최치원 시의 寓意性에 대한 일 고찰

Abstract

Choi Chiwon passed Bin-gong-gwa(賓貢科:state examination for foreigners) and started his official career while studying in Tang Dynasty. However, the official position was not that high. Though his literary ability was highly acknowledged, there was limitation of position given to him as a foreigner. The situation had not changed much even after he returned to his country, Silla Dynasty. Due to the strict status system, he changed from district to district as a district chief and the prestige of his country was on the decline. He submitted ten innovative policies in order to improve the troubled society but they were not accepted, which made him more discouraged. Thus, allegorical method as an exit of a frustrated intellectual was often used. It was allegory that was revealed as the most prominent characteristic of overall features of Choi's poems. His poems handed down until now are not that many, but the proportion of allegorical method in his works is considerably high. Especially, Choi left many poems about natural things, where many allegorical characteristicsare revealed. His allegorical works can be divided into two categories. The first was for expressing that he was deplorable about not being accepted and his adverse circumstances. The works are <Du-gyeon(杜鵑)>, <Chok-gyu-hwa(蜀葵花)>, <Haegu(海鷗)>, <Sanjeong-wiseok(山頂危石)>, <Seoksang-waesong(石上矮松)>, and <Gwiyeoneumheontaewi(歸燕吟獻太尉)>. The second was to deplore social reality including the absurdity and contradictions of the world. They were <Yaso(野燒)>, <Gangnam-nyeo(江南女)>, <Go-ui(古意)>, <Wuheung(寓興)>, <Hongyeopsu(紅葉樹)>, and <Gayasan Dokseodang(題伽倻山讀書堂)>. Besides these, allegorical rhetoric was often used in many of his works. This might have been the most effective method to express writer's own inner world when he who passed through the end of the Tang Dynasty and Silla Dynasty felt the limitation of helpless self in decayed and troubled world.