KJCKorea
Journal Central

This study examines the aspects and meanings of vulgar descriptions found in 『Yangeuncheonmi』. The early 20-century collections of historical tales mostly tended to follow the practice of old tales of the previous time, but 『Yangeuncheonmi』 did not accept the descriptions of ‘Dansunjeonjae’ though it is a collection of historical tales produced in the early 20th century. The purpose of this study is to investigate the stories of <Kimyeongrangyongjigagwimun> and <Bonghwangdaehoegeumgangchunwol> contained in 『Yangeuncheonmi』 and trace how it is different from the collections of historical tales of the previous time while seeking how it is associated with other literary works of the time. <Kimyeongrangyongjigagwimun> has the story of <Josaeng-Dowootan's Daughter> found in 『Swaeeo』, 『Seoneonpyeon』, or 『Seongsuchonghwa』 as its main gist but richens the narrative even further by using the motif found in the story of <Imanwon> contained in 『Gimunchonghwa』. 『Yangeuncheonmi』’s compiler stressed women’s wisdom through <Kim- yeongrangyongjigagwimun>, suggested the atmosphere of the time pursuing free love indirectly. But this tendency is similarly found in 『Wonangdo』 which Lee Haejo wrote in 『Jeguksinmun』 serially, too. <Bonghwangdaehoegeumgangchunwol> is similar to <Sojihyeonnasam- jaehap> contained in 『Gyeongsetongeon』, one of the novels from Ming, and it is also similar to the translated works of it like <Wolbonggi> or <Gangreungchuwoljeon>. In <Bonghwangdaehoegeumgangchunwol>, however, the main characters’ heroic aspects existing in previous works were gotten rid of, and the stories of union between a man and a woman reduced much while the parts about family separation increased greatly. And it embodied the stories of family harborage which was common in the background of the time full of heated competition between powers through <Bonghwangdaehoegeumgangchunwol>. These two works may not be evaluated to have placed the modern world to the foreground. Yet, 『Yangeuncheonmi』’s compiler paid attention to the trends of literature and changes of the time while compiling the collection of historical tales grounded on the modes of vulgar literature familiar to the public. To wit, 『Yangeuncheonmi』 supported the way that was different from the way that other collections of historical tales based on old tales adopted, so its unique status is recognized as a collection of historical tales transcribed in the early 20th century.

Yang-eun Cheon-mi, Method of Common Description, Won-Ang-Do, Sojihyeonnasamjaehab, Transmission and Modification