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A study on the role model of heroines in the female-general novel

  • The Research of the Korean Classic
  • 2014, (30), pp.245-275
  • Publisher : The Research Of The Korean Classic
  • Research Area : Humanities > Korean Language and Literature > Korean Literature > Korean classic prose

Cho, Yong-ho 1

1목포대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

In many studies about Korean classic novels of female general, Seol-in-gui-jeon(<설인귀전>) had considered as a foreign agent for formation of those novels. I thought the novel was not the only agent because several female generals really existed in China and many Chinese classic novels involved female generals as characters. This study was focused on confirming whether those Chinese female generals had affected in formation of Korean female-general novel. Firstly, I examined female generals represented in Chinese history. I searched Chinese female generals written in records of literary artists of Korea(Chosun). And then I investigated how they acted and what effect they had on Korean female-general novel. As a result of this investigation, the origin of Korean female-general novel was based on the heroic deeds of Princess Pyeong-yang(평양공주), Madam Se(세부인), Jin-yang-ok(진양옥) of China. A motif of woman in man's disguise(especially, Hwang-sung-ha (황숭하)) also significantly influenced on representing heroine in Korean female-general novel. Secondly, I examined female generals' activities in Chinese novels and confirmed that they had become a role-model of the heroine in Korean female-general novel. For example, Beon-ri-hwa(번리화) in Seol-jeong- san-jeong-seo(<설정산정서>) was an important role-model who acted as a general, placing her husband under her orders. Including Mok-gye-yeong(목계영), female generals' collective activities in Yang-ga-jang-yeon-eui (<양가장연의>) greatly affected in representing main characters in Korean female-general novel. A series of Seol-in-gui-jeon and Yang-ga-jang-yeon-eui actually had decisive effect not only on the structure and overall characterization but also on details. The fact that Chinese records had a great effect on Korean female-general novel must be importantly considered in terms of assuming the author.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.