서울대 규장각 소장, 토정-약현 세책 고소설 연구

Abstract

This article considered the characteristics and status of six types of sechaek (book rental) old novels including Gwakhaeryongjeon, Geumhyangjeonggi, Gimhongjeon, Jeongeulseonjeon, Hwachungseonsaengjeon, and Hanhuryongjeon possessed as sechaek by the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies at Seoul National University. Until now, several institutions have been confirmed to possess sechaek old novels; however, Dongyang Books, Gyeongbuk Provincial College, Ewha Womans University, and Kyujanggak possess several types of sechaek old novels that were owned by specific sechaek stores. From this, it is noteworthy that the size and operation of sechaek stores, characteristics of sechaek, readers of sechaek, and the relationship between sechaek texts can be identified. In particular, sechaek old novels possessed by the Kyujanggak, which will be dealt with in this article, are quite advanced among sechaeks that have been confirmed to date in terms of the period of transcription. Also, of these old sechaek novels, “Kimhongjeon” and “Hanhuryongjeon” only exist at the Kyujanggak; while sechaeks with the same titles of “Gwakhaeryongjeon”, “Geumhyangjeonggi”, “Jeongeulseonjeon”, and “Hwachungseonsaengjeon” exist in sechaek stores in regions other than Seoul. This is very important because it means that it is possible to confirm detailed facts about the relationship among sechaek stores and mutual issues of sechaek texts. In summarizing what was discovered in this article, the original scripts of the printed books of “Gwakhaeryongjeon” and “Geumhyangjeonggi” were re-confirmed to be sechaek. Meanwhile, the original scripts of the printed books of “Jeongeulseonjeon” and “Hanhuryongjeon” appeared to be sechaek; however, unlike “Gwakhaeryongjeon” and “Geumhyangjeonggi”, they did not use sechaek as a script as they are. *** This phenomenon might have been caused by partial modification of the contents by printed book dealers or for publication after bringing another sechaek to another region even from the beginning. Through the two works, another process of the publication of sechaek and a printed book could be confirmed. Also, from the example of “Kimhongjeon”, it was also possible to confirm the case of giving 세 by dividing the book appropriately while copying the gyeongpanbon during the creation of sechaek at sechaek stores. Among sechaek old novels possessed by the Kyujanggak, the greatest issue is “Hwachungseonsaengjeon”. It is impossible to know whether this work also was largely rewritten actually by sechaek providers. The cause for this needs diverse examinations. Furthermore, it is possible to confirm through this book that the original script of the printed book is not necessarily sechaek, but it was created through various routes. As such, the six types of sechaek old novels are important materials that show the importance of research into sechaek. The problems reviewed in this article need further examination to extend their meaning in more detail through a close comparison with sechaeks possessed by other institutes. Through follow-up research, these problems may be complemented further.