韓蒙 英雄神話에서의 天降 理念과 治病 모티프(motif) 比較 考察

Abstract

This article is aimed at examining the themes implied in the myths, focusing on the primary motif in the Korea's <the myth of Dangun> and Mongolia's Geser Khan, which are the representative founder mythology and heroic epic in the Northeast Asia. In particular, it was illuminated that the curative motif on the incomplete humans was suggested as the formula along with key concept of ‘human’ and ‘life’ in the early part of heroic myths which have the archetype of heroes' religious and political charisma. Above all, it can be considered that the people's simple wish, ‘decent life’ was reflected in the basic ideology of a hero's descending from heaven(天降) into human world, ‘Hoongikingan(弘益人間)’ and ‘Jeseiwha(在世理化)’. These myths picture human or human world as an incomplete state and thereby heroes are endowed with a mission to correct this. A series of events surrounding the birth of heroes describe the handicap of an hero's parents, and abnormal aspects of a young hero etc, which are solved one by one to supply the clue of story development. In the process, traditional curative knowledge of actual folks turn up as primary motif, meaning the function of myth related more closely with the real life of the folks than were thought. The myths like the epic of Geser Khan and the myth of Dangun are the human myths governing the affairs of men, with the folk customs from the birth of man to funeral symbolized and sung in the epics. In particular, it can be regarded that the rite of passage, such as the event, birth, naming, adoption, and funeral tied to the human life etc has its own mythical meanings. In the last scene of Geser Khan epic where Geser returns to his hometown and live happily ever after with two queens after expelling the all of evil powers and purifying the evil spirits by burning them, it resembles quite closely the custom of enjoying the festival with the purified mind after finishing the long-lasting religious exorcisation like Mongolia's ‘Tsam’. After all, the ideal country sought in this heroic myths can be this world where loving family eat, drink well and live to a great age happily in the place such as Nollom plain(Khatanga River), just like a simple wish of the folks.