峿堂 李象秀의 『史記』 評述에 대하여

Abstract

The present study analyzes a critical review by Lee Sang-Soo (pseudonym: eh-dang, 1820-1882) on the Records of the Great Historian (Shiji or 史記, Sima Qian;109 BC - 91 BC). Lee focused on the mode of reading, rather than on the choice and content of text. He pointed that most people employ an improper mode of reading and hence good writers are rare, thereby he urged to exercise truthful and proper reading instead of pointless reading. Such a theory of reading by Lee can be defined as true reading (實讀), as opposed to a vain reading (實讀), where he asserted that being engrossed in reading is what offers the inclination of messages and firmly sets the insight of reader; only then, one can eventually recite the true intention of the writer and be able to define the ultimate message of the whole text. Further, Lee did not identify reading as a prerequisite step for writing but instead expressed that reading can be improved with writing exercise. In other words, applying writing skills to the reading theory that one should read text in an orderly and analytic manner in order to appreciate the writer's merit from the text. He applied this theory of reading-by-writing in his critical review on the Records of the Great Historian. He stated that the Biographies of Cruel Officials (Kuli liezhuan, 酷吏列傳) of the Records is not intended as a discipline for succeeding generations but to deride and satire the Emperor Wu of Han for his folly and poor wisdom, arguing that the contents are connected by the thread of logic in consecutive manner, without disruption. While discussing on the Biographies of Usurers (Huozhi liezhuan, 貨殖列傳), he finds the writer's true intention and ultimate message from the unmentioned context instead of the textual contents, that frustration was the real intention behind Sima Qian's establishment of the Records, for people becoming obsessed with material wealth and in turn oblivious to the value of morals. He also conducted rhetoric analysis on the Biographies of Usurers in terms of conjunctive method on the paragraph composition characterized by remit and receiving. Such are the particulars that present the significance of Lee's reading-by- writing theory, as well as the insight to his critical assessment on the Records of the Great Historian.