고대 중국문학에 나타난 뽕나무(桑) 이미지의 상징성 고찰

Abstract

This paper arms to analyze the symbolic meaning of Mulberry tree image which were widely spread in ancient China literature. In ancient China, Mulberry tree had a significant meaning and was very rich in symbolism. This is distinctively different from other trees. As to the importance It is compared to west oak. Mulberry tree-worship was based on the consciousness of nature worship, as well as had reflected with the religious, social, economic and cultural factors in ancient China. So in the antiquity religion and myth fable, Mulberry tree was regarded on a source of life and the tree with motherhood, has resulted in the various Socio-cultural phenomena. In ancient time, performing ritual prayers for rain at Mulberry grove, sacrificial rites for God of land(社) and God of Gaomei(高禖), the love of the sexes, mulberry leaf picking and sericulture were composed of Mulberry tree. This paper analyze the symbolic meaning of Mulberry tree image and then classify them into a symbol of one's life, a symbol of love, a symbol of feminine beauty and symbol of one's home.