18세기 우키요조시(浮世草子)로 보는 도시 상공인의 양상과 윤리(2) - 『쇼아킨도 세타이카타기(諸商人世帯形気)』를 중심으로 -

Abstract

The ethics of merchants in towns, as described in Ukiyozoushi, written from the latter half of the 17th century to the first half of the 18th century, converges on the notion of frugality. In the present study, I explore the image of merchant portrayed in Shoakindo Setaikatagi and the consciousness of the ethic underlying it. My analysis reveals that the traditional notions of honesty, diligence, “frugality,” and the like are considered valuable properties for merchants in Shoakindo Setaikatagi. On the other hand, “frugality” alone does not make merchants rich, and the story depicts those who tell a lie, resort to a fraud, and so on for their business. This indicates that a more extended version of the ethical concept is described in Shoakindo Setaikatagi than in Toseimimochi Dangi, but it would not be reasonable to assume that this contradicts the consciousness of ethics in Confucianism. As can be seen in its title and its theme, the focus of this literary work is on “diverse dispositions of various merchants.” This feature of the work reflects the nature of public novels for merchant class people, which lays emphasis upon various dispositions of merchants. In other words, the work, I argue, focuses on commercial profits and the styles of merchants’ life, rather than the Confucian ethic.