『장자⋅내편』에 사용된 ‘化’ 字와 ‘變’ 字의 의미 분석

Abstract

When translating classical texts, dealing with similar vocabulary can be particularly perplexing. In Zhuangzi, the characters ‘化’ (hua) and ‘變’ (bian) pose such challenges. These two characters have similar meanings and are often used interchangeably. Consequently, when translating Zhuangzi into Korean, both characters are frequently rendered as “변화” (change) or “변하다” (to change). However, in Zhuangzi’s philosophy, the concepts of 化 and 變 are viewed differently, and there is a noticeable difference in the frequency of their usage in the text. In the Inner Chapters of Zhuangzi alone, the character 化 (hua) is used 28 times, while the character 變 (bian) appears only 5 times. This difference in frequency is significant, but there are also differences in their contextual usage. 化 is used to express changes in appearance, shifts in thoughts or emotions, changes according to the flow of nature, and the attitude towards these changes. Conversely, 變 is used to describe changes in emotions related to situations such as life and death. If this distinction is observed only in the Inner Chapters of Zhuangzi, it would illustrate the difference in writing between Zhuangzi and his later followers. However, if this characteristic is evident throughout the entire text of Zhuangzi, it suggests that we need to reconsider how to accurately convey the meanings of these two characters in translation.