goryeo Dynasty formed the intellectual network beyond the level of a network of acquaintances and helped the system improvement of the Chosun Dynasty.