도조지(道成寺)문예의 여성표상 - 구제(救濟)의 논리와 그 변화과정에 초점을 맞추어 -

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the social representation of women in the Dojoji literature in Japan. For this reason, we selected 10 works and examined the changes in female characters by genre and the symbolism of the name “Kiyohime.” In pre‐modern works, the heroine, who was only described as a subject of passive salvation by men, changes after the early modern times. In other words, with the addition of a certain amount of attachment and anger, it evolves into a leading figure that restores self‐consciousness and transforms itself into the direction of salvation. On the other hand, the name “Kiyohime” of the female protagonist first appeared in the work “Dojojigenzaizyauroko” in the middle Edo period. Kiyohime, who was described as an evil woman who kills a man with attachment and anger in her previous work, gives up her life on behalf of her lover and bears the disgrace of being an evil woman. Here, unlike the story of the past, Kiyohime gains dignity and sacredness by abandoning her life. Such changes in the female character are expressed through the name “Kiyo”, which symbolizes sacrifice, purification, and awakening. After all, Kiyohime, the heroine of Dojoji literary arts, rescues himself through the sacrifice for others and the awakening of self‐consciousness from the object of salvation obtained only by the power of men and religion.