尼山 南廷瓚의 삶과 지향 − 의령 사족으로서의 위상과 관련하여 −

Abstract

This paper aims to identify the life and literature characteristics of Nisan Nam Jung-Chan who is sajok in Uiryeong, Gyeongnam and Nam Jung Chan’s status in history of mentality of Gyeongham. The late 19th century to early 20th century when Nam Jung-Chan lived was a period of upheaval in history of Korea and also a period of transition of civilization. Korean studies in the 20th century have described the history of this period centering on the metadiscourse in central-Seoul region. But the recognition that this does not reflect the actuality of history wholly is now shared sufficiently. This is proven by the fact that‘regionalism’ or ‘locality’is now an important topic in Korean studies and being addressed as practical research topic. This paper is a result of the study sketching the history of mentality of Gyeongnam region based on such problem recognition. The main data is 『Nisan Collection』 published by Nam Jung-Chan’s descendants in Uiryeong in 1955. The main contents of the body are as follows. First, the chronicle of Nam Jung-Chan was briefly summarized as he was introduced in the academic world for the first time. The life of an intellectual who had lived the period of upheaval of Daehan Jeguk in Chosun was reconfigured. Next, the poems in 『Nisan Collection』 were analyzed. Especially this study focused on the space where he pursued and shared studies with teachers, friends, and juniors. The space that had an important meaning in his life included Sinanseosa(Danseong, Gyeongnam), hyanggyo of Uiryeong, Yuyeonjeong (Nam Jung-Chan’s private villa), and Gyeongmojae (community space for Uiryeong Nam family). In such spaces, Nam Jung-Chan professed Noron’s strong and conservative ‘confucian thought of righteousness’ and expressed his willingness for academic and ethical training to have dignity as sajok. He tried to do his duty as an intellectual in the region where he was living by utilizing academic, blood-related, and regional networks although he is alienated from the political and academic world of Central-Seoul. In late 19th century to early 20th century, sajok(or class that controlled farmers in rural community society in late Chosun Dynasty) in Youngnam region became alienated perfectly from the academic and political world in Central-Seoul after several serious political upheavals. Japan’s plot to invade the South Korea was realized and Chosun became the arena of the struggle among the external forces. Nam Jung-Chan kept his identity and family as sajok while living as an intellectual who adhered to the value of traditional era in Gyungnam region in that period and desperately tried to preserve the rural area that was his foundation of life. His literature shows this clearly.