『八仙得道傳』을 통해 본 龍의 상징성 및 지향성- 榮, 和, 勇의 의미를 중심으로

Abstract

Wuhudaoren, a writer of The story on the enlightenment of the Eight Immortals, states in its preface that it is a duty of the follower to search the situation of cultivation of the previous ones who went on to seek for Tao. In this book, while depicting the process of becoming Immortals overcoming various difficulties, it begins the story with the tale of dragon. Here, the process of becoming Immortals is mainly developed in the region of governing area of dragon. Further, in relation to the fact that dragon is recognized as aquatic being while having a close relationship to water, two points are directly linked to the meaning of dragon’s characteristics. The first one is on becoming Immortals through the transformation of aquatic creatures into man. The second is on the old tale of reemergence as Immortals gaining a new life after throwing oneself into the sea in the process of overcoming difficulties to become Immortals. Dragon simultaneously contains positive and negative meaning. In all, the meaning of glory and disgrace, harmony and contention, courage and fear enrich the contents of The story of enlightenment of the Eight Immortals, entangled with various process into becoming Immortals. Yet, the religious character of The story of enlightenment of the Eight Immortals has a characteristic to give prominence to positivistic aspect through containing instructive thought while suggesting the conflicting meaning on dragon’s characteristics. In sum, the meaning of disgrace, harmony and courage emphasized in he story of enlightenment of the Eight Immortals reveals the religious value achieving harmony with mmortal’s old tales.