This study purposed to look into the aspect of the perception of reality and the consciousness of the need to return to the country, focusing on his poetry during the first period when Dasan, Jeong Yak-yong served as an official. After Dasan was exi...
This study purposed to look into the aspect of the perception of reality and the consciousness of the need to return to the country, focusing on his poetry during the first period when Dasan, Jeong Yak-yong served as an official. After Dasan was exiled to Haemi-hyun on March 8, 1790, he seemed to be daunted by restraints of his rival faction. The Catholic persecution in October, 1791 caused Dasan to be backbitten by Gongseo Faction or a group of attacking Western Learning. Moreover, he was attacked by the opposing party in March, 1792 in the process of being appointed as Suchan, an editor of Hongmungwan, and then he got inclined to return to the country. Dasan was appointed to Jikgang of Seonggyungwan in July, 1794 after completing three-year mourning for his mother, but he considered being appointed to a government post to be very unhappy. Dasan became a secret royal inspector of Gyeonggi area at the end of October, 1794 and secretly observed the people's livelihood in Jeokseong, Yeoncheon, and Saknyeong. After the secret observation, he was mentally shocked at the wretched life of the people. Dasan described farmers' miserable living as it was and harshly criticized local officials for their severe political affairs. Dasan withdrew from his office as Gyoseo, the messenger of Gyuyeongbu because of the attack of the opposing party in April, 1795. Then, he got tired of the official post and only considered the timing of retiring. Based on the contents reviewed above, we can know in detail about the perception of reality and consciousness of the need to return to the country seen in his poetry during the first period of his serving as an official. Additionally, this study places its meaning on the point that this helps understand Dasan's life as a writer and his human aspects more deeply.