先秦時期 蘭의 儒家 象徵 考察

Abstract

This paper analyzes the meaning and symbol of Orchids in the works of Pre-Qin period(先秦時期) confucian Confucius(孔子) and Quan(屈原). The ancient Orchids helped the human body with the drug that removes the poison, and the belief that the drug will remove the evil and give the auspiciousness increases, and the function is strengthened. And Orchids become a confucian symbol by Confucius and Quan as they affect human emotions and aesthetics. Traditionally, the orchid served as a theme for poetry and paintings practiced and appreciated by people of various social classes ranging from the king to the royal family, the gentry, the middle class, state-hired painters, Buddhist monks and gisaeng. The gentry, the major creators of orchids, aimed to be ‘Gentlemen (君子)’, the ideal personality of their Confucian philosophy. Above all, they tried to follow the example of Confucius and Qu Yuan, who were the eminent figures of Confucianism pursuing the Principle of Heaven(道) and the Virtue(德). The gentry personified and internalized orchids embodying the spirit of the plant that they tried to achieve and sought comfort in it. As Confucianism became the ruling ideology of nation, orchids acquired a Confucian meaning to signify morality, leading to the development of Confucius’ Orchids standing for Gentleman, Qu Yuan’s Orchids for fidelity orchids materializing the image of loyalty(忠). Verses on orchids(猗蘭操) from the Analects rendered orchid-related symbol and metaphor like gentleman, ‘geumnanjigyo(金蘭之交)’, and ‘gonggokyuran(空谷幽蘭)’. Li Sao(離騷) and Nine Songs(九歌) by Qu Yuan from Verses of Chu(楚辭) gives a hint on the status of growing orchids and the symbol of loyalty and Chopae(紉佩).