조선시대 백과사전 속 ‘단군’의 표상

Abstract

The purpose of this study is contemplating the characteristics of the perception toward Dangun (檀君), the legendary founding father of Gojoseon, by the intellectuals of the Joseon Dynasty and relevant discussions based on four types of encyclopedias of the Joseon Dynasty― Daedongunbugunok, Jibongyuseol, Seonghosaseol, and Ohjuyeonmunjangjeonsango. This study is the opportunity to understand how Dangun has been imagined and consumed in general knowledge of the era, encyclopedia, and one type of approach toward how the perception toward Dangun changed in the ethnic crisis situation, the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. The following are the study results. First, Dangun in Daedongunbugunok, which was first published in the 16th century, played the role of expanding self-awareness of an independent state different from China. In comparison with the encyclopedias published after the invasion, Daedongunbugunok, which was published prior to the invasion, has strong sense of identity as the civilized state with Dangun, equivalent to Emperor Yao in China. Second, while Jibongyuseol by Lee Soo-kwang provides the occasion to positively consider the history of Dangun, Seonghosaseol by Lee Ik shows that the Confucian scholars who regarded Toegye (退溪) and Cho Sik (曹植) as the best teachers viewed the era of Dangun based on dual attitude between civilization and savage. Third, Dangun in Ohjuyeonmunjangjeonsango did not try to reveal the characteristics of the Dangun era but was used to promote the idea ‘Sojunghwaron (小中華論)’, which means that civilization began on the Korean Peninsula owing to Gija Joseon. Under the premise that the organization of ethnic concept is the product of modern times, this study will be an opportunity to newly reflect on the general view that ethnic crisis strengthened worship toward Dangun and expanded discussion on Dangun.