한글박물관본 『명주기봉』의 서민층 향유양상 연구

Abstract

After reviewing manuscripts and collections of the Hangeul Museum, we were able to observe the situation that Myeongjukibong had been read by the common people, chiefly by women, from the middle of the 19th century to the early 20th century. And this expansion of the reading public had set off differences on the method of description of novels. The Hangeul Museum version Myeongjukibong has many condensed parts and easily described Sino-Korean words differently with the Nakseonjae version. This aspect is important not only for the study on Myeongjukibong itself, but also for the entire study of river novels. Although the fact that Myeongjukibong had been read from the middle of the 19th century to the early 20th century was known but we could not clearly identify the specific aspects, and moreover to ascertain that it was read by the common people was impossible. Of course we were able to see Myeongjukibong in the list of rental books and know it had been read widely by public, nevertheless, these facts could not prove that this piece of work had been enjoyed by the common people. The different editions of Hangeul Museum version Myeongjukibong have important meaning in allowing to confirm that the novel had been widely read by the common people from the middle of the 19th century to the early 20th century. On the other hand, the aspect of enjoyment on the Hangeul Museum version Myeongjukibong are crucial for viewing the history of enjoyment on th entire river novels. And the Hangeul Museum versions show clearly that the class of readers of river novels spread down as the future generations go. Especially they are meaningful in a regard they ascertain that women were the main readers in lower class as it went in upper class.