This essay examines to the characteristics and historical significance of
Yi Teogye's thought based on Li and Sim by investigating how Yi
Teogye established his own thought through debating the idea with
senior scholars and colleagues in China and Joseon. It examines firstly Yi
Teogye's criticism for Na Geongam in the Ming-dynasty and Seo
Hwadam of Joseon, then the theory of the four virtual feelings and the
seven nomal feelings as the reason of criticism. Secondly, it discusses the
relationship between Li and Sim through the originality and reality and
lastly, it debates the historical significance of Yi Teogye-Mind science
through the relationship with the Yangming-Mind science.
Consequently, this essay points out that the reason why Yi Teogye
criticised Na Geongam and Seo Hwadam by distinguishing Li from Ki,
and blamed Ki Gobong in Four Seven Debate was complaints about the
reality. However, Yi Teogye did not consider that Li as an ideal to
pursue was isolated from Ki and reality. This essay insists that Yi
Teogye achieved it as Li and Nature, which become the same as human
mind by the instrumentality of human mind, are activeness although it
seems like the contradiction. It also pointes out that the relationship
between Li and Sim of Zhu Xi are double-sidedness that is the one but
two, so Yangming-Mind science focused on the 'two' side of Li and Sim
of Zhu Xi, while Yi Teogye concentrated the 'one' side, therefore
Yangming-Mind science and Yi Teogye rebuilt their each though based
on Zhu Xi as positive instrumentality.
Key