A Pedagogical Study on Understanding of ‘Shinmyoung’(神明) in Modern Korean Novels for Foreign Learners - Based on A. N. Whitehead’s Creativity -

Abstract

This paper focuses on Understanding of Shinmyoung in Modern Korean Novels for Foreign Learners. There is the Pungryu Spiritual Culture which encapsulates the collective spiritual and emotional energy of the Korean people in Korea. It is said to have its origins in ancient harvest ceremonies, and to have preserved Korean art forms related to traditional dances, Gut, Sinawi and Sanjo, Pansori, etc.. Especially Shinmyoung, the major property of Pungryu Spiritual Culture, is a Koreans’ specular emotion which has formed its creative characteristic which is different from that of other countires. It is interesting that this Shinmyoung shares the creative characteristic with Whitehead’s philosophy of organism . The common ground between Shinmyoung and Whitehead’s Philosophy of Organism is that they both emphasize novelty and creativity in the ongoing process of change and creation. It holds the perspective that creation and process itself should be regarded as ‘real’, in contrast with the views of Substance Philosophies that regard an unchanging, permanent thing as real. In particular the Korean Shinmyoung is a kind of unconscious energy which arises at the moment of transcending a fixed routine or formality, thereby expressing inherent mental and emotional feelings, and producing creative vitality. This study also formed the foundation of a thinking and discussion course for foreign students to develop an understanding of Shinmyoung, while reading modern Korean novels such as 『독 짓는 늙은이』, 『금당벽화』, 『무녀도』, 『선학동 나그네』, which concretely describe and actualize the characteristics of Shinmyoung. Through reading, dialogue, and discussion students were able to gain a deeper understanding of Korean language and culture, improve their thought and cognition, and develop a logical and critical understanding of Shinmyoung. In fact, some foreign students answered that they were able to understand more about Korean Shinmyoung. Through the extension of their thought and cognition of culture, obtained by comparing Korean Shinmyoung with that of their own nations, they were also able to acknowledge the singularity and universality of each nation’s culture and gain a deeper intercultural perspective.