淫詞小說의 수용과 19세기 한문소설의 변화

Abstract

This study tries to examine the meaning of the acceptance of Keum-Byung-Mai金甁梅 in the history of novels and cultural background of 18th and 19th century in Chosun dynasty, when there were found high attentions for love and sex. Lists of novels in the 18th century shows that erotic novels were found relatively many in the 18th century compared to the previous century. With this change of reading tendency, the critical response to erotic novels were found to change. It was true of the case of Keum-Byung-Mai. Lee-ok李鈺 and Shim-nosoong沈魯崇 who enjoyed to read short essays called paikwanssopoom稗官小品 defended Keum-Byung-Mai, saying that nothing was more sincere than affection between men and women, and Keum-Byung-Mai expressed this affection very well. This view is beyond the moral valuation. The valuation of Keum-Byung-Mai by Lee-ok and Shim-nosoong seems to be in the same line with the viewpoints of Won-kyangdo袁宏道, one of Kongan group公安派, who showed acknowledgement of popular literature. This kind of positive reaction to erotic novels and increasing attention for sex can be interpreted reflecting cultural tendency with the development of city in Seoul. This tendency was found in novels written in Chinese letters in the 19th century. Novels which seemed to be influenced by Keum-Byung-Mai were written, works with much description of erotic love were translated, and erotic love became to be the main theme of novels. Illegal love between men and women were also found in the novels and concrete description for erotic love appeared. This tendency was different from that of novels written in Chinese letters of 19th century which tends to show intellectual orientation.