고대사 사료로서의 『제왕운기』

Abstract

Chewang un’gi (Rhymed Record of Emperors and Kings, hereafter RREK) offers an important perspective to historical narratives and plentiful information as a primary source. First, the RREK deals with the myth of Tan’gun. Thanks to the RREK, it is clear that Hwanin refers to Sangje, a supreme ruler, and the usage of other terms such as chesŏkch’ŏn should not be misunderstood as equivalent of Hwanin. The RREK also confirms that Hwanin’s son Hwanung is a tree spirit, because he appears as Dansusin in the RREK, the first syllable ‘dan’ being a birch tree. It is believed that Tanung gained Tan'gun through his marriage with his grand-daughter. The lineage of three generations which links Hwanin and Tangun become more complex, but ultimately, counting the order of their birth in precision is against their nature as gods. This is a passage that reflects concerns and thoughts on having a divine only child. The second finding concerns of an article that Chunwang of Kija Chosŏn fled to Kŭmmagun in south. Despite lack of textual evidence, this passage became quintessential in the discourse of Legitimacy of Three Han Tribes. Third finding is with regards to the founding date of Koryŏ. It is uncertain whether Paekje was founded 19 or 90 years prior to Silla. Had the latter been the case, Koguryŏ must have been established in 108 B.C.E. which proves existence of Wŏn(Proper)’koguryŏ in the past. Fourth, Sŭnghyu Yi(1224-1300) is the very person who wrote T’asa’am as Nakhwa’am. The fifth aspect of the RREK addresses establishment of the Koryŏ kingdom. Ancestors of Wang’gŏn(877-943) are believed to have become kings by farming millet. It is a shame that naming of Kija Chosŏn has been understood based on the name of a Chinese sage, when in fact, the Chinese character ‘king’ was pronounced as kijang in Paekje, which explains the provenance of Kija. In addition, according to the RREK, Hogyŏng, Wang’gŏn’s forefather, is believed to obtain Kyŏng’gang by marring a tiger who metamorphosed into a woman. This is an example where not only a bear but also a tiger from the myth of Tan’gun transforms into a human.