목조(穆祖) 이안사(李安社)에 관한 전승 연구 -장군수(將軍樹) ․ 호운석(虎隕石) 설화의 특징과 전승 양상-

Abstract

This paper aimed to review the characteristics of the legends of King Mokjo Yi Ansa (?-1274)—the legend of Janggunsu and the legend of Hounseok—passed down in Jeonju region. The dwellers of Jeonju supposedly started to respect the memory of King Mokjo and to disseminate his legends in the late 14th century when his descendant King Taejo Yi Seonggye attained fame as a renowned military hero for his successive victories over foreign invaders. The two legends differ from each other regarding the ways in which they have been passed down from generation to generation. The legend of Janggunsu—simply put, when young Yi Ansa sat down under a big tree, the neighborhood kids bowed to him politely as if they were subjects bowing to their king at court—was generally accepted by the literate class not only because the story was reliable but also because the tree could evoke the prestige of the royal family. On the other hand, the legend of Hounseok—thanks to a mandate from heaven, young Yi Ansa narrowly escaped being killed under a collapsing cave—has been chiefly passed down among the common people. The heavenly mandate in this story is embodied by a divine tiger, and the common people enjoyed such naive fantasy. Accordingly, the legend of Hounseok had not been certified by a governmental authority, which allowed the legend to be orally recomposed several times and to be spread far beyond Jeonju region.