먼저 퇴계 理氣論의 특징을 살폈다. ‘천명구도’를 수정한 ‘天命新圖’에서 사단은 理의 發로, 칠정은 氣의 發로 분대하여 보았다. 또 理氣도 이원적으로 보지만 가치론적인 면에서는 理우위론을 강조한 理尊論者요 이상주의 철학자였다.
다음으로 사단ㆍ칠정론과 人心道心說의 관계를 살폈다. 奇大升과의 긴 四七論辯을 거치면서 수정안으로 나온 것이 사단은 ‘理發而氣隨之’요, 칠정은 ‘氣發而理乘之’라는 것이었다. 사단ㆍ칠정을 人心ㆍ道心에 적용함에 있어서도 四端은 道心, 七情은 人心에 소종래를 따라 分對하여 보았다. 이는 氣ㆍ七情ㆍ人心에 근거한 기질지성의 현상계를 理ㆍ四端ㆍ道心에 바탕한 본연지성 회복으로 더 발전시키려는 이상주의적 표현이라 보인다.
다음으로 天人合一論에 대해 살폈다. 天理와 人性과의 관계를 유기적으로 살피는 것은 성리학자들의 일반적 논제였지만 조선조 전ㆍ중기에 걸쳐 圖說을 통해 天人合一의 관계를 논한 대표적 圖解로 권근의 ‘天人心性合一之圖’와 정지운의 ‘天命舊圖’, 이황의 ‘天命新圖’가 대표적인 것으로 보여 관계를 살펴보았다. 이 세가지 ‘圖說’을 통해 天人合一思想이 널리 보급 되는 계기가 되었고, 理氣ㆍ四七論辯이 계속되어 우리나라 성리철학의 수준을 더 끌어올리게 되었다.
다음 敎育理念으로 강조되었던 것으로 立志論과 持敬論과 聖人自成論은 상호 관련되어 있었고, 持敬論은 成聖의 경지에 도달하기 위한 자세와 방법으로 강조되었다.
먼저 立志를 강조한 경우를 보면, 자신에게 배움을 청해온 정유일(字:子中)에게 간곡히 立志를 강조하면서 한편으로는 그의 스승이 되는 것을 매우 송구스럽게 생각하는 면을 보였는 바 이는 그 스스로 참 스승의 자세를 보여준 것이라 할 것이다. 또 ‘진성학십도차’ 중간 부분에서는 당시 국왕에게 舜임금과 같은 聖王이 될 것을 목표로 뜻을 굳게 세울 것을 진언하였다. 이는 신분에 관계없이 立志를 강조한 것이었다.
다음으로 持敬의 이념은 퇴계가 학문에 뜻을 두면서부터 생을 마칠때까지 견지한 이념이요 자세였다. 그에 따르면 持敬함은 思와 學을 겸하고, 動靜을 貫하고, 內外를 합하고, 顯과 微를 하나로 하는 바라는 것이다. 그리하여 성인이 되기 위해서는 始終如一하게 持敬을 해야한다고 주장하였다.
끝으로 ‘聖人自成論’은 입지론과 연결되는 것으로 스스로 성인이 되기 위한 노력을 계속할 것과 그것을 위해 분발할 것을 촉구하는 것이다. 이런 주장은 대표적 수제자인 趙穆의 ‘文純公言行總錄’ 말미에 “후세의 사람들이 선생이 晦翁(朱子)의 心學을 배우듯이 선생의 학문을 배우고 구한다면 그 道學에 이르는 것이 멀지 아니하리라.”라고 했다. 수제자 중의한 사람인 조목의 ‘文純公言行總錄’을 통해 퇴계는 道學ㆍ聖學의 연구에만 정진한 것이 아니라 그것의 실천과 보급에도 誠力을 다한 성현이라는 사실을 살펴볼 수 있었다.
Before Studing Lee Hwang's ideas of education we examined basic conceptions in Sunglihak(性理學, Sung Confucianism studied and developed by Korean confucians during early-middle era of Chosun Dynasty)
Now I'll put this examination in order and summerize it to be replaced for my conclusion.
Firstly, I surveyed features in Lee Hwang's Likiron(理氣論, ideas about the 'basic principles of universe' and the 'atmosphere forces of nature')
Modifying Chung Ji Woon's Chunmyeoungkudo(天命舊圖, older version of Chunmyeoungdo, Chunmyeoungdo is the pictured diagram designed for explanation of way of universe) Lee Hwang regarded Sadan(四端, Four Virtues) as 'realization of Li' and Chiljung(七情, Seven Emotions) as 'realization of Ki' in his Chunmyeoungshindo(天命新圖, newer version of Chunmyeoungdo). He made a distinction between Sadan and Chiljung and contrasted each other.
