明淸시기 才女文化의 한 표상― 《紅樓夢》 속의 詩社와 여성인물 小考

Abstract

In this paper various aspects and characteristics of feminine cultureof the Ming and the Qing Dynasty are explored and viewed throughDream of the Red Chamber, which was created in the mid-18th centuryduring the ruling of the Qing Dynasty. In the novel, female charactersare constantly portrayed and regarded as superior to male characters interms of intelligence, talents, character, and virtue. While malecharacters around Jia Baoyu from the Jia clan indulge themselves indebauchery and obscene life, female characters make a living andmanage the household instead, and their wide spectrum of abilities frommanaging the household affairs to an exceptional level of refinement anderudition in the arts and culture surpass that of male characters. Theirnoble nature also allows them to exhibit sympathy and compassiontowards the weak members of society with a great deal of generosity. Thegenesis of Dream of the Red Chamber is closely related to the flourishingfeminine culture of southern area, so-called ‘才女’(talented woman) to bespecific, during the late-Ming and early-Qing period. The feminineculture of southern area during the late-Ming and early-Qing periodprovided a meaningful and appropriate setting for the novel to acquireverisimilitude for everyday life and animated imagery of women,andphilogyny. The topography of the feminine culture during the Ming and theQing period is first examined in this paper. During this periodwomenstrictly and thoroughly learned Confucian values and standards with textbooks for women under the centralized and Confucian system ofgovernment. Therefore, chastity was demanded more strongly thananyother eras would have ever required, and in order to defend chastity, thesuicide rate of women increased dramatically. Meanwhile, new feminineculture called ‘The Culture of Talented Women’ began to expand,andparticularly during the late-Ming and early-Qing in southern area a newwave of feminine culture that puts emphasis on feminine knowledgebegan to grow and develop. Women demonstrated a versatile set ofqualities in writing poetry, calligraphy, and painting, and they alsoexpressed a strong desire to learn. Female artists during the period alsoestablished 詩社 and formed a sense of fellowship, but along the process,the idea of ‘女子無才是德’ (It is a virtue for a woman to lack talents)often became obstacles for many of the female artists. Female characters in Dream of the Red Chamber also form theirown poetry club and reveal their artistic talents through writing poetry.However, the imagery of ‘flower’ in their poems and activitiesforeshadows their tragic fate and short life in accordance withthe socialatmosphere of not favoring women to be gifted. This is one mainreasonwhy this novel is regarded as a successful symbol of ‘The Culture ofTalented Women’ for wonderfully reproducing the feminine culture of the early-Ming and late-Qing period.