나무의 문화문법과 박물관 활용방안 시론 -지역상징 나무를 중심으로-

Abstract

The process of reading cultural context and its symbols in trees can be defined as ‘Ethno-grammar of Trees’. In traditional society, people have separated living spaces with the concept of households (Ga-ok), villages, and districts (Go-eul), and planted trees to create meanings with ethno-grammar of trees in corresponding area. Today, local governments in cities and provinces across the country designate regional symbols with animals, trees, and flowers to establish local residents' identity and unification. This article illustrates symbolic meanings of representative plants, especially trees, in Korean culture by understanding types and the situations within trees in 276 regional governments during 2009. Most Koreans favour trees in order of Ginkgo Trees, Pine Trees, and Zelkova Trees. Ginkgo Trees represent longevity and Confucian tradition, whereas Pine Trees are commonly used as a symbol of expressing a nation's character or nature. Zelkova Trees, which were placed at the entrance to a village, have been kept its history of a village and also act as a Shade Tree. Finding ways on how to manipulate museological applications by cooperating with Museums, Arboretums, Forest Museums, Eco Parks nationwide can be found in tree research cases from National Folk Museum of Korea. Trees that act as the regional symbols or religious beliefs often meet its limits using Humanistic approach only. Also trees cannot be defined just using scientific approach such as Biology, they represents more than just plants. The research will remain unfinished unless these two academics work together. Scientific knowledge is required for understanding trees, Humanistic knowledge is required for understanding of culture on Humans and its culture of trees. A study on trees can meet its results and depth when Humanistic (Museums) and the Natural Science (Arboretums, Eco Parks, Forest Museums) work as a convergence-based study.