A Research on Korean Confucians’ “Yi Tu Lunli”– With Examples of Ren Xin Dao Xin Tu and Ren Wu Xing Tu

This research project aims to explore the longstanding tradition of "Sungri Maps" (性理圖) in Korean Confucianism. It is widely known in academic circles that the creation of "Sungri Maps" is an essential method for expressing ideological concepts in Korean Confucianism. Consequently, the number of "Sungri Maps" within this scholarly tradition is vast. However, systematic organization and study of these maps seems to still be in its early stages. Current research primarily focuses on the collection and compilation of materials, while analyses of the philosophical implications behind these images are limited, with only a few known works such as Toegye's "Ten Maps of the Sacred Learning" (聖學十圖) and Cho Chik's "Classified Writings on Learning" (學記類篇) receiving attention. As a result, this research project seeks to propose feasible operational guidelines (development of thematic diagrams) and writing strategies (reciprocal discussions to uncover the intentions behind the diagrams), focusing specifically on the "Map of the Human Heart and the Way" (人心道心圖) and the "Map of Characters and Their Nature" (人物性圖) to conduct substantive research. In this manner, the project aims to delve deeply into the thematic implications of "Sungri Maps" in Korean Confucianism while also understanding how Korean Confucian scholars continue to engage with core topics of Confucianism through the study of these maps. Based on these reflections, this research project is believed to have originality and significance for pioneering scholarly work.