Zhouyi, the knowledge to be an Emperor: A study on Li Xuan Xi’s Yi Yi Kui Ban

Title

Zhouyi, the knowledge to be an Emperor: A study on Li Xuan Xi’s Yi Yi Kui Ban

Author

Xiao-ting FENG

Page

1-46

DOI

10.6163/TJEAS.201712_14(2).0001

Abstract

Based on The True Record of the Joseon Dynasty, Journal of the Royal Secretariat and the narration from Li Xuan Xi, this study concludes that Li Xuan Xi completed his book Yi Yi Kui Ban no later than 1691, Joseon Sukjong 17th year. This shows that Korean scholar Jin Jiao Bin, who suggested that the book was approximately completed in 1680, was incorrect. My study compares the contents of the book with other related materials, such as Zhouyi Zhushu, Yi Cheng zhuan, Yi ben yi, Zhouyi zhuanyi daquan, and the documents of the imperial lecture on Zhouyi from the scholars in Joseon Sukjong. My new findings include the following: First, Li Xuan Xi is ordered to learn Yi by the emperor and make Yi part of his imperial lectures later. However, no historical record shows that his imperial lectures were about Zhouyi; the book of Yi Yi Kui Ban only shows Li Xuan Xi made the book to the imperial lecture, but it did not record that Li did the lectures on Zhouyi to the emperor. Second, the method he used in the book is not new. It was the regular method for the scholars dealing with Yi at that time. Li Xuan Xi might just follow the old method to deal with Yi. Third, the book of Yi Yi Kui Ban by Li Xuan Xi was not originated from Yi of Cheng-Zhu. It was originated from Zhou yi zhuan yi da quan. The book had less significant contribution to the study of Yi than the emperor expected. Fourth, the relation between Yi Yi Kui Ban and Zhou yi zhuan yi da quan shows that Korean scholars in Qing/Joseon Dynasty learned the Yi of Cheng-Zhu from Zhou yi zhuan yi da quan, not directly from Cheng-Zhu, Scholars will find difficult to make a claim on the real origin of the book.

Keyword

Li Xuan Xi, Yi yi Kui Ban, The study of Yi in Korean Qing/Joseon Dynasty, The knowledge to be an Emperor, Jinyang

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