시가(詩歌)와 수수께끼의 숫자 조합 방법 한일 비교

Abstract

This paper analyzes number combinations in number poems and riddles in Korea and Japan. The findings are as follows: First, in number poems, Korea has developed a number combination conscious of the one-to-one correspondence between two numbers and the arrangement of numbers. In contrast, Japan has developed more sophisticated number combinations that vary according to the pronunciation of the words being read. Korean number poetry focuses on pairing two interconnected numbers in terms of the overall structure. Chinese poetry’s antithesis and enumeration methods have impacted how Korean number poetry combines numbers. In Japan, however, the variety of number combinations is often due to the different pronunciations of a single number, leading to the creation of number-based riddles. Secondly, in the case of number riddles, Japan and Korea have developed number combinations using addition. However, riddles using multiplication are relatively more advanced in Japan. This phenomenon can be attributed to the tradition of “Man’yōgana”(万葉仮名), which involves a significant degree of linguistic play with multiplication. In Japan, where complex multiplication calculations were required for currency exchange in octal, decimal, and hexadecimal systems, the abacus and simple multiplication were essential. Japan’s tradition of linguistic playfulness and compounding explains the variety of combinations of addition and multiplication in poetry and riddles.