허구와 사실, 말살과 부활의 교차점으로서 ‘사야가·김충선’ : 에미야 다카유키『사야가 의에 산 항왜 장수』를 중심으로

Abstract

This is a study of a literary work depicting "Sayaga". "Sayaga" was a Japanese soldier who surrendered to Korea(Chosen) during the Imjin War (1592-1598). It is believed that there was no official record about Sayaga before his surrender to Korea. It is thought that the name "Sayaga" is a pseudonym, and later King Seonjo bestowed a Korean name Kim Chung-seon upon him. Sayaga, a righteous Japanese General and Defector authored by Emiya Takayuki fills the missing parts in the life of this historical figure with fiction and imagination. In the fictional story, the pseudonym Sayaga came from the name of a Japanese region Saiga, and his real surnames were Suzuki, Asomiya and Okamoto. He had several different names in order to survive in the turmoil of the Warring States Period in Japan. Meanwhile, historical records raise doubts about the cause and the timing of his defection. The fiction addresses this question by presenting three fictional characters, all of whom are female related to Joseon (Korea). This setting justifies his defection as "return" instead of "betrayal." Also, the chapters of the story are arranged in such a way that it forms a sort of symmetry (decalcomanie) with Chapter 5 at the center. The arrangement was intended to show that the historical evaluation of Sayaga has been reversed over time. Thus, the fiction suggests that the historical figure Sayaga is sometimes consigned to oblivion and then again brought back to life depending on the needs of each period.