Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to introduce the Horak debate in the history of Korean Confucianism and to critically examine some recent research on that debate. It is widely accepted that the Horak debate deserves special attention as one of the representative debates in the history of Korean Confucianism. Such an evaluation and continuous interest in the debate are supported not only because the debate has been formulated for a long term with the participation of numerous Confucian scholars, but also because the debate demonstrates well a characteristic of the tradition of Korean Confucianism. While I translate and introduce selected passages of the primary texts written by two major debaters, Han Wonjin 韓元震 and Yi Gan 李柬, I intend to explore two points; There is no doubt that one of the major and common concerns of Korean Confucians was to understand Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucianism. Through numerous debates, they have analyzed, extended, clarified, and advanced Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucianism in new and delicate ways. I shall introduce the Horak debate as a typical exemplar of such invaluable works; Most researchers of the debate focus mainly on intelligible descriptions of key concepts or the logical system used in the debate, but they relatively overlook what makes the debaters develop their different views. I would like to claim that it is equally significant to understand practical concerns implied in the debate. Participants’ sincere contemplations on character-cultivation/nurture, self-cultivation, or gongbu 工夫 are essential parts of the debate as a comprehensive Confucian discussion.