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From ‘Buddhism and Lee Gwang-su’ to ‘Buddhism of Lee Gwang-su’ -Profanation and Buddhist Thinking Found in Works of Lee Gwang-su
Chunwon Research journal
Abbr :
Chunwon Research journal
2020, (17), pp.9-46
Publisher : Chunwon Research Society
Research Area : Korean Literature
2020, (17), pp.9-46
Publisher : Chunwon Research Society
Research Area : Korean Literature
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Lee Gwang-su holds an important position in the history of modern Korean literature. Steady discussions have been had on the relationship between Buddhism and his literature. It is a difficult task to discuss the status of Buddhism within the modern academic framework and its relevance to the writer’s literature. A perspective that focused on Buddhism during the late period of the Japanese colonization and the notion of impossibility in Lee Gwang-su’s works gained a strong persuasive power in explaining literature that germinated from the political conditions of the time. However, a new approach is needed since the writer’s Buddhist philosophy during the late colonization period was formed before he accepted the new Japanese system. Accordingly, this study was conducted from an angle that is different from explaining an instrumental relationship between Buddhism and Lee Gwang-su, that is, explaining Buddhism as a foundation for pro-Japanese discourse―changed from an initial plan for enlightenment―or as a defense mechanism of colonial writers. Lee Gwang-su began to write works with Buddhist themes from the 1920s. Works from this period blended the spirit of Korean Buddhism amid the colonial reality, as well as ideology of modern literature. Specifically, this study examined Buddhism as was embraced by Lee Gwang-su, along with the concept of profanation. The purpose is to reestablish the meaning of Buddhist ideas as shown in the writer’s works. Three tasks were undertaken to this end. First, we regarded that Lee Gwang-su embraced modern and profane Buddhist philosophy of Park Han-young, and examined “Geumgangsanyugi”(1924) accordingly. Second, expanding the relationship between Buddhism and profanation, we analyzed ‘Gilnori’(1939) and ‘Nanjeo’(1940). Third, based on these, we investigated the meaning of renunciation of Buddhist priest Wonhyo as described in “Wonhyodaesa”(1942) as well as its philosophical and ethical nature. By doing so, we examined how the writer put Buddhism as he embraced on literary and Buddhist coordinates.
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