한·중 1920년대 자연시에 나타난 생태적 사상 ― 김소월과 쉬쯔무어(徐志摩)를 중심으로

Abstract

This paper examines the ideological ideas contained in the poems of Kim So Wol and Xu Zhimo, both of whom were important figures in, respectively, the Korean and Chinese literary circles of the 1920’s. Although both of them were influenced by the Romantic Movement, their understandings of nature were decidedly Eastern. Most notably, the awareness that nature is the mother of humankind and the idea of being one with nature are two main ideas that pervade their poems. Both poets shared the opinion that modern civilization acts as a significant obstacle that continually estranges humans from nature. Although modern civilization appears glamorous on the surface, it has exceedingly negative implications. Both poets fulminate against modern civilization’s pernicious implications vis-à-vis nature. In Kim So Wol’s poems, Korean people suffer and nature loses its radiance as Korea is dominated by empires. Xu Zhimo, on the other hand, laments that the spirit of modern people has been corrupted by civilization. As a remedy, Kim So Wol asserts that the only way to relieve people and to restore nature to its former beauty is to bring an end to dominate-subordinate relationships. Thus in his poems it is quite clear that the poetic narrator can never be one with nature. By contrast, Xu Zhimo suggests that the pernicious effects of modern civilization can be overcome by getting closer to nature with the aim of becoming one with nature, which would also to greater vitality. In short, both poets propose different methods for overcoming modern civilization and both methods can make a meaningful contribution to the dialogue that currently surrounds ecological issues.