『토지』에 나타난 동학과 지리산 모임의 성격 변화 연구

Abstract

This article examines the characteristics of a total of four ‘Mt. Jirisan gatherings’ in Park Kyong-ni’s Toji, and based on this, analyzes what kind of narrative function each Mt. Jirisan meeting performs throughout the work. Through this, it was intended to reveal that their activities are functioning in a complex way to reveal the theme of the work, the survival of the nation, beyond the regional medium of ‘Mt. Jiri’. The first Jirisan meeting was organized for the private purpose of hiding the fact that Yoon was pregnant. Although they were of different social status and religion, they gathered with the single-mindedness of saving lives. Thanks to their activities, Kim Hwan was born and Yoon was able to continue his life. The 2nd Jirisan Meeting was a righteous army group led by Huh Yun-bo. They showed their collective and national aspirations better than before in that they killed Jo Jun-gu and tried to fight against the Japanese. If the first Jirisan gathering is a personal narrative based on personal affections and interests, the second Jirisan gathering is a collective narrative revealing everyone's aspirations to protect the village. The 3rd Jirisan meeting was formed with Kim Hwan and Donghak remnants at the center. They acted in a way that cracked Japan’s colonial strategy by giving a blow to the Hwajeokpae, a degenerated righteous army, rather than directly confronting Japan. Their activities function as a narrative of erasing regret for the failure of the Donghak Peasant War. The 4th Jirisan gathering is newly organized when Kim Gil-sang announces the dissolution of the Jirisan gathering. As a result, the Jirisan gathering is freed from its identity as a descendant of Donghak, and rather more diverse ethnic members participate. Religious narratives based on Donghak or Confucianism were finally integrated into ethnic narratives. All of the Jirisan group in the work are directly or indirectly connected with ‘Donghak’. Although the Donghak Peasant War in 1894 failed, the spirit of Donghak to overthrow social contradictions has continued throughout our modern history, interacting with various religions and ideologies. The Jirisan group in the work tells us that it has progressed toward concrete practice for social change. In the process, Donghak was able to merge with more religions and ideas while gradually fading his religious colors.