장지연의 「自强主義」와 『新民說』 : 차용으로 이루어진 자강

Abstract

This paper analyzes that Jang Jiyeon’s “Jagangjuui”, the one of representative leading articles in Korean enlightenment movement, is composed of reconstituting and borrowing of Liang Qicao’s Xinminshuo. Through mutual comparison, it is proved that almost 70% of the former’s sentences are borrowed from the latter but Jang specifies himself as the author of the former. The former is publicized in Daehanjaganghoe Monthly, the bulletin of the most prestigious enlightenment movement society, Daehanjaganghoe to announce its own official purposes and principles. Considering its foremost purpose, self-strengthen and independent, the former’s composing process, unauthorized borrowing can be regarded as a kind of deviation. Also, adopting traditional rhetorics of Literary Sinitic to propagate modern ideas such as nationalism, progressivism and adventurous spirit, the former can be belong to products of Colonial Sinographic Sphere. It is clear that Jang did not recognize the risk of Literary Sinitic, the solid attribute shared by Liang, could be harmful to essential task of Korean enlightenment movement, nationality and an ethnic community. Since the greater part of Jang’s self-identity had matured in Joseon, the nation of toadyism and tributary system, he met difficulties in self transition, from universal Literary Sinitic writer, a traditional intellectual in Sinographic sphere, to a national journalist in Korean enlightenment media. For the moment, the Jang's “Jagangjuui” as the borrowing reconstitution of Liang’s Xinminshuo could contribute to enhance effects and contents of Korean self-strengthening but borrowed “Doctrine of Self-strengthen” would damage self-strengthening and independent in the end. The first priority of Korean enlightenment movement in Colonial Sinograph Sphere is confrontation to imperialism, yet borrowing "Jagangjuui" demonstrates remaining shadows of Sinocentrism.