中國 神話에 內在된 ‘中’ 思想 考察

Abstract

This thesis examines Chinese mythology in search of the original meaning of Chinese ‘Jung(中)’ thought(思想). The unprocessed, primitive ideas inherent in myths will show the essential characteristics of 'Jung(中)’ thought(思想)' without filtering. The etymology of the character ‘中’ goes back to 3,000 years ago. In Na Jin-ok(羅振玉)'s 『Eunheoseogyegoseok(殷墟書契考釋)』, flags fluttering in the wind in the shape of '' and '' were embodied. The shape of the character 'jung(中)' originates from the fact that the point where a flagpole [] was erected in the middle of the site to attract crowds meant the center, or the military flag representing the middle army(中軍) where the king stayed, or the shape of the bow piercing the center of the target. From the ancient prehistoric times to the Zhou(周) Dynasty, when Jung(中)’ thought(思想) first appeared, Chinese lived and settled in the Jung-Won(中原) where the Yellow River civilization originated. The center of the Yellow River civilization is the Loess Plateau. The Yellow River turns yellow as it passes through the Loess Plateau (made of loess). The Loess Plateau is the ‘mother of the Yellow River’ and becomes the center of Yellow River civilization. The Chinese regard the Loess Plateau, the center of civilization, as the center of the world, the root of their nation and their eternal home. Therefore, Hwang(黃) and To(土) of the Loess Plateau are placed in the center, which is the standard of the Five Elements, and the area of ​​the Loess Plateau in the Yellow River basin is called the 'Jung-Won(中原)'. If this 'Jung-Won(中原)' is a spatial concept, cultural expression is 'Jung-Hwa(中華)', which is the center of a civilization that blossomed in a brilliant culture, and makes Chinese people have Jung(中)’ thought(思想). Another reason why Jung(中)’ thought(思想) was able to take its place as the main ideology of the Chinese people was largely influenced by the topographical influence centered on the place where the Yellow River civilization developed. These Jung(中)’ thought(思想), together with the Jung(中) concept of the Five Elements, developed into core Chinese ideologies, expanded beyond the material world to the cognitive world, and spread to East Asia. In this paper, I looked into the original meaning of 'Jung(中)' inherent in Chinese mythology in search of the original meaning of this Jung(中)’ thought(思想). Summarizing the contents of the consideration, first, in the creation myth, 'hondon(混沌)' shows signs of creation in the 'Jung(中)' from the chaos(無極), and humans are created in the 'center(中心)', the most harmonious place of yin and yang. And all things are created by humans at the center(中心). Second, in the creation myth, the direction comes from the Five Mountains[五嶽] made from the body of Ban-Go(盤古). The hwangje(黃帝) is the king of the center(中心=yellow=center) and governs the central region. The center dynamically changes and relates to the surroundings. The first element of human survival was land[土]. Therefore, the soil[土] is placed in the center, and the land god Huto(后土) is also placed in the center. The direction is based on Hwang (黃) = Earth (土) = Farming(稼穡). Third, Mt. Kunlun(崑崙) and Geonmok(建木) in myths are located at the center of the world as a heavenly pillar[天柱] connecting heaven and earth. Through the heavenly pillar[天柱], the center of the world, heaven, earth, and human beings [三才] are connected. ‘Cheoljicheontong(絶地天通)’, which means to sever this connection connecting heaven and earth, is not that the relationship between heaven and earth is completely severed, but is a space that gives meaning between heaven and earth, and the shaman plays the role of connecting the space of meaning. The meaning of the heavenly pillar[天柱] that connects heaven and earth and the meaning of the space created by Cheoljicheontong(絶地天通) is handed down as the idea of ​​the unity of heaven, earth and human beings, the mandate of heaven[天命], and the ritual of heaven[祭天]. In summary, Chinese mythology takes Yellow(黃) = Earth(土) = Human beings = Farming[稼穡] as 'Jung(中)'. Human beings are created from the ‘Jung(中)’ as Hwangto(黃土), and the heavens, the earth and the human are related and changed through the ‘Jung(中)’. As such a mythological attribute, the concept of 'Jung(中)' is revealed and developed as China's core ideology through maturation of a long prehistoric period.