正祖의 文章觀에 대한 再考

A Reconsider on King Jeongjo s View of Writings

The present article deals with examination of view of writings by King Jeongjo who was known as a ruler with intellectual thirst during the latter part of Chosun Kingdom. The 18th century when King Jeongjo lived was the age when changes and reforms were demanded in all areas and new basis of literature started to be formed in line with such changes. The gentry literature prevalent during the time of Chosun Kingdom saw literature as a vessel of Tao or way of life. In other word, literature highly regarded realization of moral in place of pursuit of aesthetic sense. King Jeongjo sided with such conservative view of literature, emphasizing the consensus of Tao and literature in relationship of literature and way of life. In this sense, the Six Classics were counted as the best example of writings. They were believed to contain the true nature of benevolence, justice and moral, as well as spirit and reason that hailed the glorious reign of the country and were worthy of handing down to the future generations as a good example. King Jeongjo firmly believed that ups and downs of writings were closely connected with those of political reality and, on the ground of this firm belief, he approached to writings by connecting them with political power and reign from the perspective of ruler. He seriously worried over the trend of corrupting and degrading contemporary writings day by day and thus strongly exhorted to write genuine style of sentences. King Jeongjo selected the ancient texts of Tang and Song eight family writings as good samples of writing that could assist the plans of emperors and make possible to experience the spirit of a regime. King Jeongjo found particular pleasure in the ancient texts of Tang and Song eight family writings because he looked upon them as the means of preventing the decline of literary fashion and tide, restoring the genuineness of the beginning era of national foundation. In contrast, King Jeongjo owned a very negative view of novels and folklore literature. He particularly denunciated novels branding them as wanton writing that has nothing to do with administration. The reason for his view like this is originated not only from the literary style of the novels themselves but more from their contents. Most of them dealt with reflection of the then times when official discipline of the royal court went corrupt and the society as a whole became deteriorated. They also expressed negation of the existing establishments and advocated formation of the new class society. As a ruler, King Jeongjo had no other alternative but to criticize and tyrannize them. In sum, King Jeongjo s view of writings remained mostly within the frame of a rulers conservative standpoint.