『山海經』의 상징체계와 그 의의

The System of Symbols in Shan-Hai-Jing and Its Significance

Today, ‘the restoration of imaginary world’ and ‘the restoration of myth’ are keeping pace with the reflection on the modern reasons of the West. Nowadays, a series of discussions related to the restoration are in progress. Moreover, the discussions are dealing with 'post-modernism against modernism’, ‘magic against science’ and ‘imaginary world against real world’. However, I proposed the question whether there are striking boundaries between two totally different areas and the reexamination of the system of symbols in Shan-hai-Jing would be the key role to solve the question. Various kinds of arguments on the character of Shan-hai-Jing as a text are the clear examples of showing its ambiguity and polysemy, which resulted from the unique system of symbols in Shan-hai-Jing. To prove the absence of actual boundaries between imaginary world and real world, I analysed the system in three different aspects: 1) complex symbols, 2) different people in distant places, 3) categories of discourse and character of knowledge to be handed down. Overall, the characteristic of the system of symbols in Shan-hai-Jing is the combination of imaginary world and real world, the dissolution of imaginary world into real world, which is not merely as a fountain of Gnos but also as a record of Logos having a quality of Mithos to be inherited. Shan-hai-Jing will show us the magic world of ancient times in which magic and daily life were not noticeably distinguished. As a result, Shan-hai-Jing will enlarge our views and recognition of the world in which we are living.