Abstract
Toegye LeeHwang(1501-1570), a major Neo-Confucian Scholar of Joseon dynasty, composed <Tosan 12 songs> in his late years. We can search his thoughts about ‘mind’ in that poem. It is still meaningful for us to understand the ‘mind’ in <Tosan 12 songs>.
The songs tell us to look into deep inside ourselves, find the tranquility of our mind and secure the unity with the outer world, not being swept away with capitalism, science and technology of this world. For the excessive desire and consumption destruct the eco-system of the world and fail human relation, Toegye’s idea can help us to avoid the blind impulse, give us the peace of mind.
Toegye divided human mind into two levels, Four Beginnings and Seven Emotions, which are derived from different spring. It corresponds to modern theory of socio-Darwinism which explains that human mind developed two aspects; the selfish instinct to maximize his own advantage and the altruistic capacity to contribute to his community as he could exist only by the group or society from the beginning of human history. Desire for his own self is near Seven Emotions and capacity to contribute to society, Four Beginnings. It is the base of Toegye’s idea shown in his philosophy and <Tosan 12 songs>.
However, we ought to not to return to his theory as it is. It could happen subjective idealism and may cause anachronistic fallacy. We should find out our ‘Self’ in our modern society of capitalism and Technology unavoidably.
It is also wrong to admonish like; to fix human mind, maintain unchangeable truth, follow the sages of the past. Minds appeared as two levels is newly formed by the relation with the outer world and always changes. The Self is said that it is not substantial and a virtual world which our brain sets up for our existence.
We have to understand the idea of LeeWhang and his <Tosan 12 songs>. but aware of the ‘mind’ as a present process in this modern world. We should read <Tosan 12 songs> in the eyes of our own contemporaries.
The songs tell us to look into deep inside ourselves, find the tranquility of our mind and secure the unity with the outer world, not being swept away with capitalism, science and technology of this world. For the excessive desire and consumption destruct the eco-system of the world and fail human relation, Toegye’s idea can help us to avoid the blind impulse, give us the peace of mind.
Toegye divided human mind into two levels, Four Beginnings and Seven Emotions, which are derived from different spring. It corresponds to modern theory of socio-Darwinism which explains that human mind developed two aspects; the selfish instinct to maximize his own advantage and the altruistic capacity to contribute to his community as he could exist only by the group or society from the beginning of human history. Desire for his own self is near Seven Emotions and capacity to contribute to society, Four Beginnings. It is the base of Toegye’s idea shown in his philosophy and <Tosan 12 songs>.
However, we ought to not to return to his theory as it is. It could happen subjective idealism and may cause anachronistic fallacy. We should find out our ‘Self’ in our modern society of capitalism and Technology unavoidably.
It is also wrong to admonish like; to fix human mind, maintain unchangeable truth, follow the sages of the past. Minds appeared as two levels is newly formed by the relation with the outer world and always changes. The Self is said that it is not substantial and a virtual world which our brain sets up for our existence.
We have to understand the idea of LeeWhang and his <Tosan 12 songs>. but aware of the ‘mind’ as a present process in this modern world. We should read <Tosan 12 songs> in the eyes of our own contemporaries.
| Translated title of the contribution | The Up-to-date Adaptation of <Tosan 12 songs> by Toegye LeeHwang |
|---|---|
| Original language | Korean |
| Pages (from-to) | 7-27 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | 퇴계학논집 |
| Issue number | 24 |
| State | Published - Jun 2019 |