한시의 보편적 가치와 조선후기 중국 문인과의 시문 교류

Abstract

In Eastern Asia, Classical Chinese Poetry had a universal value based upon the common literary consciousness, and producing a fine work of poetry was thus recognized as a indicator of civilization. Hence, exchanging classical Chinese poems between Ming's envoys and Joseon's literati was more a kind of competition over the level of civilization than a mere recreation. Meanwhile, the attempts of Chinese literati to take record of Joseon's classical Chinese poems and to include them in the compilation of Chinese poetry were a kind of imperial design to seize Joseon's poetry as one of their airs of states(guofeng), consequentially as a decoration of the marvellous Chinese civilization. Importantly Kangxi Emperor published and sent to Joseon enormous encyclopedic works on poetry to prove Qing's cultural centricity, and also demanded to tribute Joseon's poetry works to check their cultural level. To this demand literati of 17th century Joseon usually objected to send the poetic works as they regarded themselves already possessing the cultural centricity based on Semi-Sinocentrism(Sojunghwasasang). Kim Chuntaek, however, argued that Joseon's fine works of poetry should be sent to Qing positively, in order to boast Joseon's cultural superiority. But by the age of 18th century, the era of Yongzheng Emperor and Qianlong Empeor, as Joseon accepted Qing's actual dominance in power, literati of Joseon made companionship with intelligentia of Han Chinese, avoiding relationships with barbarious Qing and approving the Sinocentric culture of Han Chinese. By expressing their cultural pride over Manchu people in classical Chinese poetry, they could build up a strong bond of friendship beyond the national boundaries. Contary to its public role as a confrontation of civilization, classical Chinese poetry appeared to serve as a medium of communication in private relationships.