北愚 桂奉瑀(1880~1959)의 역사민속 서술과 인식

Abstract

This paper examines Buk-Woo, Gye Bong-Woo’s (1880-1959) writings and viewpoint on Korean historical-folklore, who fled the country under Japanese rule and devoted his whole life to nationalist education and research of Korean studies. Gye Bong-Woo, born from the low class, Hamgyeongnamdo, in the late 19th century, was a pioneer who studied, taught, and built Korean studies in North Gando, the Maritime Territory, and Central Asia (Russia). Especially, his research ranged over Korean language, literature, and history. In spite of activities for independence, nationalism, and socialism, he wrote about thirty books on Korean studies including Korean historical-folklore. Introduction and Research of his achievement was begun in the field of Korean studies after 1990, the first year of Korean-Russian relations. Collecting and examining his writings, researchers evaluated that he nearly compared with Park, Eun-Sik and Shin, Chae-Ho, the typical scholars of Korean studies in the colonial era. There has been no review of his Korean historical-folklore, however. This paper analyzes what he wrote about Korean historical-folklore and how he viewed it. The results were as follows. First of all, of all Korean historical-folklore, he was interested in (a) religion and mythology, (b) play, (c) the lunar calendar and holidays, and (d) common custom. He described on them, except play, according to the negative point of view, such as deception of the exploiting class, superstitions, and non-scientific ignorance. Secondly, he wrote that Korean play was much influenced by interactions with countries bordering west China in the ancient days. He also wrote that it was very popular during Goryeo Dynasty, but was in decline under Confucianism in Joseon Dynasty. Nevertheless, he considered the birth of satirical drama and burlesque drama, very popular with public, as an important characteristic of history of play in Joseon Dynasty. Finally, he ignored positive, popular, wish-making characteristics of Korean historical-folklore, although he described on it with various reasons, taught it Korean people in Central Asia, and left his legacy to the succeeding scholars. It seems that Christian belief and socialist thought would affect on his ideas.