명말(明末) 『고반여사(考槃余事)』의 구별짓기 경향에 나타난 문화자본관

Abstract

This dissertation explores the concept of cultural capital as reflected in the tendencies of distinction found in Kaopan Yushi (考槃余事) during the late Ming dynasty. Kaopan Yushi is a work that outlines the refined tastes of the literati class, particularly in relation to wenfang qingwan (文房淸玩), or the aesthetic enjoyment of scholarly tools and objects. During the Ming dynasty, trends of luxury had spread even to the lower classes, and the traditional hierarchical system had been weakening since the Song dynasty. Against this backdrop, the lower classes increasingly imitated the cultural aristocracy, prompting a sense of crisis among the latter. In response, the cultural aristocracy expanded the notion of “capital” beyond mere monetary wealth to encompass various intangible forms of value, thus assigning greater significance to resources that transcended economic worth. This shift aimed to reinforce the perpetuity of their privileged status. This study employs Pierre Bourdieu's (1930–2002) theory of distinction as a methodological framework to examine the concept of capital embedded in Kaopan Yushi. Bourdieu posits that capital encompasses all forms of energy that can be utilized as tools in social competition, thereby enabling an analysis of conflicts that extend beyond purely economic dimensions. Among the forms of capital Bourdieu highlights is cultural capital, which exists in an embodied state. Kaopan Yushi reveals a tendency toward distinction that, through embodied cultural capital, excludes the lower classes while simultaneously legitimizing the exclusivity of the aristocratic group it represents. This study categorizes these aspects into three forms of capital: knowledge capital, perceptual capital, and character capital. Thus, this research seeks to analyze the concept of cultural capital as presented in Kaopan Yushi, shedding light on how the cultural aristocracy of the late Ming dynasty expressed exclusivity toward other social classes and justified such exclusivity.