한문학에서의 ‘고양이[猫]’ 名稱과 別稱에 대한 考察

Abstract

This paper examines how the ancestors perceived cats through cat's names and nicknames in Korean Literature in Chinese Classics, and how they were expressed in the literature. For this purpose, firstly the paper examines cat's names by comparing 貓(Myo) and 猫(Myo). Since the original character of 猫(Myo) is 貓(Myo), a cat was recorded as 猫(Myo) in very early literature. Due to the fact that the radical of 貓(Myo) is 豸(Chi), it was confirmed that the ancestors recognized cats as animals similar to wildcats, different from the current cat. Furthermore, the fact that the 苗(Myo,seedling) were used in 貓(Myo), also proved that the ancestors recognized cats as animals protecting crops and applied such feature in their names. The nicknames of cats are named according to their appearances, natural temperaments and natures. 烏圓(O-won), 蒙貴(Mong-gwi), and 高伊(Go-i) were the nicknames focused on cat’s eyes and their hunting ability. In other words, since cats were treated as spiritual beings, those nicknames seem to include respectful attitudes towards cats. The nicknames such as 銜蟬(Ham-seon), 啣蝶(Ham-jeop), and 狸奴(Ri-no) are euphemistic terms focusing on muzzles and figures. and those nicknames were mainly appeared in literary works. In the case of 狸奴(Ri-no), even though it was an euphemistic term, when peculiar wild natures of cats were expressed, it was used as a vulgar term. The wild natures of cats were preserved despite their coexistences with human beings, and humans had feelings of creepiness, fearfulness and vulgarness towards cats and reflected those emotions in creating their nicknames. Through these facts, this paper identifies a relationship between cats and humans and a perception towards cats. It also made it possible to understand literary works better through origins and implications of those nicknames.