명 제국의 邊境 기록에 재현된 시간과 타자 - ≪廣志繹≫을 중심으로

Abstract

This paper described the way Ming Empire reproduced nature, people, and phenomena of southwest frontier regions and made up the discourse at that times, focusing on Guangzhiyi(≪廣志繹≫)(1597), the book of travels of Wang Shixing(王士性, 1546-1598), government official and literary man in the late Ming Dynasty. In The late Ming dynasty, many frontier records were published. At that time, large parts of southwest regions were under indirect reign by local leaders rather than direct reign by the Empire government. In addition, It was also quite noticeable time of intellectual trend with an emphasis on experience such as expansion of travel culture, prevalence of study of nature, etc. Wang Shixing was describing the natural environment of southwest region with a fairly neutral and scientific attitude at first glance, but at some point, this ‘scientific geography’ sometimes constituted ‘imaginary geography.’ Through this, frontier was converted to ‘alien land.’ In particular, women in the region was reproduced into very unrealistic and evil femme fatale. Behind the scene of ‘imaginary geography’, there was ‘moral geography’ signifying the whole land as well as frontier regions as immoral and inferior place. In the eyes of the Ming Empire, the people of the land was still depicted to live in a contemporary but remain in the past culturally. This “the denial of coevalness” was very intensely expressed not only in Guangzhiyi but also in the majority of frontier record. Through the “the denial of coevalness” observers of the Empire suggested that the local people could not have any change and any history in their lives and they were part of nature lying in the space like plants and animals. To Chinese officials such as Wang Shixing, frontier space and people there were not the subjects assimilated through enlightenment, but just quaint alien land and alien things. This exclusive and internal-oriented trend reflect the anxiety and desire of intellectuals at the time who had to face the ideological cracks and hierarchy flowability in the late Ming society.