This is a study of the eighteenth and nineteenth century travel Gasa. Gasa is a traditional verse form with the rhythmic unit of four syllables, and travel Gasa has definitely established itself as a verse form of its own in the eighteenth and ninetee...
This is a study of the eighteenth and nineteenth century travel Gasa. Gasa is a traditional verse form with the rhythmic unit of four syllables, and travel Gasa has definitely established itself as a verse form of its own in the eighteenth and nineteenth century This thesis is concerned with classifying works of travel Gasa into several types according to subject and examining their characteristics and its interrelationship with the changing society. The first chapter broadly deals with the primary intention and outline of the thesis.
The second chapter is devoted to examining the ground for classification as well as the literary-historical aspects of travel Gasa produced before the eighteenth century. Travel Gasa began to emerge in the sixteenth century and the succeeding century saw its gradual development. On the basis of works of travel Gasa produced in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, it can be classified into Whanyu (the inspection tour of local scholar-administrator),Yuram (the travel for pure sightseeing), and Sahang (the foreign travel of a diplomat or an envoy extraordinary) Gasa
The third chapter is devoted to examining particular works of travel Gasa produced in the eighteenth century: works of Whanyu Gasa that deal with the inspection tour of newly appointed local administrators; works of Yuram Gasa that deal with the emerging sense of sightseeing; works of Sahang Gasa that deal with the increasing interests in foreign culture and current affairs.
The fourth chapter is devoted to examining works of travel Gasa produced in the nineteenth century. It is worth noting that they tend to become longer in length and deviate from the conventional form.
Works of Whanyu Gasa still retain their former features, treating materials related with official tasks of local administratirs. Works of Yuram Gasa mainly revolve around Mount Keumkang, focusing on the beauty of its scenery in detail and legends associated with it. Works of Sahang Gasa are chiefly concerned with depicting the customs and manners as well as beauties of mature of neighboring countries.
The fifth chapter is devoted to the examination of changes both in form and subject which travel Gasa underwent at the turn of the nineteenth century. Travel Gasa gradually becomes both documentary-oriented and patime-oriented, gaining uniquely personal flavor. At the same time, with the change of social position of authors, the celebration of hermits secluded life comes and goes. It is characteristic of the nineteenth century travel Gasa to celebrate and long for the relative convenience and pomp of the urban life.
The sixth chapter is devoted to literary-historical examination and estimation of the changes noticeable in travel Gasa. The changing society with its values and mores exerts great influence on the changes of Kyohoon (instruction) Gasa, Kangho (seclusion) Gasa, Fego (historical retrospection) Gasa as well as travel Gasa. While other kinds of Gasa remain faithful to the ideology of orthodox Confucianism, it is characteristic of the nineteenth century travel Gasa, to deviate from the ideological norm of the day and to tend to embrace newly emerging forward-looking ideas. It is worth noting that, as the century advances, female authors increasingly join in producing travel Gasa. In short, travel Gasa with its open-mindedness has come to establish itself as a definite verse form that can appeal to wider reading public at this period.