『金甁梅』 욕망 전환 연구 - 불교 신앙을 중심으로 = A Study on the Transition of Desire in the Novel Jin Ping Mei : With a Focus on Buddhist Faith

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study analyzes the Buddhist elements in the Ming dynasty novel “Jin Ping Mei”, focusing on the character ‘Wuyueniang’. “Jin Ping Mei” is a work that realistically depicts human's infinite desires and the conflicts arising from them.
The keyword ‘desire’ is explicitly revealed in the spatial background, narrative features, and character portrayals of the novel. In contrast to the other characters pursuit of desires and their tragic endings, Wuyueniang stands out as the only character who does not succumb to desires but transforms them through ‘Buddhist faith’. Through the analysis of Wuyueniang’s Buddhist faith, this study reveals that Buddhism functions not merely as a religious background but as a driving force for overcoming desire. Despite being in the whirlpool of desires, Wuyueniang attempts to overcome her troubles by transforming her desires through Buddhist faith. This shows that “Jin Ping Mei” not only exposes the nature of desire but also presents the possibility of overcoming desire through Buddhism. This study illuminates the importance of understanding desire and appropriately transforming and controlling it from a Buddhist perspective.