효제(孝弟)의 종교적 성격

초록

The pairing concepts of filial piety and brotherly love (孝弟,hyo-je hereafter) are the most fundamental and ‘religious’ notions inConfucianism. Religiosity of hyo-je is seldom mentioned, since thereis still an ongoing debate over whether or not Confucianism can beconstrued as a religion. Most scholars focus only on the practicaland secular dimension of Confucianism and emphasize itssocio-ethical function; they uphold hyo-je as natural moral virtuesbased on mutual affection and reciprocity. From such a perspective,there is no reason to view Confucianism as more than a set ofethical principles. What they overlook, however, is the fact that theconcepts of hyo-je are closely tied with the question of death andposthumous. They also tend to leave out the unconditional andunreciprocated dimension of hyo-je, which I hold to be the mostpivotal and central in understanding their original meaning. In this paper, the concepts of hyo-je are analyzed from variousreligious contexts. First, hyo-je are described as explainers of deathand posthumous; perpetuity of human life is possible through hyo and je, for they bring into perspective that one’s life is continuedfrom one’s ancestors and is similarly continued by one’sdescendents. Secondly, the unconditionality of hyo-je is accounted;the truest and most sincere form of hyo-je is revealed only whenthey are performed as an unconditional duty, without expectation ofreciprocity. Also, I shall discuss what drives one to perform such aduty is the belief that one is, upon birth, infinitely indebted to one’sparents and elders for their very existence. In order to pay theinsurmountable debt as one is brought into life, one must gothrough a rather extreme degree of self-sacrifice in serving one’sparents and brothers. The presumed belief of ‘original debts’ and thecorresponding self-sacrificial performance of requital are almostisomorphic with the notion of ‘original sin’ and the self-imposedmartyrdom found in Christianity. Finally, the Confucian golden rule‘shu 恕’ will be introduced as a preventive ethical measure; Sincethe unconditional, one-way character of hyo-je leaves the heavinessof burden on the side of children and the young, some parents andolder people may exploit the relationship and create the rigidhierarchy. The principle of shu or consideration is targeted at thoseof privileged position, that they should not take an advantage ofreligiosity of hyo-je. In sum, ethical principles are not all there is toConfucianism; rather, they are implemented in order to protect thecore value of Confucianism such as hyo and je, which are deeplyreligious in character.

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