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A Study on Thinking Background of Novel Guwunmong

  • Korean Language and Literature
  • 2019, 72(72), pp.97-129
  • DOI : 10.23016/kllj.2019.72.72.97
  • Publisher : 국어문학회
  • Research Area : Humanities > Korean Language and Literature
  • Received : October 31, 2019
  • Accepted : November 20, 2019
  • Published : November 30, 2019

Park, Seongjae 1

1경상대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Recently, in the discussion of theoretical motive or background of thenovel Guwunmong, the perspective contained in Juyeok(Book of Changes,周易), a traditional thinking method in East Asia, has been popular. Thispaper tried to describe the aspect of hermit idea of Taoism and theperspective of the Book of Changes in the novel more concretely. Thispaper views that 'Dongji (winter solstice, 冬至)', poem written in Chinesecharacters, which was the last poem written by Kim Man-jung, theauthor of the Guwunmong, when he was in desperate situation in a placeof exile in Namhae in Korea, indicates that Guwunmong is directlyrelated with palgwe (eight signs of divination, 八卦) and hermit idea ofTaoism. In his Chinese poem, 'To Hear from Namhae the News that My TwoNephews Were Exiled to A Remote Island,' Seopo Kim Manjungsarcastically described his and his nephews' dismal situations as 'Allbecome Taoistic 'hermits''. And, in his poem 'Dongji', he mentionedpalgwe and hermit idea of Taosim. This paper analyzed how these wererelated with the background on which Guwunmong was written. First, the situation in the novel where Shim So-yeon and Yang So-yumet is 'thunder fire wind (雷火風)' where “one could hear thunder andlightning illustrates below.” In his poem, 'Dongji', Seopo mentioned “seawind shouts all night long like thunder.” And, said, “a guest readsJuyeok under the candle light.” In Juyeok, punggwe becomestaeeuipalgwedo 'when a big guy is full of masculine energy'. Therefore,as the thunder operated by the majesty of Yang So-yu means daesang(大象) in the gwesang, Juyeok contains the phrase, "the sound ofrain-thunder is pung. With such an atmosphere, in his place of exileSeoncheon, he met a old monk, and discussed with him Buddhism andimagination contained in Juyeok such as palgwe. We we assume that, tosolve the questions raised in the discussion, he mainly read Juyeok andJujaeoryu in the place of exile in Namhae, the novel and Chinese poem'Dongji' probably have been created in the spirit of hermit idea ofTaoism and imagination of Juyeok, when he was in exile in Namhae. Up to now, Buddhism and conflict between Confucianism andBuddhism have been offered as the background of Guwunmong. But, it istime to raise the discussion of Laozi (老子) which can be said to beTaoistic philosophy related with views of Juyeok and traditional yin-yangthought as the background of Guwunmong. It is necessary to expand theresearch scope to Laozi (老子) which can be said to be Taoisticphilosophy, a traditional thinking method in East Asia, and traditionalyin-yang thought.

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