고양이 상징성 연구

Abstract

In this study, we examined the biological characteristics of cats, looked at the symbolism of Korean classics, folk tales, myths, and religions, and explored the symbolic meaning of cats in adult women's sand play cases. Cats have symbolism of divinity, agility, righteousness, luck, femininity, longevity, healer, independence, and freedom, and are expressed as various symbols in the sand play box, and in this study, three women were examined. First, women in their 30s who needed to restore femininity solved emotional problems that had long been built up through the rite of passage, and women in their 40s became confident that they could do it on their own without relying on others, expressing feelings that had been suppressed in the process of all decisions being dictated by their parents and sisters. Women in their 50s who are experiencing a crisis in middle age showed the process of individualization by solving undifferentiated femininity and going their own way. Based on the research results, there is a limit to generalizing to various age groups, but it has shown commonality of restoring femininity and is meaningful in helping to understand cat symbolism in general.