쥬봉젼 硏究 - 崔尉子傳의 영향관계를 중심으로 -

A Study on Joobongjeon( 쥬봉젼)

Joobonyjeon(쥬봉젼) is a classical novel written in actual handwriting in the late period of Chosun(朝鮮). As the work has not been discussed among the critics until now, the writer or the date of appearance is still questionable. Several researchers claim that the work might be the product in the late period of Chosun, because they found the works like, Wolbonggi(月峰記), Sohakrqjeon(蘇學士傳), Wolbongsangi(月峰山記), Gangneunchuwol(江陵秋月), Ocksojeon(玉簫傳), Bonghwanggeum(鳳凰琴) were read a lot among the ordinary people in those days. Also the handwriting version as well as printed version or wood-carved version a way of publication was used commonly in literary works. The story of Joobongeon is very similar to a short novel Choiwijajeon(崔尉子傳) in the anthology of Taepyounggwanggi(太平廣記.) which was very popular among the educated civilians in that period. Some researchers argue that the work might have been influenced by novels like Gangneungcbuwol, Ocksojeon, Bonghwanggeum that were much influenced by Chinese novels of the earlier period. The characteristic of the work is that the novel is composed of more numbers of characters than the Chinese novels. The organization of a complicated plot is very unique compared to the Chinese works. Happy ending is another characteristic in a literature of the time. This novels sends the Strong message of humane life that is emphasized on the morals and ethics of the period. Focused on the pure and virtuous life of a woman, Joobong's wife is quite different from women in Chinese literature. The philosophy of 'Everything ends with the rights' and 'Virtue praised, Vice punished' is what the readers should not neglect. Though the appearance of this literary work was influenced by the Chinese literature in the period above, the story was focused on the ideal way of human life. As was needed to educate the ordinary people for the real joy of life, the novel used Joobong and his wife a good example of a servant to the king and a part of a family.