A Study Of Lee Toegye’s Theory Of Nature And Disposition

Lee Toegye’s thought of theory of nature and disposition is the localization of excellent achievement in 16th to 17th century on the Korean Peninsula, which is from Chinese Mainland’s Neo-confucianism thought. Zhu Xi’s theory of four beginnings and seven emotions, and the early Korean Yi Dynasty famous thinkers such as Quan Jin and Liu Chongzu’s temperament theory, are the theoretical origins of Lee’s thought of theory of nature and disposition. For real political survival need and inheritance of Zhuzi’s nature and disposition on the academic mission, which is Lee’s main reasons and conditions that why he is so interested in theory nature and disposition. Li and Qi ontology and "Li and Qi interact with each other to make all things" of cosmology, which provides logical and solid theoretical foundation for Lee’s theory of nature and disposition. Theory of "Heart contains nature and disposition" and theory of four beginnings and seven emotions, have together formed the kernel part of Lee’s thought. These two aspects also explain the meanings of nature and disposition from macro and micro perspectives. The former discusses the relations of Heart, nature and emotions in a macro perspective under the principle of "Heart contains nature and disposition", while the latter on the micro level pays attentions on subjection itself sinner emotions and true nature,which includes the similarity and difference of four beginnings and seven emotions, the relation four beginnings and seven emotions and Yi-Fa-Wei-Fa of Li and Qi, the relation of four beginnings and seven emotions and good and evil. Lee’s thought on nature and disposition not only influences the ideas development process in the East Asia areas in 16-19 century, but also inspires today’s morality philosophy research. We should pay more attentions to his nature and disposition theory and interprets it in a historical approach.