李家源≪春香歌≫之特色与成就(이가원 ≪춘향가≫의 특색과 성취)

Abstract

“Chunhyang” is a well-known literary masterpiece in Korea. Lee Gawon attached great importance to the research of “Chunhyang”, in addition to publishing a series of research papers, but also with three years to write a seven-word narrative poem which is “Song of Chunhyang”. However, little is known about it in China. “Song of Chunhyang” has 4,860 sentences and 34,020 words. It is a rare masterpiece in Chinese and Korean poetry circles. Its content is based on Wanxixi Bookshop’s edition of “Chunhyang”, while its form is changed from prose into verse, which is neither be original nor be translated. It rewrites the text of the novel in a very detailed and contrastive way, and retains the deleted plot dialogue of the Chinese version of the novel. It also digs deeply and remolds the cultural genes of “Chunhyang”’s story, which include the ancient and modern, integrate China and Korea, and convey elegance and popularity. In the process of translating the novel into seven-character narrative poems, Lee Gawon not only demonstrated his profound poetic attainments, but also embodied his ideological sustenance and cultural pursuit. With the magnificent style and rich content “Song of Chunhyang” is the master of the study of “Chunhyang”. And it is unique in the poetry circles of China and Korea. Beyond Lee Gawon’s erudite talents, his literary ideal which is imitating China and surpassing China, realizing the perfect combination of elegant literary form and local culture is more profound and precious.