漢詩를 통한 서울의 도교문화 玩賞 - 조선 전기 사대부의 한시에 나타난 昭格殿의 情景을 중심으로

Abstract

This essay deals with ‘the transcendental unity of subject and object’ of the Taoist monastery and their related sites located in Han-yang, the capital during the Jo-seon dynasty. During the early period of the Jo-seon dynasty, ritual Taoism and internal alchemistic Taoism existed in harmony, and the Taoist internal alchemy and literature still kept their traditions until the mid and late periods. In addition, we find a surprising fact through the examination of the classical verses composed by several famous Confucianists: that they personally showed a favorable attitude, or, at least, not exclusiveness, to Taoism at that time. Most historic sites and heritages of the ritual Taoism of the Jo-seon dynasty are concentrated in Seoul. In studying the history of Seoul, however, the excavation and research of the Taoist ruins in the present time have been noticeably disregarded in comparison with the research of Confucianism and Buddhism in the same area. In order to produce a well-balanced image of Seoul in the sphere of our traditional and philosophical thought and culture, the research of the essence of ritual Taoism should be considered comprehensively from all viewpoints and in the various fields. The feelings of our ancestors stimulated by the scenery of the two representative Taoist monasteries, So-gyeok-joen and Sam-chung-jeon, which were the centers of the ritual Taoism of the Jo-seon dynasty, has survived in the classical verses. 'The transcendental unity of subject and object' of the Taoist monasteries expressed in the classical verses reveals that the aspects of both the real world and the ideal world are unified in human's perfect devotion. Through the appreciation of 'the transcendental unity of subject and object' expressed in the classical verses, we can develop another 'the transcendental unity of subject and object' for ourselves. Nowadays, the imagination of human beings, focusing on the pursuit of sensual pleasures, has degenerated into being the cause of various conflicts in society instead of being the origin of real happiness. Thus, I can confirm that if we can erect a monument of the classical verses possessing the Taoist spirits of the Jo-seon dynasty in the Sam-chung Park and can appreciate them, it will provide us a great benefit of learning a desirable imagination to cultivate our ancestors' spirits such as an open-mind, free-will, and harmony.