申櫶(1811~1884)의 생애와 활동

Abstract

Sin Hŏn worked as a central bureaucrat active in dealing with the Western powers during the Opening-Ports period. He not only proposed the maritime defense plan influenced by the movement of people, the degree of the external pressure, and the accumulation of experience, but also practiced it. Taught by such famous Sirhak scholars as Chŏng Yagyong (1762-1836) and Kim Chŏnghŭi (1786-1856), Sin gained a nick name of Confucian General due to his great knowledge of Confucianism while displaying the Sirhak trend. He also befriended such prominent figures as Monk Ch'oŭi (1786-1866), in endeavor to reform the Buddhism at that time, and Kang Wi (1820-1884) who asserted the necessity of opening-door policy. The broad friendship helped equip Sin with a flexible way of thinking and a deeper understanding of international affair. And, the first three years of his civil service at the court of Prince Hyomyŏng (1809-1830) motivated him to maintain reform policy even when he served as a high-ranking official in government. As the internal and external problems escalated in the 1860s, Sin started suggesting a series of pragmatic policies according to the realty of Chosŏn. His plans characterized the constructive and pragmatic reformulation of the Sirhak discourse on national defence. They also included some basic contents from the maritime defense plan of a Qing scholar Wei Yuan (1794-1856). Right after the French Disturbance of 1866, Sin proposed a memorial addressing comprehensively military defence plans, most of which were accepted by the court. He also emphasized the importance of firearms and artillerymen and tried to make some new weapons, including floating mine and moving breech-loading cannon, in the similitude of the Western ones. Meanwhile, he advocated a radical state policy that required a certain degree of concession from the ruling class in order to encourage the voluntary participation of common people which was the essential part in battle. As well known, Sin attended the Treaty of Kanghwa as the representative of Chosŏn in 1876. He took no passive or disgraceful attitude in the process. Although the draft of the treaty was made by the Japanese side, its final agreement came to reach under the leadership of the Chosŏn side. The experiences of Sin and other diplomatic experts in the treaty became integral to the direction of the Enlightenment Policy of Chosŏn in the future.