정도전의 포은 시 비평과 그 의미- 「포은봉사고서(圃隱奉使藁序)」를 중심으로 -

Abstract

Poeun(圃隱), Jeong Mong-ju(鄭夢周, 1337∽1392) was considered to be the founder of Eastern Neo-Confucianism by the contemporary scholars. Sam-bong(三峯) Jeong Do-jeon(鄭道傳1342∽1398) was one of the most prominent scholars who best understood Poeun’s literature and studies. At the preface of Poeun’s poetry anthology published with the poems composed during his service in Ming at the age of 50 in 1386(禑王 12), Sambong mentioned Poeun’s artworks changed five times according to his academic advancement as follows. 1. Poeun’s poems well represented his fluent mastery of writing as a very brilliant and sharp young man so that nobody dared to confront him, but his poems got more merged as a result of constant practice. For instance, in the poem titled “I Lamented Chrysanthemums in the Garden in October” written a year before he started serving the government, he directly unfolded his acute spiritual feelings without literary rhetorics, while appreciating belated blooming chrysanthemums in October, one year after his passing the Gwageo(科擧) 2. His poems were the epitome of refined grace as they had been composed for 13 years when Poeun proposed the national agenda and embellished king’s instructions as a government official. In one of the exemplary poems Poeun wrote at the age 27 when he went to Jeongzu(定州) with Han Bang-sin(韓方信) as Han’s Jonsagwan(從事官) on Double Yang Day, he expressed his will to complete the rehabilitation of the holy men and to make a successful and ideal country by aiding King Gongmin who has been taking policies against Won. In another poem he wrote on Double Yang Day at the age of 31 at Myeongwonu(明遠樓) built by Youngju(榮州) governor Lee Yong(李容), in his home town Youngcheon(永川), he also embodied his will to make prosperous and peaceful country through enlightening folks with mores and preventing the influential aristocrats from plundering lands. 3. His poems written when he was exiled to Eonyang(彦陽) at the age of 39 to 40, even tough he encountered misfortunes, didn’t blame or resent anybody but showed tranquility of accepting his fate as providence. For example, in the poem written at the official residence in Uiseong(義城), after his release from exile at the age 40, he embodied his feelings settled for knowing his place of order with peaceful and calm words, watching all living things come to life in spring. 4. His poems composed at the age of 41 to 42, when he visited Japan as a delegate of Goryeo(高麗), were just and clear without any haste or frustration as he created diplomatic documents and enhanced national glory. As an example, in the poem “ I Wrote This Poem When I Served in Japan in Jeongsa(丁巳),” he embodied the governing will to stabilize the world by enlightening the Japanese which has not been free from primitive culture based on the thought of righteousness in Chunchu(春秋). 5. His poems created when he served in Ming three times were deep and profound, because of his enlarged experiences and knowledge. As an example, in the poem written when he went up Dagyeonu(多景樓) with Kim Gu-yong(金九容) at the age of 37, he embodied his will to realize his great spirit which he had acquired through life-long discipline of morality. In another poem composed at the age of 50 while he was waiting for meeting the emperor at the guesthouse in Nanjing(南京), he embodied his heavy responsibility and lofty spiritual world. As the above, Jeong Do-jeon recognized Poeun’s poetry as a model of Literature of Do, moral philosophy that was pursued by nobility and gentry class people who habituated and practiced Neo-Confucianism. This study would be meaningful in view of the fact that it has proved Poeun’s poetry was perceived as the epitome of ‘Enlightenment Literature’ by the contemporary literary scholars as well as he was considered to be the forefather of the Eastern Neo-Confucianism.