Generally, a fraction formed centering around the Kiho area was called Kiho School(畿湖學派). The Kiho area includes Geungi, Chungcheong and Honam provinces, where Yulgok was the rector of the national academy and since then an inclination to form a disti ...
Generally, a fraction formed centering around the Kiho area was called Kiho School(畿湖學派). The Kiho area includes Geungi, Chungcheong and Honam provinces, where Yulgok was the rector of the national academy and since then an inclination to form a distinctive school was established.
Characteristics of Sung Confucianism of Yulgok(栗谷性理學) were not either li-centered or ki-centered, but always took a position of 'the mystery of li and ki'(理氣之妙) by emphasizing harmony and balance of li(理) and ki(氣). Based on this theory, his Sung Confucianism held the ground on 'One way that ki is generated and then li follows it(氣發理乘一途)', the logic of 'Li follows and ki limits(理通氣局)', the Four Beginnings and the Seven Feelings(四端七情論) of 'Chilposa(七包四)’ and the theory of 'Human mind and moral mind can be both the beginning and the end(人心道心相爲終始說)'. This Sung Confuncianism of Yulgok was the major theme and the core of discussion generated through the Kiho Sung Confucianism as a whole.
Later on, Sung Confucianism of Yulgok was interpreted variously by many Sung Confucianism scholars. Some focused on transmission of Sung Confucianism of Yulgok, while others paid attention to inherit and develop it. In addition, some scholars criticized Sung Confucianism of Yulgok and tried to make a compromise with that of Toegye.
In the Kiho School, deployment of Sung Confucianism of Yulgok is reviewed as follows. First, a direct line of Sung Confucianism of Yulgok included Kim Jang-saeng, Song Si-yeol and Kwon Sang-ha who inherited Yulgok's 'one way that ki is generated and then li follows it'(氣發理乘一途說). Second, based on Sung Confucianism of Yulgok, studies on difference and same about the Nature of Man and Animals(人物性同異論) were newly developed by Han Won-jin and Lee Gan. Third, Jo Ik, Jo Seong-gi and Jeon Woo were Sung Confucianism of the eclectics that critically inherited Sung Confucianism of Yulgok and that tried to make a compromise with Sung Confucianism of Toegye. Fourth, though based on Sung Confucianism of Yulgok, Lee Hang-ro and Ki Jeong-jin directed to a li-centered theory. Finally, based on Sung Confucianism of Yulgok, Lim Song-ju held his ground on ki-centered theory in the position of the same fruit of li and ki(理氣同實). Like this, Kiho Sung Confucianism had been developed in a variety of ways.
According to these view points, Sung Confucianism of Yulgok had a strong effect on Sung Confucianism during Joseon dynasty, especially on the Kiho Sung Confucianism(畿湖性理學).