A Study on Kim Ahn-guk's Theory of Learning and Educational Practice

Kim Ahn-guk placed "gyeong (敬)" at the core of self-cultivation within his Neo-Confucian theory of learning, which emphasized "preserving the heavenly principle and eliminating human desires (存天理去人慾)." He regarded the Sohak (小學) as a lifelong guide for self-cultivation, aiming for moral awareness and the perfection of character. Furthermore, he devoted himself to Neo-Confucian classics, integrating the unity of knowledge and action with a sincere attitude toward learning, which he framed as "learning for oneself (爲己之學)." Kim Ahn-guk’s theory of learning was concretely manifested through educational practices such as the promotion of schools, reforms of the civil service examination system, and the implementation of the Hyeollyangkwa (賢良科). These efforts demonstrate that he systematically integrated scholarship and education based on Neo-Confucian moral learning (Do-hak).