조선시대 시가창작에서의 『장자』 은일사상 수용 양상 고찰

Abstract

Admiration of rural hermitage in literary works during the Joseon Dynasty was from the seclusion thought of Zhuangzi. Accordingly, this study aims to examine how the seclusion thought of Zhuangzi was applied in creating literary works in Joseon. The essence of Taoism of Zhuangzi is freedom (逍遙遊), which is seclusion thought pursuing mental freedom from constraints of secular life. In the chaotic situation of the Wei-jin South and North Dynasty period in China, Confucianism declined, and Taoism of Zhuangzi emerged as a good philosophy, leading to the popularity of seclusion life. In contrast, in the Sui-Tang dynasties, the popularity of such a life declined, which shows that, while, in peaceful times, the literati favored Confucian activism, they, in chaotic times, or, if they were politically misfortunate, they sought psychological solace from seclusion thought of Zhuangzi. Even if the Joseon Dynasty adopted neo-Confucianism as the ruling theory, and excluded other theories as heretics, it only allowed seclusion theory of Zhuangzi to influence the literati as admiration of rural hermitage life. In the earlier period of the dynasty, the hermitage life was somewhat popular among anti-regime critics and some of politicians in the central government. But, after purges of Confucian scholars, such a life was very popular among the literati. Excluding anti-regime critics, however, it can be said that scholar-politicians of Joseon Dynasty favored having government positions and participation in politics to seclusion.