How to interpret theory of de Anima is main theme of my paper.
There are three attitudes toward western learning which has
science&technology, philosophy, and religion in its contents from 18 to 19
century in Korea. The scholars who studied western leaning interested in
technologic product such as telescope, watch and world atlas etc. in earlier
period(17 century). They came to know the philosophic and religious
aspects of western learning through reading The true meaning of the Lord
of the Heaven by Mateo Ricci gradually in the Sungho school especially.
Some scholars regard western technology nothing but an elaborate skill of
utensil(器用術) which belongs to lower learning(下學). They wanted to
learn higher learning(上學) which was equivalent to ethics and philosophy
of Neo-Confucianism.
The theory of de Anima provided them many philosophical and
religious themes to which they had to confront. There are two group in
Sungho school which against or pro toward western learning in
interpretation of de Anima exclusively,
Habin who was one disciple of Sungho introduced Lingyan Lisho and
criticized it according to the contents of the book. Habin criticized theory
of de Anima by his theory of Neo-Confucianism. The major theme in
his attack on de Anima was immortality of spiritual soul or spiritual
nature. He thought the soul was nothing but a positive aspect of vital
force which would be disappeared when one die. Another theme was
everlasting happiness after life. Habin attack it as seeking one's profit like
a Buddhism. He did not interested in religious interpretation on de Anima.
Another group of Sungho school who accepted western learning as a
religion began at the meeting of Chunzinam. The leader of this meeting
was Kyun Chulshin who studied Yangming learning and showed interest
in western learning by Lee Byuk. They influenced on Chong Yakchong's
brother and son St. Chong Hashang who believed catholic faith and
martyred by government. The theory of de Anima gave them a sincere
faith on immortality of spiritual soul.
Dasan and Hyeagang belong to third group. They were influenced by
western learning too. They gave interest on scientific and philosophic
aspects of this learning. Dasan thought that the human being consisted of
two part one is divine and the other shape. They combined in the
mind&heart wonderfully. the former is similar to the spiritual soul. He
did not say whether it was immortal or not. He made epoche on this
problem in his writings.
Heagang developed his own vital force learning in which he rejected
traditional Yin Yang theory in Neo-Confucianism He accepted western
science and philosophy. He extended a theory of knowledge, that was
inference and measuring especially which was influenced by theory of de
Anima in one part. He interpreted de Anima with his own philosophy.