인천지역 우물명칭설화 연구 - 구전설화를 중심으로 -

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify distribution status of wells in Incheon and classifies the well names related to these wells according to their tradition patterns and examines their meanings. According to research through existing literatures, there are 128 wells in Incheon – 26 in inland areas including Jung-gu, 102 in several islands and Ganghwa-gun – which means about 80% are located in islands. The number shown above, however, is not the actual number of wells in Incheon, which is due to concentration of researches on specific regions. The folktale that explains ‘the origin of the name of place, cure, praying for having baby, demoralization’ through a well is formed based on the experience that the folk tales group learned in everyday life. - 1) In the ‘Gureum-mol or Yeol-u-mul’, there are villages of which the names were originated from wells. This implies that the village community is identified with the well. 2) In the ‘BBaerun-mul’, it is because healing is a place where healing and spiritual power are provided to treat various diseases. 3) In the ‘Samshin Well’, the well is a space where Samsin resides, and it means the Samshin itself, and it is handed down mainly around the island area. 4) In ‘Munmu-jeong’, the social common idea that slander women’s sexual needs is revealed through the well. And, tales that explains ‘enthronement of King Cheol-jong, estimation of territory of Biryu-baekjae, foretoken of national crisis, Japanese Empire of land acceptance’ is based on the historical facts of Incheon. – 1) In ‘hwanghu-mul’, hwanghu means the king, which indirectly explains how the King Cheol-jong, who was exiled to Ganghwa-do, became the king. 2) In ‘Munhaksanjeong-u-mul’, they estimate that territory of Biryu-baekjae would be extended to Palmi-do based on the wells. 3) In the ‘Jaeunsa-u-mul’, the phenomenon of water being reversed is considered as a sign of a rebellion, relating abnormality of the wells to Sambyeolcho Rebellion of Korea Dynasty. 4) In the ‘Hang-dong Well’ shows the correlation between the haengju-type village and the well. At the end of the 1930’s a military base was built in Bupyeong, the cause of the disappearance of the village is looking from the well. In conclusion, wells not only supplied drinking water but were responsible for building culture in the past.