중국사신에 대한 서민층과 사대부층의 인식 비교

Abstract

Fictional oral tradition is seen to have contributed to showing the whole history, revealing the other side of what was recorded. The thesis is intended to explore the problems with the study on fictional oral tradition. Fictional oral tradition is discussed from the two discrete perspectives of ordinary men and the men of noble birth. The modern evaluation of the middle ages, which is characterized by Chinese character civilization, has been less than perfect. It has been argued that despite the close relationship between China and Korea, China always remained the center of civilization, a world power and Korea was on the peripheryof civilization and a small country with an inferiority complex. But the middle ages put more emphasis on homogeneity of civilizations than on the national identity. This study attempts to verify the evaluation, making comparison between the “record” of men of noble birth and “fictional oral tradition” of ordinary men regarding “Chinese envoys,”the main channel between China and Korea. Belonging to Confucius Chinese civilizationfor a long time, Korea valued the relationship with China. Envoy exchanges between the two countries was not only the object of historical record but also the main theme of ordinary fictional oral tradition. By making the comparison, the study attempts to show the perceptions of the ruling elite and the general public on the relationship between Chinese envoy receivers and Chinese envoys. The ruling elite of the Chosun at the age of Ming was very proud of their civilization. Therefore, the view that Korean elite overcame their inferiority complex with fictional oral tradition should be challenged. The ruling elite of Chosun dynasty tried first to affirm homogeneity and then superiority. On the contrary, the ordinary people tried to confirm and reinforce superiority of Chosun. The rulingelite of Chosun tried to resolve diplomatic issues by exchanging poems while ordinary men tried to confirm Chosun’s pride through the fictional oral tradition in a practical way.