KJCKorea
Journal Central

The eventual ideal of male characters in the ancient novels was to be Gunja. Yuchun of <Yuhwagiyeon> was the same. However, different point from the characters of other ancient novels was, the main character Yuchun was 'sexually impotent'. In respect that he had no sexual organs, he had lost his masculinity. As he had married his wife hiding his defect, he was expelled by his wife and father-in-law when it was revealed. Nevertheless, Yuchun followed a road of 'Sugichiyin(修己治人)' in order to be Gunja. When investigating the process that Yuchun ascended Gunja, we can learn the meaning of Gunja of Joseon period. First, it is based on masculinity. Second, it shows crisis and insecure mind state of the male subject. Third, it reinforced solidarity of male community through being Gunja. As Confucius said, Gunja is a person who conducts right politics based on the moral cultivation. However, Gunja of Joseon should have combine both physical perfection and masculinity, besides moral cultivation. That is, the meaning of Gunja contained the authority and suppression of patriarchy. This research could determine that the men could not evade such norms through the process of Yuhyun's being 'Gunja'.

<Yuhwagiyeon(유화기연)>, Gunja(군자), efinement, sexual impotent, lack(缺乏), trauma(外傷), Sugichiyin(修己治人), masculinity(男性性), Physical perfection (完人)