본 연구의 목적은 19세기 최초의 도교 교단 ‘무상단(無相壇, 1877)‘의 대표적 강필 서적 『문창제군몽수비장경(文昌帝君蒙受秘藏經)』(1878)을 통해 19세기 도교교단의 종교사상과 현실인식이 만나는 접점을 고찰하는 것에 있다. 이를 통해 당대의 사유를 규명하고 19세기 학술 및 문화 지형도를 새롭게 구축하고자 한다. 『문창제군몽수비장경』은 꿈에서 문창제군의 가르침을 받은 내용을 기록하고 있는 강필서이다. 19세기 ‘무상단’이 발행한 강필서는 30여종 에 이른다. 이 가운데 『문창제군몽수비장경』은 중국의 판각본 혹은 복각본이 아니며, 무상단의 구성원과 종교적 사명을 드러내고 있는 대표적 강필서이다. ‘무상단’의 핵심 구성원 가운데 최성환은 중인계층임에도 불구하고, 헌종·고종과 독대하여 경사를 논하고, 국가의 지원 아래 다양한 선서를 간행한 인물이었다. 무상단의 도사들은 박규수 이건창 등 당대의 유학자들과 교유하였고, 북학파 및 개화당과 학술‧문예적 네트워크를 형성하고 있었다. 이외에 서정 유운 정학구 등의 도사들은 청나라 연행을 다녀오는 등 당시의 국제정세에 밝았으며, 다양한 여항 시사 활동에 참여하였다.
『문창제군몽수비장경』을 통한 무상단 연구를 통해 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 첫째, 무상단이 『문창제군몽수비장경』을 편찬한 시기는 서구와 일본이 굴욕적 통상압력을 하던 시기로, 조선 내부적으로는 서학이 확장되던 때였다. 이들은 유불도 삼교를 관장하는 ‘문창제군’의 강필을 통해 민중을 ‘개화’시킨다는 목표를 가졌다. 둘째, 무상단은 도교의 내단‧진단의 이론과 유교의 충효의 논리를 결합시켜서, 인간의 몸의 위기를 국가의 위기로 일치시키고, 강필 활동을 통해 유교의 충효의식을 고취시키고자 하였다. 셋째, 무상단의 목표는 장생불사 추구가 아니라 강필 활동을 통한 충효의식의 체인이었으며, ‘개화창생’과 같은 국가 위기 극복의 방향으로 나아갔다. 넷째, 무상단 중인계층의‘개화창생’의 우환의식은 19세기 말 신종교-동학, 대종교-의 구국운동 정신과도 맥을 함께 한다.
The purpose of this study is to examine the interface between the religious ideas and reality of the spirit-writing community, Musangdan(無相壇), through analyzing the representative scripture, Munchangdaegunmongsubijanggyeong(文昌帝君蒙受秘藏經), in the 19th century. This scripture is not a Chinese Daoist scripture, but a representative spirit-writing scripture that reveals the religious goals of a Daoist community in 19th century Joseon . Although most Daoist disciples were of the middle class, they had an academic relationship with the top Confucian scholars and debated politics with King Gojong, as well as formed literary networks within the gaehwa(開化, embrace of modern Western civilization) community. The results of the study are as follows: First, Musangdan, a Daoist spirit- writing community, aimed for Gaehwa from the public through understanding Moonchangjegun(文昌帝君, wénchāng dìjūn), a scripture which was written through spirit-writing. Second, the Daoist community tried to combine both Daoist and Confucian theory as well as strengthen the Confucian virtues of loyalty and filial piety. Furthermore, they attempted to explain the national crisis in terms of a crisis of a human body. Third, the goal of Musangdan was not the pursuit of longevity and immortality, but achieving enlightenment through maximizing the activities of spirit-writing. Fourth, Musangdan, as a Daoist spirit-writing community, tried to rescue Joseon from its national crises — Western trade pressure, Japanese political pressure — and helped to inspire the national movement during the Japanese colonial period.
The purpose of this study is to examine the interface between the religious ideas and reality of the spirit-writing community, Musangdan(無相壇), through analyzing the representative scripture, Munchangdaegunmongsubijanggyeong(文昌帝君蒙受秘藏經), in the 19th century. This scripture is not a Chinese Daoist scripture, but a representative spirit-writing scripture that reveals the religious goals of a Daoist community in 19th century Joseon . Although most Daoist disciples were of the middle class, they had an academic relationship with the top Confucian scholars and debated politics with King Gojong, as well as formed literary networks within the gaehwa(開化, embrace of modern Western civilization) community. The results of the study are as follows: First, Musangdan, a Daoist spirit- writing community, aimed for Gaehwa from the public through understanding Moonchangjegun(文昌帝君, wénchāng dìjūn), a scripture which was written through spirit-writing. Second, the Daoist community tried to combine both Daoist and Confucian theory as well as strengthen the Confucian virtues of loyalty and filial piety. Furthermore, they attempted to explain the national crisis in terms of a crisis of a human body. Third, the goal of Musangdan was not the pursuit of longevity and immortality, but achieving enlightenment through maximizing the activities of spirit-writing. Fourth, Musangdan, as a Daoist spirit-writing community, tried to rescue Joseon from its national crises — Western trade pressure, Japanese political pressure — and helped to inspire the national movement during the Japanese colonial period.
