Bang Jung-hwan(1899-1931) is surely an indispensible writer when we look back on Korean Children’s Literature in 1920’s. Truly Bang Jung-hwan set up innumerous achievements. One of them was that he settled a genre called as a fairy tale in the mod...
Bang Jung-hwan(1899-1931) is surely an indispensible writer when we look back on Korean Children’s Literature in 1920’s. Truly Bang Jung-hwan set up innumerous achievements. One of them was that he settled a genre called as a fairy tale in the modern age of Korea. In this sense this thesis will study on Bang Jung hwan’s theory of fairy tale, ‘About the Newly Developed Fairy Tale’. This thesis especially will contemplate on how Japanese writers, including theirfairy tale theory, their point of view on the fairy tale, and books about the theory of the fairy tale in Daishow Era, influenced on Bang Jung-hwan’s theory.
Bang Jung-hwan went to Japan in 1920’s when children’s literatures in Japan blossomed most. In 1918 the magazine, ‘Akaitori’ was launched. From the year the fairy tale and children’s song movement as kind of Akaitori movement was in the period of the prosperity. It was the period all the magazines listing children’s song and fairy tales were sold well. Many works were written. And it proves studies on the children and fairy tales had become more active from Maysy.
When Bang Jung-hwan wrote his theory, ‘About the Newly Developed Fairy Tale’, he was influenced by several Japanese writers and their works, which were Takagitosio’s Fairytale and Study(1916), Ogawa Mimei and Akita Wuzak’s theories about fairy tale in special July issue of Wasedabungaku in 1921, and Fairytale Study’s first edition 1922, 7) published in June of 1922.
As a result of comparing and analyzing these texts with Bang Jung-hwan’s writing style, it became obvious that Ewaya Sazanami’s Otogibanasi and Szki Miekichi’s fairy tale were fused in Bang Jung-hwan’s work. Also Bang Jung-hwan was influenced by Takaki Tosio’s text, Ogawa Mimei and Akita Wuzak’s theories about fairy tale, and the periodical, ‘Study on Fairytale’. Mimei said , “Fairytale is not for only children but for all the people who have innocent mind.” And Wuzak said, “adult and children in their whole life become one through only fairytale world and there difference between the soul of adult and that of children disappears. We should write about the childlike characters in mankind.” Bang Jung-hwan made these two Japanese writers’ point of view about fairytale fused in his writing and he created his own point of view.
Bang Jung-hwan’s theory was most detail and it is important in that it shows Bang Jung-hwan’s thought and knowledge about fairytale. It is regrettable that it was necessary to be influenced by Japanese children’s literature. But it is more important that there exists Bang Jung-hwan’s own point of view. Moreover he created his own style with his affection on children and the influence of the Chundo religion insisting all the human are created equal.