He is the idealist in terms of playing emphasis on 'Supremacy of Li over Ki' ever so much that we look on him as Lisonronja(理尊論者, an extreme respector of Li).
To support this we surveyed three teachings of Lee Hwang.
1) Kukjonmudae(極尊無對, an idea that regards Li as so extremely noble, perfect a principle that nothing could match it)
2) Liyusunmuak(理有善無惡, because Li is perfect by itself nothing bad could not be contained in it)
3) the highest and noblest action of Li and usage of it(理之至神之用)
Secondly, we surveyed relations of Sadan/Chiljung and Inshim(人心, the nature of human)/Doshim(道心, the nature of Do, Do(道) means the way of universe)
Through long disputes over Sadan & Chiljung, a modification came out.
According to this modification, Kis' following of Li after Li sprang up means Sadan and Lis' mounting of Ki after Ki sprang up means Chiljung.
So basic principle-Sadan is the outcome of Li, Chiljung is the fruit of Ki-was maintained.
When applying Sadan & Chiljung to Inshim & Toshim the two conceptions(Sadan&Chiljung)was divided and compared with each other. Sadan was understood in terms of Toshim and Chiljung was Inshim.
This should be understood as an idealistic theory of value that could evolve human society from real world(Ki, Chiljung, Inshim, Kijil) to ideal world(Li, Sadan, Toshim, Bonyeounchisung) through recovery of Li.
To achieve this Lee Hwang suggested that a Sunbi(士, confucian scholars and social elites in Chosun society) should devote himself to preserve the way of nature(存天理), keeping away from personal desire(알人欲) and, moreover, accomplishing virtues of saints.
Next, though surveying relations between Chunli(天理) and Insung(人性) was general thesis of Sung Confucians it was Chuninshimsunghapilchido(天人心性合一之圖, a pictured diagram that explains the unity of universe and mankind by Kweon Kun), Chunmyeoungkudo(by Chung Ji Woon), Chunmyeoungshindo(by Lee Hwang) that could be chosen for remarkable pictures in early era of Chosun Dynasty.
These three pictures and its explanations enabled opinion suggesting unity of human&nature to be widely spread and became the foundation which developed our Sunglihak(性理學).
It was former parts of Sohakchesa(小學題辭) which is the introduction of Confucianism. In this article, we can find that Chundo(天道, the way of universe) and Ingang(人綱, virtues or ethnic codes of human) are related to each other. Lee Hwang also enhanced the value of Li as that of Chun(天) or Taekuk(太極, bipolar harmony of cosmos) and despised the value of Ki(理貴氣踐思想, ideas which regard Li as noble, Ki as humble)
Next, we surveyed Ipjiron(立志論, opinions that emphasize the importance of one's purpose in the study of confucianism), Chikyeoungron(持敬論, opinions that emphasize the importance of humble attitiude in admiring virtues of saints) and Sunginchasungron(聖人自成論 , anyone who wants to be a saint should always make an effort to become a saints by himself).
Ipchiron and Sunginchasunron are related to each other and Chikyeoungron is emphasized as a method to be 'a saint'.
When we survey Ipchiron, we can find that Lee Hwang was so reserved that he hesitated to be Chung Ja Jung's teacher though Chung himself asked Lee to be.
We can also find that Lee emphasized Ipji(立志) regardless of one's social status when he advised his king to make up his mind to be a Sun(舜, he is the renouned saint who was the king of China in age of mythology).
Lee Hwang also maintained his attitude of Chikyeoungron for his whole life.
Chikyeoungron means, in terms of Lee Hwang, the way of compounding thinking and studying, controlling action and position, uniting inner and outer world.
Lee Hwang suggested that anyone who wants to be a saint should maintain Kyeoungtuk(敬德 , virtue of admiring) all the time.
Lastly, Sunginchasungron is related to Ipjiron. It is te ideas that suggest one should be devoted oneself to be a saint and continue these effort forever. These ideas are well represented in the last part of Munsungongunhangchonrok (文純公言行總錄, stories about Lord Munsun's words and deeds) "If our decendants study Lee Hwang's teachings as Lee studied Zhucha(朱子)'s, they shall surely accomplish the virtue of saints"
We could also find that Lee Hwang devoted himself to not only studying virtue of saints but practicing and teaching it by surveying of Cho Mok's Munsungongunhangchonrok.