「이대봉전」 異本考 -동양문고본을 중심으로-

Abstract

<Lee Dae-bong Cheon(이대봉전)> is a Korean classic novel that was read in handwriting, old-printed and xerographically-produced version as well as in rental library manuscripts. The story was also published in handwriting and old-printed version under different titles such as <Yang Ju-bong Cheon(양주봉전)>, <Jubong Cheon(주봉전)> and <Bonghwangdae(봉황대)>, reflecting the novel's popularity among its readers. In this regard, <Lee Dae-bong Cheon> deserves a special place in the history of Korean classic novels. In this paper, we highlight the special feature of rental library manuscripts by looking at the edition of Dongyangmungo in comparison to xerographically-produced and old-printed novels. If xerographically-produced and old-printed novel were commercialized forms of classic novels distributed nationwide, rental library manuscripts were unique to the Seoul area and served as the source for old-printed classics. In this regard, it is essential in understanding rental library manuscripts to explore the characteristics of the different versions through comparisons with handwriting and old-printed versions respectively as well as with xerographically-produced ones. Without conducting these research in advance, commercial elements of rental library manuscripts cannot be easily identified. While the edition of Dongyangmungo is as condensed as the Nason's edition, the story is centered on two major themes; the parting and reunion of the main character, Daebong's family with regards to his heroic adventure and the prosperity of his family in relation to his achievement of love with the female heroine Chang Ae-hwang. As opposed to the other version, we can identify the most alterations in xerographically-produced version which give more emphasis on the heroic deeds of the female main character. In contrast, the edition of Dongyangmungo unfolds the story centering on Lee Dae-bong. The old-printed version largely follows the handwriting version albeit some partial story alterations. Since it is more condensed a form than the edition of Dongyangmungo, the aforementioned version does not go far beyond storytelling. Based on the comparisons of different versions so far, we conclude that mainstream versions of <Lee Dae-bong Cheon> are mostly handwriting versions. Xerographically-produced versions are the most commercial in its nature, putting weight on the heroin's story at a time when demand for heroin stories were at its peak. The edition of Dongyangmungo, embodying relatively high degree of commercial elements, centered the story on the heroic adventure of Lee Dae-bong. While adhering to the typical hero-centered plot, it, at the same time, implied the emergence of a heroin. Although we need to explore further in detail, <Lee Dae-bong Cheon> seems to have had a firm base of readers since many handwriting versions exist dating back before the creation of the edition of Dongyangmungo. This explains why there is few critical alterations in the edition of Dongyangmungo which largely follows the handwriting version. Condensing the contents were mostly undertaken in the handwriting process. Of course, cost reduction may have been one of the motivations behind condensation, but most of all, alterations were deemed unnecessary as long as the story remained interesting and plausible in the different versions. Apart from identifying the features of <Lee Dae-bong Cheon>, an example of rental library manuscript, from the comparison we undertake, we also acknowledge the need to conduct a more elaborate research on the specific readers of rental library manuscript distributed outside the Seoul region.