17세기 동아시아 자전문학의 특징적 국면(Ⅰ)-창작 배경 및 자아형상화 양상을 중심으로-

Abstract

This study comprehensively examined the autobiographical literature of Korea, China and Japan in order to overcome the limitations of East Asian autobiographical literature research, which has remained only in one country until now. Through this, we are to identify the concept and features of East Asian autobiographical literature more objectively. In the autobiographical literature in Korea, a new form of autobiography combined with forms appeared such as preface, chronological records, miscellaneous records in addition to self-written epitaph or autobiography after the 17th century, and a narration tendency became more diverse. This paper focuses on the factional strife which was fierce at that time as a cause of the prevalence of autobiographical literature during this period. Isolating themselves in successive political hardships, many of the noblemen at that time wrote their autobiography, imprinted their existence and expressed lonely self-consciousness. In the case of autobiographical literature in China, as civic consciousness grew due to the prevalence of economic activities and the theory of literature emphasizing personality emerged from the 16th century, autobiographies of various characters were created, and works emphasizing individuals’ emotions and tastes appeared. In the 17th century, there was a great change of dynasty fall, but previous literary achievements and diversification of ideas were still inherited, allowing many works that highlighted individual self while containing the pain of the times to appear. In Japan, the autobiographical literature was born in earnest when the end of war in the 17th century caused military men to collapse and Neo-confucianism was settled, and the complex world of consciousness of Confucian scholars and military men could be identified in terms of the author's consciousness. In terms of style, autobiography in the form of essays using both Chinese character and Japanese language in addition to the authentic Chinese works appeared to contain the inner world and everyday matters abundantly. The autobiographical literature of three East Asian countries in the 17th century is common in terms of creation background and self-figuration. First of all, in the creation background, East Asian autobiographical literature in the 17th century was the most motivated by the willingness to imprint their existence in social turmoil and misfortune. Unfortunate factors including factional strife, dynasty fall and exile are different, but they are the same in that they provoked an autobiographical narrative while reminding people of disconnection from the world and death. Next, the self shaped in the East Asian autobiographical literature was mostly frustrated or alienated from reality, and self-consciousness also showed confusion of identity and pessimistic mood. However, there were some writers who attempted to overcome reality by revealing their self-respect or individuality rather than being immersed in the helpless reality. Until now, it has been recognized that only a few works reflected on their dark past or actively expressed deep reflection on self and feelings such as sadness in East Asian autobiographical literature. However, a new meaning can be given in that East Asian autobiographical literature in the 17th century reveals these trends.