근대 이후 사육신에 대한 斷續적 기억과 詩歌에서의 수용 양상

Abstract

This study is aimed to explore the process of changing concepts of Sayukshin(the six martyred scholar-officials) in the beginning of the modern era and the aspects of its acceptance reflected in classical poetry of that period. In other words, the purpose of this study is to examine a way of shedding new light on the loyalty of Sayukshin who had already established themselves as true loyal vassals at a time when Choseon dynasty was collapsed and its sovereignty was violated. After the modern era, the way of recognizing Sayukshin as loyal vassals had changed compared with that of the pre-modern period considering the subject and the object of loyalty. In the pre-modern period when the positions of loyal vassals were mainly secured by royal authority, subjects were demanded to be loyal to the king. After the modern era when the concept of a nation-state was established, the nation and its people became the object of loyalty mainly due to a renewed appreciation of Sayukshin sacrificed for the nation and its people. Sayukshin has appeared in both classical poetry and Sijo which were produced since the 20th century though Sayukshin was not directly described as figures sacrificing for the nation and its people. However, when literary works are interpreted, a variety of contextual elements should be considered including their rhetorical and aesthetical characteristics. In particular, the historical context of creating literary works often provides the comprehension of the works with the important guidelines especially in the case of poetry implying its meanings connotatively. Then, the interpretation of Sayukshin appearing in classical poetry produced after 20th century should be made in the context of altered memories of Sayukshin. In a critical situation of Japanese invasion, this interpretation was a way of boosting royalty to the nation and its people. Therefore, it’s obvious that the death of Sayukshin must have been recognised as true loyalty to the nation and its people.