This study aims to consider travel poems written by Yeowa Mok Man Jung (1727~1810) out of his works and to identify the ideas and characteristics which reside in his literary territory. Mok, as a minister, had a high political reputation. In addition ...
This study aims to consider travel poems written by Yeowa Mok Man Jung (1727~1810) out of his works and to identify the ideas and characteristics which reside in his literary territory. Mok, as a minister, had a high political reputation. In addition he was a top writer and official considered as a master of the 18th century literary world of southerners. Southerners from Seoul and Gyeonggi areas, also called Geunginamin, including Mok Man Jung venerated Heo Mok's ancient spirit and thought a literature associated authority and fortune. Therefore, they insisted that literatures have spirits of reign and saint's enlightenment in order to contribute to statecraft.
Mok Man Jung took a travel as a driver in charge of broadening a writer's view in creating literatures and considered travel and creation of literatures are in an impartible relation. Mok was able to have hands-on experiences in any places met by him during his travels. He kept a record on his experiences in a mode of an ancient poetry with a view to looking at actual political situations.
His trip to fringeland twice allowed him to explore border regions formed around the Amnokgang, the Yalu. He repeatedly highlighted historical preemptive rights were still effective outside the river and recorded it in a pattern of poem. Through the poem, his attachment to the territory and his resolute wills to conquer the north and to recapture lost territories are expressed. In addition, He also promoted reinforcement of national security condition. This can be seen as his constant interest in past and present of Korean territory and his expression of a sense of national defense.
Mok collected history embedded in remains in the country to give a shape to it as a poetry. He criticized historical events or what historical people did. He intended to make his acceptance of history while praising and criticizing it a criterion on establishment of life guidelines for modern readers. Instead of Chinese history, Chinese people and ancient Chinese historic facts, he showed Korea's high level of historic spots, facts and people in order to achieve creativity, independence and reality.
His optimistic and affectionate feeling toward people in rural areas is a basis of his literatures, which actively describe their healthy and energetic life styles. In addition, He tried to honestly deliver horrors faced with them to be exposed to society. He kept an eye on their horrible reality with affection for them and this is highly meaningful.
He strongly believed that literatures had to contribute to national politics and maintained records on people and local custom anywhere he went to play a role of a Chaesigwan, an official in charge of collection of popular songs and poems in the period of Ju Dynasty, of Sigyeong, a book of poetry. His covering of Joseon's reality allows his travel poems to be greatly valuable.