韓 · 中小說의 比較硏究 (其三) : 艶情小說과 金瓶梅

Abstract

The aim of the present thesis is to examine the relationship held by scholars to exist between the Korean novel of love in the Yi dynasty and Chin Ping Meh as a part of a comparative study of the Korean and the Chinese novels. Through this study· the writer has tried to trace uniformities and similarities between the two in terms of characters, plot and theme. The result of this study is summarised as follows: 1) The artistic value of Chin Ping Meh, a representative work in the Ming dynasty has highly been evaluated for the past years due to its realistic depiction of the social life in that period and dearing representation of love scenes. This novel, however, has not been read widely among the public because the circulation of this novel has long been prohibited for its pornographic character. 2) A possible approach to this novel may be focused upon the theme of the transiency of life disclosed by the plot of this novel as the disorderly manner of life lead by the protagonist Sea Mun-Gyeong and his six wives finally brings bankrupt and ruin to them. 3) In the Korean novel of love an ethical value is highly cherished. Usually the novel begins with an assumption that the bond between lovers, a young man of wit and a fair lady, has already been predestinated by Providence. Therefore they continue their love with mutual confidence overcoming all hardships. 4) It seems that Ching Ping Meh has no consistent influence whatever on the Korean novel of love in terms of characters, plot, and theme. 5) As far as the present study has been concerned, there are few similarities in plot between Chin Ping Meh and the Korean novel of love except an affinity between the scene of revenge in Sugyeong-nangja-jeon and the murder scene of Pangeumryon and Wangpa in Ching Ping Meh. 6) The descriptions of love scenes in Chunhyang-jeon and in Chiη Ping Meh are perhaps related each other in some respect. 7) Since there lies a fundamental difference between Chiη Ping Meh and the Korean novel of love in the Yi dynasty in subject matters as well as in theme, future studies in this particular field ought to include some other Korean works dealing with the problems of social life,sexual pleasure and the transiency of life. 8) The scarcity of influence on the Korean novel of love from Chin Ping Meh may be ascribable to the fact that the circulation of the latter has long been prohibited and that the Yi dynasty traditionally lay a great emphasis on moral virtues.