'수사(修辭)’의 의미와 변천 양상- “수사입기성(修辭立其誠)”을 중심으로

Abstract

In the pre-modern period, China had a long tradition of artistic writing and language discourse. The rhetoric(修辭) has been understood and utilized under this historical background. That is, apart from being chosen as the translated word of rhêtorikê, it has a history of independent understanding and utilization. The historical understanding of rhetoric stemming from "Susa-Ipgiseong(修辭立其誠)" of Muneon Jeon(文言傳) in I-Ching(易經) is represented by the following four points. The first is "polishing words." This means that the rhetoric reveals the ethic-orientation inherent in words and makes them shine. The second is "carrying out civilization." This is an interpretation of rhetoric in terms of governing the world(經世). The third is "modifying words." It means that the rhetoric an activity to embody the art-orientation of words. It can be said to be an artistic interpretation of rhetoric. The fourth is "reflect on words." This was mainly attempted by Neo-Confucianists. These historical views on rhetoric are divided into two main categories. One is from an ethical perspective, which is to understand rhetoric as an activity to equip the truth of words, or as an activity to carry out civilization, or as an activity to reflect on words from an ethical aspect. The other is the understanding of rhetoric as an activity that modifies words from an artistic perspective. However, even if the rhetoric was approached from an artistic perspective, it was an understanding within the unity with ethic-orientation. In other words, in the history of understanding of rhetoric, the approach at the ethical perspective took precedence and mainstream over the approach at the artistic perspective.