This essay mainly discussed the status of Wanam Chung Rae-Gyo of the 18th century sijo developmental landscape. 18th century in the context of sijo has distinct points : one is the emerging of middle class professional singers, the other is their poem...
This essay mainly discussed the status of Wanam Chung Rae-Gyo of the 18th century sijo developmental landscape. 18th century in the context of sijo has distinct points : one is the emerging of middle class professional singers, the other is their poems are published. Chung Rae-Gyo, as a member of so-called ‘Baegak poetic circles’, appreciated the new poem writing theory, and searched in earnest to Cheongi discussion along with Hong Se-Tae and obtained a theoretical cause of Yeohang literature. These efforts lead to the compilation of Hong Se-Tae’s Haedongyuju. In particular, looking at Hong Se-Tae’s “the Introduction of Haedongyuju”, it affirms the value of Yeohang literature in a logical system. As it leads to Lee Jung-Sub (李廷燮), and Chung Rae-Gyo, laid the groundwork for the theoretical basis of the sijo, which focused on the Yeohang plebeian’s artistic activities. At the introduction of Chungguyoungun, the affirmative value of Yeohang literature is materialized. Chung Rae-Gyo, with his interests about music, associated with leading ‘Gagaek’ and ‘Arksa’ of 18th sijo context, like Kim Cheon-Tek, Lee Tae-Myeong, Kim Seong-Gi and others. Chung organized various meetings and artistic activities with those people and ultimately started to his creation of sijo. The basis of the Chung Rae-gyo’s sijo creative work is the Yeohang group’s pleasure seeking and materialistic lifestyle and ethos, and is characterized by an appearance of people under a full moon, playing such instruments as the Geomungo (a large Korean stringed instrument) and Tungso (Korean bamboo flute), while engaging in other aloof interests. Meanwhile, the changes of the key and mode in the 18th Century, in other words, the changes of Gojo-Sinjo, Chung Rae-Gyo accepts and supports Sinjo, and he makes a favorable assessment of Kim Cheon-Taek and Kim Seong-Gi, whose music careers also followed by Sinjo tendency. Chung Rae-Gyo, in the 18th century’s current of the sijo, layed the groundwork for a theoretical justification to act to the middle class Yeohang artistic groupe specially who wrote sijo. Also Chung made connection directly with many artists, did various literary activities, and broadened the field of sijo. Furthermore Chung could be said the person taking advantage of changes of music aspect as well.