회당 장석영의 독립운동과 그가 꿈꾼 세상

초록

The present study examines the scholarly achievements, independence activities, and the utopian vision of Hoedang Jang Seok-yeong (1851-1926), a prominent Confucian intellectual during Korea’s modern transitional period. Jang Seok-yeong faithfully inherited the Zhu Xi school’s principle-centered philosophy while maintaining a critical stance toward Western learning and modern science. He devoted himself to restoring social order through ritual studies. His independence movement was characterized by an elite-led diplomatic approach, exemplified by international appeals such as the drafting of the Paris Petition. He exhibited a cautious attitude toward mass protest movements like the March 1st Movement, reflective of the ideological gap between the traditional Confucian literati’s legitimist stance and the Western-influenced nationalist movements of the time. Jang’s envisioned ideal society was grounded in the continuation of the Zhu Xi-centered Confucian tradition and the revival of Chinese civilization. He criticized modern reformist ideas such as those advocated by Kang Youwei, emphasizing Confucian morality and Zhu Xi’s worldview. Advocating constitutional monarchy as a means to restore Chinese civilization in a revised form, he sought practical moral order through ritual studies. His thought and praxis provide profound insights into the internal conflicts and response strategies of Confucian intellectuals navigating the tensions between tradition and modern change in Korea’s transitional era, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of the ideological landscape of modern Korean Confucianism.

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