洪顯周 詩 세계의 一端 : 불교적 사유를 중심으로

Abstract

Hong Hyun-joo(洪顯周), a person of the Poongsan(豊山) Hong(洪) clan which was a representative Kyounghwa sejok(京華世族) of the 19th century Joseon, was a poet who played an important role in Joseon poetical circles and social intercourse with the Qing literary men. This paper will discuss the development of his Buddhistic thought appeared in his poems in an attempt to examine his overall literary world. Hong Hyun-joo became a son-in-law of King Jeong- jo(正祖) at the age of 12. He tried to overcome his inner conflict caused by his status of a son-in-law of the king through the way of contemplating his own destiny. Also, the relation with Shin Wui(申緯) lead him to be interested in Buddhism. In his thirties, Hong Hyun-joo was drawn to the teaching of Buddha by understanding of illusion, which led to his recognition of the frailty of human life. He would overcome a feeling of vanity through the idea of emptiness(空), and as a result, in his forties, he wrote many poems in which the ecstasy(法悅) from learning the idea of emptiness was described. It is found that he reached the stage of self-satisfaction which means he could recognize his place as a paradise, starting in his fifties. In conclusion, this process of overcoming inner conflict through the teaching of Buddha and acquiring the self-contented attitude can be said as an important aspect of Hong Hyun-joo’ poems. Furthermore, this analysis can provide an example of the 19th Kyounghwa sejok’s way of accepting Buddhism and using it in writing.