중용의 문학치유적 고찰

Abstract

It is crucial to constantly manage mental health on a daily basis. Moreover, mental health has a close functional relation with the cultivation of the mind. Recently, the field of arts has attempted to heal the minds through multilateral approaches such as art therapy, music therapy, and forest therapy. The field of literature has also been gradually increasing its effect of healing through converged reciprocal action with contiguous genres as well as categorizing its function into various segments including Integrated Literature Therapy, Literature Therapy, and Poetry Therapy. With careful observation, it is clear that Oriental books are all about the mind. What especially stands out is the exceptional feature of precautionary management of the mental health unlike western remedies—such as in psychoanalytic therapy—which merely focus on post-treatments. It is never too much to put emphasis on the value of Moderation as the context for mental health. This is because Moderation is not just a simple understanding but a rite of passage to a profound realization. Moderation is one of the philosophical texts that represent Confucianism and a high-dimensional pivot of Orientalism connoted in one word. It is filled with epigrams in every line instructing the proper techniques of a harmonious mind. In other words, it is a repository of mental health that contains endless skills and values. However, in the field of mental healing—which is becoming a serious field necessary in today’s society—Orientalism is being disregarded, overpowered by western psychoanalytic therapy. Agonized over such phenomenon, I have highlighted the stature and value of Moderation as follows. First, Moderation is presented as a context of fundamental healing by diverting the attention towards western healing theory to Orientalism. Next, the healing feature of moderation is reviewed in the perspective of Literary Therapy, reinforcing the modern practicality of Moderation. In addition, a new path to mental health has been revealed by extending and improving the categories of therapy to a precautious and constant level, which currently stays at a mere responsive therapy to psychological wounds. These three points are the fruits I achieved through the research on Moderation, opening a new prospect on the field of Literary Therapy.