허버트 앨런 자일스의 『중국동화집(Chinese Fairy Tales)』(1911)을 통해 본 근대 초기 서양인들의 중국문화 이해의 양상

Abstract

This study examined two points under the theme of the compilation of Chinese folktales and fairytales in the early 20th century. First, a collection of Chinese narrative tales and fairytales compiled by Westerners in the early 20th century was catalogued, and the background of the compilation was analyzed. Missionaries, diplomats, and merchants who entered China in the early 20th century performed various Chinese writing activities to understand China and interact with the Chinese. Chinese folktales and fairy tales have been compiled dozens of times by Westerners from various occupational groups, including missionaries, diplomats, and writers, as they are concise and interesting literary genres. Some of them recorded the stories they heard themselves while staying in China, selected works from Chinese literary novels and literature narrative collections, and reconstructed the stories. Through the compilation of narrative and fairy tale books, they attempted to show that the Chinese live the same life as Westerners and have the same feelings, and to correct the distorted image that Westerners have of China. Second, the meaning of compilation was examined by analyzing the publishing process of Herbert Allen Giles' Chinese Fairy Tales(1911) and the literary character of the works. Giles compiled the Chinese Fairy Tales collection by re-creating the stories of Liaozhaizhiyi[Yojaejii], Xiyouji [Seoyugi], and Zhenzhongji[Chimjunggi], and a total of 12 other stories. The author satirized human stupidity through the story, conveyed the wisdom and lessons of life, and showed the aesthetics of humor through the story of Trickster. Additionally, the joy of the story was conveyed through divine sanctions, and the exchange between animals and plants and humans was discussed. In conclusion, Giles tried to show the colorful fun of Chinese fairytales through the compilation of Chinese Fairy Tales and to correct the distorted image that Westerners have of China.