KJCKorea
Journal Central

There are a lot of difficulties in interpreting <Wonga> in Hyanga, old Korean folk. Especially, “flowing waving sand” has been in the middle of much controversy. Thus, this study focused on the political background of the writing of <Wonga>, on the base of which was materials that could be grounds of judgement added, attempting to demonstrate this phase with more actual proof. <Wonga> is a message for Sinchung(信忠) to demand the change of the political world characterized by coming to power of maternal relatives, Kim Sunwon(金順元) faction. When <Wonga> was put up on a Korean nut pine, it was withered yellowish, which revived when Shin chung obtained a government position. Therefore, it is probable that the Royal Court would justify itself with this strange phenomenon which had happened to the tree, appeal to public sentiment and try to reorganize the political world under the pretense of it. Judging from this point of view, <Wonga> is an actual and purposeful work. The first to eighth lines mainly include political realities and sorrow in seclusion with a feeling of wretchedness. So the last lines of ninth to tenth lines are likely to include pray for the turnover of the situations at that time. <Wonga> isn’t a song of a grudge but of forethought and grief that lament his misfortune. Revealing his feeling frankly, he justifies himself and dreams a dream moving the spirit of a tree, thereby it will be regarded as the words with magical powers responding to the spirits of heaven and earth. Telling about seclusion like renouncing this world in the last part of this song paradoxically means that Shinchung has much yearning, affection and expectation in this world. The phrase “flowing waving sand” which has been interpreted differently so far includes the water’s mind, which metaphor says that at that time Sinchung was in the circumstances suffering from severe attack or criticism that was beyond his power, not living subjectively according to his will and being swept off by external circumstances.

Wonga, Sinchung, King Hyoseong, Sunwon Kim, strange phenomenon which had happened to a tree, turnover of situations, waving sand, not subjectively