<도랑선비․청정각시>에 나타난 청정각시 죽음의 의미 -희생제의의 전통과 관련하여-

Abstract

This paper examines the meaning of ordeal and death by Cheongjeong-gaksi(chaste lady) in “Dorang-seonbi Cheongjeong- gaksi.” in order to give a new interpretation in terms of ritual sacrifice, discourse of virtuous women, and line context. First, her ordeal and death superficially accepted Buddhist motif. However, there is an underlying Confucian discourse such as the pursuit of eagerness and the reinforcement of male dominant order is identified. “Eagerness” herein is naturally incarnated in Cheongjeong-gaksi’s body. She accepts her hardship and death given as her destiny. As violence latent in the community transforms into moral violence, this shaman epic is found to have an association with ritual sacrifice. Secondly, Cheongjoeng-gaksi and virtuous women in the Joseon Dynasty were compared. Virtuous women in “Yeolnyeo(Virtuous Women) Series” and dead wives leaving wills are similar to Cheongjeong-gaksi in that they are all victims in the male-oriented society. They were scapegoats to guard eagerness in shaman epic, palace documents and wills. Marks of ritual sacrifice in the virtuous women discourse imply that ancient religious communication was converted into medieval ethical communication. Lastly, this paper discussed Cheongjeong-gaksi’s emotion in relation with participants in a exorcism ceremony presented in this epic poem. Although the active participation into ordeal and death by the lady can be interpreted that “Eagerness” functioned as a beneficial violence, the reality is that her desire or affection for Dorang-seonbi underlies in the context. Her emotion is identical with participants who gathered in the ceremony to say bid a farewell to their beloved. For example, Cheongjeong-gaksi’s story in “Dorang-seonbi Cheongjeong-gaksi” describes hope in the exorcism ritual by hosts and acquaintances who lost their beloved.