조선시대 편지[簡柱}의 문화사적 의의

A Study on the Traditional Letter[khan-chal] of the Koreans

This study is about the signifi，næ of the traditiona1 correspondence in the Choson Dynasty frorn the cultura1 historica1 point of view. Writings in the Choson Dynasty are the best data with which we can cornprehend the culture of the tirne as well as the writers lifestyles and thoughts in their daily life. Sorne letters were colleαed and compiled in a book, but there were a lot which were not induded. Those not included have great significance because they conin abundant detail about that period, induding socia1 history and cultura1 history which we can ’ t find in collections of officia1 letters. And they are a1so less distorted and affected. Traditiona1 ligraphy is a specific art form which was handed down by intelligent people who were influenced by Chinese culture. Ca1ligraphy in the letters(Khan-cha1 Seoye) is an important part in caraphi histmγ when we look at the remains and characteristics of ca11igraphica1 works in Korea today. Because of the author’s frequent experiences in ca1ligraphy writing, they felt free to express themselves, their persona1ities and knowledge, and this they natura11y reflected(unintentiona11y) in the descriptive nature of the letters. Therefore a lot of them are esteemed as wonderful works today. The wri that was url was of high qity and decorated in various ways with wαx:l-engrlings， and it was ca11ed ’Si - Jeon-Ji’. ’Syul ’ (a kind of signature) was our own unique cu1tura1 signure and represented αedence on an envelope with a s얹ling stamp, and for a fonnality it was put on a Ietter as an exclusive (Seo-gan-in). Letters written in Chinese ca1ligraphy were not only used in ordinarγ correspondence which showed the culture in daily life but aso they contained the life, education, and thought of authors. In addition, we can observe the person’s cultura1 appreciation and style of that time through the handwriting and format of the letters. Letters ca11ed Khan-ch have va1ue as relics which are handed down in the farnily as an authoritative work. They have been memoria1ized as a gracefuI handwork of ancestors. It is considered a necessity to study them( Khan-ch): a) as a part of cultural history (to gain an overall view of the culture, since the everyday life was reflected in the letters), b) as calligraphy works, and c) as the first historical data.