조선조 문인들의 벽 연구 ― 18세기를 중심으로 ―

Abstract

In this study, the researcher looked at the ‘Obsession’ pursued by the literary persons in the 18th century Joseon Dynasty and also summarized the social and cultural functions of the Obsession and its meaning. Obsession is a phenomenon of being immersed in or obsessed with a specific object or natural object, etc., which was popular among literary persons in the 18th century. We can see that the perception of the Obsession by literary intellectuals at the time was complex, unlikely as the one being classified as taste or hobby by modern people. As the people who revealed their views on the Obsession during this period, there were Yoon Haeng-eom(尹行儼), Yoon Ki(尹愭), and Park Je-ga(朴齊家). Although there are differences in their social status such as a scholar-gentry(sajok), a fallen aristocrat and a concubines son, they had one thing in common in that they enjoyed the Obsession as literary men. In the case of Yun Haeng-eom, he insisted on being vigilant against the Obsession from the viewpoint of Wanmulsangji (meaning losing one's heart by falling into external things) and Yun, Ki recognized Obsession by dividing it into the universal Obsession and the Obsession leading to the shame of the family. Pak, Je-ga paid attention to the value of the Obsession, which is immersed in or obsessed with a specific thing, and actively defended it. On the other hand, although the Obsession pursued by literary men in the 18th century was universally appreciated, it was also enjoyed discriminately according to the character's inclination and economic power. Some expressed their opinions by pointing out social contradictions and recording them, while others formed friendships and solidarity by transcending nationality during the process of carrying out royal orders and performing duties. There are also noteworthy cases where a group shared the Obsession for a specific object, producing a result of collective intelligence. In terms of culture, while the pursuit of the Obsession led to the importation of foreign cultures and fostered a luxurious atmosphere, it also played a positive role in discovering indigenous cultures. Therefore, the pursuit of the Obsession by the literary intellectuals at the time was very significant in that they broke away from the rigid atmosphere that was not free from Confucian thoughts and spread diverse cultures, contributing to the expansion of cultural diversity.