정기(鄭琦)의 시 세계

Abstract

The poems of Yulgye, Jeonggi(1879~1950) are 445 in all. Classified by style, there are 133 poems of 5 characters per line, and 299 poems of 7 characters per line. There is a long poem, Hwadong Yeokdaega (a historical poem about the Joseon Dynasty) and there are 13 other poems of assorted styles. Some poems are composed of many stanzas, altogether, his poems contain a total of more than 500 stanzas. Among them, I have taken 331 poems of his poems and translated them into modern Korean for the first time, and then classified them by subject. However, because of the complexity and overlapping themes of his poems, it was difficult to classify them by topic. If I divide them broadly into 4 groups according to topic and subject matter, there are 149 travel poems, 233 friendship poems, 38 nature poems and 25 others including historical poems. Yulgye held personal beliefs against foreign influence in Korea, especially against Japanese imperialism, so his poems contain traces of resistance against Japanese imperialism. He experienced the chaotic state of affairs after the restoration of independence and the Korean War and his agony over these troubling times is apparent in his poems. Though there are not many poems which directly criticize Japanese imperialism or which discuss the history of that era, there are a considerable number of poems expressing his grief over that era in his travel poems and friendship poems. He liked travel and nature so he wrote many poems on these subjects. Having been to China three times, he wrote about his feelings and thoughts at the historic sites and scenic attractions. Notably, there are some poems about characters and historic sites related to the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1952 or the Manchu War of 1636. There are also some travel poems about historic sites of the Goryeo era, and woven into these poems are references to the reality of Korea’s ruination. A considerable number of travel poems were written at gardens or mountain temples while he was sightseeing around Gyeongsangdo, Jeollado and all around the country. Though Yulgye was a Confucian philosopher, he didn't exclude Buddism from his thinking. A warm-hearted mood and a humanistic outlook are apparent in his poems written while hiking in the mountains with friends and disciples. In his interactions or writings with his friends who had studied under the same teacher, and his cherished disciples, such as Hyodang Gim Mun Ok and Godang Gim Kyu Tae, he frequently offered wise words of guidance and sound advice. At the deaths or partings of his acquaintances, he wrote ardent and earnest poems. He showed his gratitude and affection generously to those who sent him peaches or letters and to those who visited him from a long distance when he was old and sick. He also wrote some poems to celebrate his friends` special birthdays or occasions wishing for their health and longevity. In his poems, he valued on content more highly than technique, form, or style. There are more 7-character poems than 5-character ones. There are several friendship poems and travel poems extolling the serenity and beauty of nature and everyday life. Through his poems, we can confirm the traces of his easy and carefree life of teaching, sightseeing in nature, and associating with other scholars after he moved to Omiri, Togi Myen, Gurye at the foot of Jiri mountain at the age of 49.