韓國的 Geomentality에 대하여

Abstract

Geomentality may be defined as an established manner (mentality) or taken-for-granted way of cognising the environment which conditions the relationships between humanity and nature. It os the mentality, held by a group of people or an individual, regarding the geographical environment.

This concept of geomentality is based on the premises that (1) geomentality is a part of the mentality as a whole and (2) a pattern of human behaviour is the the reflection of, and is controlled by, a certain mentality. The concept of geomentality, which is lasting and established state of mind regarding land, has advantages over other concepts such as worldview, environmental perception and mental map in explaining cultural geographic phenomena. Geomentality is not limited to measuring residential preferences which dominates the mental map approach; it does not include whimsical views or carelessly expressed views as in the environmental perception approach; it is not concerned with phenomena which are remotely

related to geographical phenomena as in the worldview concept. Geomancy (feng-shui) has certainly been the most important factor in forming the Korean geomentality. Geomancy has greatly influenced the geographical behaviour of Koreans and the Korean cultural landsca pe.

The traditional Korean geomentality which is based on geomancy is being rapidly replaced by a modern one based on capitalism, functionalism and westernism (desire to be westernised).