물에 대한 기억과 그 문화 - 제주바다를 중심으로 -

Abstract

This paper examined memories about Jeju seawater and culture concerning the water. The seawater presented differently to Jeju islanders along with changing social circumstances. In Tamla age, Jeju seawater was a vividly open space. Until the early stage of Chosun period, the water was a place where diverse activities were freely made by islanders. Jeju seawater transformed into a closed space during the Incho period of Chosun by the embargo for people going to the mainland. The embargo appeared to smooth in the late period of Chosun. Such different experiences with Jeju seawater led to people perceiving the water in diverse ranged spectrums. Jeju seawater was identified holding two images to mainlanders. They were the images of both isolation and taoist hermit. Jeju was a harsh place of exile. The water itself was a thick bar. The punishment of exile to Jeju was among harshest damnations during Chosun period. Jeju was a closed place with tough seawater; accordingly, mainlanders found it difficult to travel to Jeju safely and conveniently. Concerning this, Jeju was often represented a place of taoist hermit with Halla Mt. It can be said that the dual aspects of isolation and taoist hermit are eventually social constructions that are presented by hostile sea water of Jeju. Jeju seawater was a place where islanders could not leave but to live with even if the water was tough and harsh. In Jeju, male islanders made a return trip to the mainland through seawater in order to pay a tribute, to do an exam for government posts, and to sell things. Drifting in seawater was not a strange event. Rather it was an experience very commonly and frequently made for islanders. Drifting brought some people to become a devoted son and a virtuous woman. Women divers wandered through under seawater land in order to find seawater goods to pay a tribute. It can be assumed that Jeju seawater was a very painful place to them. Even if so, the water was a place where intense fight for survival was made by islanders and could not be avoided by them. This paper also provided memories regarding soft water of Jeju. As most of Jeju city is geographically conditioned with dry streams, people had to collect soft water and flow-out water. For this, water basket (called mulheobuk in Jeju island dialect) was used very efficiently. However, to bring soft water many miles to home with the basket was a harsh work for both male and female islanders. Jeju is lacked of enough fresh water so that cultivating rice was very difficult. While the memories regarding reservoirs were uncommonly observed, such memories are quite unusual in Jeju as people in Jeju mostly did dry-field farming. In Jeju, water was not only a life space but also the source of life. It has now turned into a cultural space. It is a time to reflect upon such change in perceptions about water.