日象文을 통해 본 고려시대의 역사 계승 의식

Spirit of historical succession of Koryeo indicated by solar patterns

Among solar patterns of Korea, those developed during the era of Koryeo were examined and, based on this, changes in the universal view and spirit of historical succession of Koryeo were discussed according to the phases of the times. The reason solar patterns were discussed in connection to universal view was because the sun had been regarded as the symbol of governance to identify the universal view and, accordingly, it had been used as the symbol of royal authority. At the same time, the spirit of historical succession during the era of Koryeo was discussed by examining solar patterns. This was because the ‘three-legged bird in the sun’ was recognized as a mark symbolizing Koguryeo and, since Koryeo was a country founded by advocating the spirit of succeeding to Koguryeo, the mutual relevance could be derived by examining how the profound bird (three-legged bird) among all solar patterns of Koryeo was expressed. To discuss the solar patterns of Koryeo, first, the types of solar patterns were classified and then characteristics of solar pattern styles per period were examined. Through this, the universal view of Koryeo and its relevance to the spirit of historical succession were discussed. Based on the solar patterns from the ancient tomb murals of Koguryeo during which solar patterns were first introduced into Korea, solar pattern types were classified into i) type Ⅰ [Profound bird (three-legged bird) standing with wings folded inside a circle], ii) type Ⅱ [Profound bird (three-legged bird) standing with wings spread inside a circle], iii) type Ⅲ [[Profound bird flying off with wings spread inside a circle] and iv) type Ⅳ [solar pattern consists of a circle]. For style characteristics of solar patterns per period and the spirit of historical succession and the universal view indicated by solar patterns, discussion was made in terms of 1. South - North states ～ early years of Koryeo, 2. Invasion by the Kitan ～ before introduction of metal, 3. Introduction of metal ～ before the war of the military officials, 4. Seizure of power by the military and 5. Period of interference by Won, China. The time classification as such was to consider domestic and international circumstances at the time and therefore the position of Koryeo and changes in awareness. The result indicated that solar pattern consists of a shape of the sun and profound bird reflecting the tradition of solar patterns from Koguryeo was mainly expressed during the period in which Koryeo’s autonomy and spirit of succeeding to Koguryeo were enhanced. On the other hand, the type Ⅳ solar pattern consists with a circle was mainly expressed when there was the pro-Shilla tendency or the spirit of autonomy was weakened. In particular, solar pattern consists with a shape of the sun and profound bird frequently appeared during the times of national difficulties, such as invasion by the Kitan, strife against Mongolia and the period of interference by Won, China. As the sun was identified not simply as a symbol of yang (bright positive masculine principle), but as a subject of perpetuity with repetition of life and death by drawing a black bird, such as a crow, signifying death inside a circle of the red sun symbolizing life, this solar pattern with a shape of the sun and profound bird is considered to have symbolized the message of hope that the time of brightness would come after the phase of difficulties caused by political disorder and national crisis.