韓儒李栗谷與成牛溪關於四端七情的辯論

Abstract

韓儒李退溪與奇高峰曾針對「四端七情」的問題，進行長達七年（1559～1566）的辯論。在李退溪與奇高峰辭世之後，1572年由於牛溪寫給李栗谷的一封信，又重啟四七之辯，雙方有九次的書信往還。大體而言，牛溪為退溪的觀點辯護，栗谷則嚴守朱子的觀點，批判退溪之說，而引高峰為同調。相較於上一場辯論之思想性，此次辯論偏重於經典詮釋，尤其是對朱子文本的詮釋。辯論的主題環繞著「天地之性／氣質之性」、「道心／人心」之說，以及朱子的理氣論而展開。最後，李栗谷提出「理通而氣局」之說，以取代退溪的「理發而氣隨」之說。

In the years 1559-1566, there was a debate on the “four buddings” and “seven feelings” between the Korean conficiansts Yi T’oegye’s and Ki Kobong. In the year 1572, after the death T’oegye, Song ugye wrote a letter to Yi Yulgok and thereby opened a debate with him on the same topic. In the main, Ugye advocated the viewpoint of T’oegye whereas Yulgok, like Kobong, criticized T’oegye’s thesis by appealing to the viewpoint of Zhu Xi. This latter debate grappled with hermeneutic problems, whereas the former placed more emphasis on philosophical issues. The debate between Yulgok and Ugey evolved around Zhu Xi’s theory of “li” (principle) and “qi” (material force) and his related concepts. At the end of the debate Yulgok replaced T’oegye’s thesis that qi follows the issuance of li with his own thesis that li pervades but qi delimits it.