흰 색 십이지 동물 상징성의 한일비교

Abstract

Comparative studies of Korea and Japan about symbolism of the animals of the twelve horary signs have already been done but those classified by Obangsaek(五方色; The Five Cardinal Colors; the East Asian traditional five colors of white, black, blue, yellow and red) have never been examined. Hence this thesis focuses on white animals among the five types of colored animals of the twelve horary signs in the classical literature of Korea and Japan as the subject because white is the most commonly seen color of Obangsaek in classic literature of the two countries. The symbolism of white animals had an auspicious image in ancient China. However, there is an evident difference in the symbolism of it between Korea and Japan. That is, white animals of the twelve horary signs in Japanese classical literature usually have affirmative symbolism as messengers of god and they connect god and human, delivering good fortune from god to human. On the other hand, White animals in Korean classical literature have antithetic symbolism as ‘affirmative distinction’ and ‘negative strangeness’. Thus, on a scale of one to a hundred, the attitude of viewing white animals as affirmative is a hundred in Japan while being only fifty in Korea. This difference comes from different perceptions about the white color of animals as the Japanese view it as ‘purity’ or ‘sacredness’, and the Koreans take it as ‘affirmative distinction’ or ‘negative strangeness’. Images that the Japanese have towards white animals are mostly ‘affirmative’ while those that the Korean have towards white animals, ‘affirmative’ and ‘negative’ are mixed. White animals symbolize ‘good fortune’ to the Japanese but for the Korean white animals can be ‘good fortune’ or ‘misfortune’. Moreover, even in the case of taking the white animals as ‘affirmative’, there is a clear difference between Korea and Japan. For example, the Japanese view the white snake as that which connects god and human and gives good fortune and money. On the other hand, the Koreans recognize them as medicated food that provides good energy. In this case, the white animals symbolize ‘Good fortune’ to the Japanese and ‘Good energy’ to the Koreans.