환생복수서사의 허구적 진실과 소설의 윤리－≪태평광기≫ ‘보응편’을 중심으로－

Abstract

Historical and fictional narratives have coexisted and told stories of human lives throughout all ages. Therefore, the issue is not about having one of them replace the other, but about recognizing differences between them and having productive talks, to have them produce a synergy effect. “Virtual reality” shown in fictional narratives is an extremely different and amazing world or an imaginary world, which has been with humans in the form of dreams since the beginning of the world when humans lived in an inadequate and unstable reality. Rebirth and revenge stories have a common plot in which a character lives a seemingly predestined life through rebirth resulting from the karma of the former life and the law of causality. In particular, unlike historical narratives recording “what happened in reality” to historical figures, fictional narratives recording “what might have happened” to them use bizarre virtual reality to desperately suggest alternatives regarding the reality where justice is not protected. That is, they suggest the principle of retribution: goods deeds will be rewarded with good results and bad deeds with bad results. Although the concept of retribution originates from the religious doctrines of Buddhism, it is already accepted as a general truth by a majority of people through novels, a type of fictional narratives. The concept of retribution affects people more practically and strongly than any provision of law codes or any ethics in scriptures. It has become an unwritten law that bad deeds will be paid for in the next life if not made up for in this life. This can be said to be the ethics of novels and a fictional truth.