‘公 · 私’ 대립을 통해 본 이행기 한일 대중문학

Abstract

「chushingura」, 「sonesakishinchu」, and 「ch'uhyangjeon」 are popular literature that appeared in a similar period, the early modern times. They are the works that were loved in those days and have been read popularly until now. This article read those works from the viewpoint of the conflict between ‘公’ and ‘私’. ‘公’ and ‘私’ are concretized as ‘justice’ and ‘sympathy’ in Japan and appear as ‘rite teaching’ and ‘will’ in Korea. In the early modern times, particularly ‘公’ and ‘私’ coexisted, and in the literature of the period, the very conflict between ‘公’ and ‘私’ is captured. In 「chushingura」, ‘私’ is sacrificed for ‘公’ yet, and ‘公’ rather exhibits a contradiction from its inside. Finally in 「sonesakishinchu」, ‘私’ appears in the front and confronts ‘公’. However, the characters who chose ‘私’ in the crash between the two committed a joint suicide, and the work ends tragically. In 「ch'uhyangjeon」, neither of them is disregarded, and they penetrate to each other. It shows that the character pursuing ‘私’ solidifies the area of ‘公’ as well somehow. Therefore, the character in 「ch'uhyangjeon」 achieves happiness in life instead of tragic death unlike in the two works introduced earlier. It is thought that the reason why the conflict between ‘公’ and ‘私’ is embodied differently in the two countries may be the influence of the distinct social atmosphere in each country. While the hierarchical order of social status, that is, the official area, was strictly maintained by stipulated law in Japan, after the two wars, the movement of social status appeared on the surface in Korea. Thereby, confronting the solid wall of ‘公’, Japanese people dreamed of happiness in life after death rather than in this life through the tragic end of death, while Korean people who glanced at the slight hint of emancipation for a little internalized ‘公’ and were able to realize ‘私’ in the actual.