왕치등의 「馬湘蘭挽歌詞十二首」 고찰

Abstract

The Mingji (名妓) culture bloomed in the later stages (後期) of the Ming dynasty (明代). The women of the Mingji culture in this period were accomplished in the arts, were women of high character, and had gracious and graceful style and features. This appearance of the Mingji women was closely related to the tastes and aesthetic ideals of the writers of the time. 「Ma Xiang Lan Wangeci Shi’ershou (馬湘蘭挽歌詞十二首)」, a monody (挽詩) written by the writer Wang Zhideng (王穉登, 1535-1612), mourns the death of Jinü (妓女) Ma Xianglan (馬湘蘭, 1548—1604). Wang Zhideng also wrote prefaces for her collections of poems and tishi (題詩) for her paintings, becoming an artistic collaborator and her soul mate during her lifetime. After Ma Xianglan died, he left behind important records about her by writing her biography, 「Maxizhuan (馬姬傳)」, in addition to 「Ma Xiang Lan Wangeci Shi’ershou (馬湘蘭挽歌詞十二首)」 . This paper analyzes 「Ma Xiang Lan Wangeci Shi’ershou (馬湘蘭挽歌詞十二首)」, focusing on the contents of the work. To provide background, Chapter 2 examines the friendship between Wang Zhideng and Ma Xianglan, which they maintained for 30 years. Ma Xianglan had Wang Zhideng in mind until she died, even though he declined her request to become his concubine. Ma Xianglan died of an illness at the age of 57, shortly after she had been to Su Zhou (蘇州) to celebrate Wang Zhideng's 70th birthday. Chapter 3 examines the contents of 「Ma Xiang Lan Wangeci Shi’ershou (馬湘蘭挽歌詞十二首)」 by dividing it into “a eulogy to her accomplishments (才藝),” “a eulogy to her style and features (風貌),” “reminiscences of her love for Wang Zhideng,” and “speculation about the three lives of rebirth (三生).” In these 12 monodies, Wang Zhideng expressed his sorrow over her death, eulogized her talent, style and features, and sang her love for him and her life. The contents of Wang Zhideng’s praise for Ma Xianglan in 「Ma Xiang Lan Wangeci Shi’ershou (馬湘蘭挽歌詞十二首)」can also be found in the work of writers from the later stages (後期) of the Ming dynasty (明代) who highly appreciated the then Jinü's accomplishments (才藝) and high character.