@article{ART003342558},
author={진민희},
title={The Ailing and Marginalized Body in Hong Ŭi chŏn (洪漪傳): Literary Healing, Solidarity, and Transcendence},
journal={The Research of the Korean Classic},
issn={1226-3850},
year={2026},
number={73},
pages={113-143}
TY - JOUR
AU - 진민희
TI - The Ailing and Marginalized Body in Hong Ŭi chŏn (洪漪傳): Literary Healing, Solidarity, and Transcendence
JO - The Research of the Korean Classic
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 73
PB - The Research Of The Korean Classic
SP - 113
EP - 143
SN - 1226-3850
AB - This study analyzes the “Ch'ŏndok” (天讀, Scholar Reading by Heavenly Mandate) and “Suam” (睡菴, the abode of a slumbering transcendent) narratives in Sim Nŭng-suk's (沈能淑, 1782–1840) Hong Ŭi chŏn, focusing on how an ailing and marginalized body constructs subjectivity through literary healing and solidarity. Hong Ŭi (1765–1807) lived in a state of voluntary isolation as “Pigyŏng” (棐卿) due to physical disabilities affecting his legs and spine, yet he established his subjectivity as a literatus through reading and social activities.
Notably, his peers called him “Ch'ŏndok chisa” (天讀之士), observing how he internalized the historical narrative of the Hansŏ (漢書) through seven thousand readings to sublimate his unfortunate circumstances. “Ch'ŏndok” represents a reinterpretation of physical deficiency as ch'ŏnmyŏng (天命, heavenly mandate) for intellectual practice. Meanwhile, Sim Nŭng-suk re-signified the sick body as a transcendental being by interpreting Hong Ŭi's pen name “Suam” as “a body temporarily borrowed by an immortal.” This interpretation served as a narrative device to transform real physical conditions into temporary ones and position existence within a higher system of meaning. While “Ch'ŏndok” reveals the formation of healing and solidarity through the sick body, “Suam” expands the horizon of perception by employing the chŏksŏn (謫仙, exiled transcendent) motif.
Furthermore, this study examines the correlation between Hong Ŭi's activities and the concepts of discerning the worth of others (chiin, 知人) and attaining recognition for one's intrinsic value (chia, 知我) emphasized in late Chosŏn (朝鮮) literati society. Repeated reading was a process of internalizing the lives of others and historical evaluations,while lecture meetings and poetry society activities allowed Hong Ŭi to overcome isolation and secure his position within the literary community.
In conclusion, Hong Ŭi chŏn is a text that illustrates how an ailing and marginalized body experiences healing and solidarity through literary practice and eventually attains transcendental significance. Hong Ŭi's narrative demonstrates that in Sinitic literature, an ailing body is not merely an object of deficiency but can establish ontological subjectivity within the structure of recognition. Through this, this study aims to shed light on the multi-layered perception of the body and the possibilities of literary healing in late Chosŏn literature.
KW - Sim Nŭng-suk (沈能淑);Hong Ŭi (洪漪);Huojiga (後吾知可);Namgo Sisa (楠皐詩社);Chiaja (知我者;one who recognizes one’s intrinsic worth
DO -
UR -
ER -
진민희. (2026). The Ailing and Marginalized Body in Hong Ŭi chŏn (洪漪傳): Literary Healing, Solidarity, and Transcendence. The Research of the Korean Classic, 73, 113-143.
진민희. 2026, "The Ailing and Marginalized Body in Hong Ŭi chŏn (洪漪傳): Literary Healing, Solidarity, and Transcendence", The Research of the Korean Classic, no.73, pp.113-143.
진민희 "The Ailing and Marginalized Body in Hong Ŭi chŏn (洪漪傳): Literary Healing, Solidarity, and Transcendence" The Research of the Korean Classic 73 pp.113-143 (2026) : 113.
진민희. The Ailing and Marginalized Body in Hong Ŭi chŏn (洪漪傳): Literary Healing, Solidarity, and Transcendence. 2026; 73 : 113-143.
진민희. "The Ailing and Marginalized Body in Hong Ŭi chŏn (洪漪傳): Literary Healing, Solidarity, and Transcendence" The Research of the Korean Classic no.73(2026) : 113-143.
진민희. The Ailing and Marginalized Body in Hong Ŭi chŏn (洪漪傳): Literary Healing, Solidarity, and Transcendence. The Research of the Korean Classic, 73, 113-143.
진민희. The Ailing and Marginalized Body in Hong Ŭi chŏn (洪漪傳): Literary Healing, Solidarity, and Transcendence. The Research of the Korean Classic. 2026; 73 113-143.
진민희. The Ailing and Marginalized Body in Hong Ŭi chŏn (洪漪傳): Literary Healing, Solidarity, and Transcendence. 2026; 73 : 113-143.
진민희. "The Ailing and Marginalized Body in Hong Ŭi chŏn (洪漪傳): Literary Healing, Solidarity, and Transcendence" The Research of the Korean Classic no.73(2026) : 113-143.
