• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.27
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• pp.327-361
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• 2009

So far there has been a strong tendency to study The Great Learning in terms of quite" limited ethical and moral understandings." Yet The Great Learning was originally a political text to educate the ruler. So the ethical and moral understanding discussed in the book should be interpreted as something more comprehensive and practical, which includes the political ability. This paper thus focuses on this new line of understanding of The Great Learning. Among the three principles of the book, 'Myeongmyeongdeok( 明明德)' means the virtue of a politician, that is to 'cultivate (Myeong)' the 'properties for a statesman (Myeongdeok).' 'Sinmin (新民)' means 'to innovate or reform the people as a result of substantive administration of a politician'. 'Jieojiseon (止於至善)' means 'to reach and to maintain the highest degree of goodness as a result of Myeongmyeongdeok and Sinmin'. These three principles would divide into eight practicums. Myeongmyeongdeok would divide into five steps of 'Sugi(修己: Cultivating the self)' practicum, which are 'Gyeokmul (格物) → Chiji(致知) → Seongeui(誠意)→ Jeongsim (正心)→ Susin (修身)'. Sinmin would divide into three steps of 'Chiin (治人: rule the people)' practicum which are 'Jega(齊家) → Chiguk(治國) → Pyeongcheonha(平天下).' And the point where the two practicums are harmonized, i.e. that of Sugichiin (修己治人), is the place of Jieojiseon. Not every ethical people become a politician but every politician must be ethical. That is the assertion of the Great Learning.

• (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
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• no.36
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• pp.57-83
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• 2009

Confucius who lived an era as cosmic being 2500 years ago put an end to confusion of the time and proposed cultivating the self(修養) as a way to live everyone's human life. Confucius recognized that when one satisfies individual' desire and sticks to the self without knowing the self which is comic being, his home and further his nation must get into confusion. What Confucius put an end to the confused world and proposed how to live humanly is self-culture. Confucius considered that when one cultivates himself, he can obtain benevolence(ren(仁)) and be a wise man(君子) who can maintain his nature soundly. What Confucius proposed as a way of self-culture is to acquire by learning timely and practicing and live a practical life by looking back upon himself every minute for self-reflection(省察). Through this, he can be sound to practice benevolence, and finally get used to benevolence and stroll around benevolence. When one acquires benevolence, the key of one mind, actual and social confusion can be solved, from the viewpoint of Confucius. Through this, self-culture is the purposive key word to accomplish benevolence which is a key of Confucius thoughts, and the first step toward benevolence. That is why Confucianism says train myself to be a man of honor and let the others(the people) lead(Sugi Anin(修己安人)). The reason why overall the Analects of Confucius from "Hakyi(學而)" to "Yowal(堯曰)" discusses self-culture is that the self-culture is a basis to manage the world.