‘明末小品’과 李贄散文의 ‘小品’적 특성 고찰

If proses, which comprise most of modern writings, are western essays, ‘Xiaopin’ would be the equivalent of that for Chinese literature. Although ‘Xiaopin’ is less popu lar than main stream literary work such as poetry, novels and plays, the Chinese ess ay has not only greatly influenced China, but also Chosun. The prose influenced man y Chosun writers such as Yeun-Am Pack Ji Won and was popular amongst various significant figures in the History of Korean-Chinse Literature. It later gave rise to th e restoration of literary style. Afterwards, Xiaopin attracted attention in modern China by Lin yu-tang and Luxun’s Controversy of Xiaopin. The Late Ming Essays were a unique prose during the Ming Dynasty which was brought forward by the era's dem ands for the new. The characteristics of the content of the Late Ming Essays were t he Pursuit of True Mind and Resistance whilst the characteristics of its form is that it was a free form of writing where there is a sense of humor or satire in the writin g and that it may even use profane language. Although the Late Ming Essays are ge nerally known to have begun during the Yuan Hong-da, this study sees Li Zhi's pro ses as its origin. This is because Li Zhi had directly affected and many of his literar y characteristics conform to the characteristics of the Late Ming Essays. This study seeks to find Li Zhi as the writer who started a new style of writing and Li Zhi's p hase as a Xiaopin writer in Chinese literature.