琉球 한문학의 성립배경

Abstract

It’s not uncertain when Chinese letters were introduced to Yugu(琉球) and when classical Chinese literature was formed in that region. However, researchers generally agree that it was around the 14th century. Three events, they say, made greatest contributions to the formation and development of classical Chinese literature in Yugu. One is the arrival of Japanese Buddhist monks, another is immigration by people of 36 last names who lived in Min, Fujian Province, China and the other, invasion by Sathuma Province, Japan. Chinese character and Gana letters were introduced to Yugu by Japanese Buddhist monks, Seongam(禪鑑) earliest, followed by Noejung Beopin(賴重法印) and Gae Eun(芥隱) in order who were 100 years away from each other. These monks not only propagated Buddhism, but also educated Chinese letters, contributing to the formation and development of classical Chinese literature in Yugu. Their accomplishments can be found in bell inscriptions and records that were made when they were working in Yugu. Another contribution to the classical Chinese literature of Yugu was the immigration of 36 last names from Min(閩), China. The time when they first came to Yugu is known as 1392, 1394 or 1396, but not certain. However, many researchers of Yugu assume that those immigrants first arrived earlier, or in 1372. The naturalized citizens took in charge of diplomatic documentation for Yugu based on the knowledge of classical Chinese literature that they had learned in their mother country. Confucianism was introduced to Yugu since Sathuma Province’s invasion. To govern Yugu, that province implemented a social status system, for which Confucianism was distributed. The Confucianism-based status system started with separation between the scholastic and the farming classes, generation of family genealogy and formation of clans. That system was completed in 1690 when Gyedojwa(系圖座) was established as a governmental agency of family genealogy management. Around that time, Confucian ideology and the consciousness of clanship became more an more prevalent across the scholastic class of Yugu, leading to the formation and development of classical Chinese literature in the region.