한․중 우렁각시 설화 속 각시의 신적(神的) 기능 재고(再考) -농신(農神)과 수신(水神) 기능 중심으로-

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to reconsider the divine function of a Ureonggaksi(snail bride) in the tale of Ureonggaksi in Korea and China. The study on the tale of Ureonggaksi in Korea has been developed through a comparative study with those in China. This was made possible because the tales of both countries share similar narratives and motifs. For this reason, most studies agree that the tale of Ureonggaksi was introduced from China, but there are also errors that have arisen from this. One of the errors is that the functions of the agricultural god and water god in the tale of Ureonggaksi in China are applied to the Korean Ureonggaksi. In China, the worship of a ureongi (river snail) totem and agricultural culture were combined, allowing a ureongi in rice paddies to be given the agricultural god and water god. On the other hand, although it is the same agricultural society, there is no worship of the ureongi totem in Korea, and there is no tradition of being friendly to a ureongi. For this reason, it is not appropriate to apply the functions of the agricultural god and water god in the tale of Ureonggaksi in China to the tale of Ureonggaksi in Korea. Furthermore, applying the functions of the agricultural god and water god for a large community such as a village or a nation to a Ureonggaksi who only uses ability in a home can exaggerate the function of a Ureonggaksi. Therefore, the agricultural god and water god in the tale of Ureonggaksi in Korea should be reconsidered. Through this, we will be able to better understand our unique traditions and culture that have been incorporated into the tale of Ureonggaksi in Korea.