야담을 통해 본 노인에 대한 인식과 그 의미

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine how the aged are figured and described and in yadam and also how they were accepted in the society. In ancient times, the aged were revered for their god-like nature with divinity, but in the times of yadam, their divinity became weakened. Instead, they were regarded as an object of fear or avoidance for being a peculiar being or objects of respect as a prophets who could foretold a family or person’s rise or fall. They were also admired for being people delivering their wisdom or experience as they were regarded to be experienced and knowledgeable. The long life of the aged is the symbol of a family’s prosperity, and in historical tales, their lives are described as something blissful when their descendants prospered and their families makes progressed. However, when they sought too much of personal desire freely, especially on wealth or lust, they become the object of blame as well as humor. On the base of such recognition on the aged, there existed ideal images about the aged that Chosun society pursued. Those enjoying historical tales then were conceived of as the ideal symbols of the aged as the country, from which personal desires should be abandoned for family’s prosperity. Such a way of valuing the aged remains in this contemporary age. Now is the time that we should consider how our society views the aged and what value their existence has.