Abstract
No one knows why the three main Jeju shaman epics, <Chogong ․Igong․Samgong Bonpoori>, are arranged orderly this way as now, Cho - 1, I - 2, Sam -3. No other shaman epic has the name like those.
It occurred to me that the performers and listeners are almost women and they could take part in formation of the story as well as the rituals.
There are three heroines, one in each story, and let's focus on their hardship-overcoming. Kameunjang Agi in <Samgong Bonpoori> conquers the hardships under her own steam. Wongang Ami in <Igong Bonpoori> shows her will when she has to sell herself to the rich family and resist the rich man's violation. Nogadanpoong Agissi in <Chogon Bonpoori> is so passive that she could only tolerate. These three epics suggest the three types of women; passive only, partly active, and initiative.
There are three attitudes for women towards the world. At first we face the world so big and strong that we can not grasp or handle the problems by individual capabilities. Then how could we survive in this world? The answer is Wongang Ami, who understands the problems objectively and seek the answer in her own way. This is the best and possible way in reality. However, Wongang Ami was mistreated and killed eventually. Is rational understanding the solution?Anyhow objective understanding and rational solution will avail nothing at all, there is another way of Kameunjang Agi, who has the confidency in herself and live a brave life. Many women like her actually gained the amazing achievement. Infinite trust in themselves can make jump in life.
I also explained a close correspondence between the three shaman epics and the Neo-Confucianism in Joseon Dynasty.
It occurred to me that the performers and listeners are almost women and they could take part in formation of the story as well as the rituals.
There are three heroines, one in each story, and let's focus on their hardship-overcoming. Kameunjang Agi in <Samgong Bonpoori> conquers the hardships under her own steam. Wongang Ami in <Igong Bonpoori> shows her will when she has to sell herself to the rich family and resist the rich man's violation. Nogadanpoong Agissi in <Chogon Bonpoori> is so passive that she could only tolerate. These three epics suggest the three types of women; passive only, partly active, and initiative.
There are three attitudes for women towards the world. At first we face the world so big and strong that we can not grasp or handle the problems by individual capabilities. Then how could we survive in this world? The answer is Wongang Ami, who understands the problems objectively and seek the answer in her own way. This is the best and possible way in reality. However, Wongang Ami was mistreated and killed eventually. Is rational understanding the solution?Anyhow objective understanding and rational solution will avail nothing at all, there is another way of Kameunjang Agi, who has the confidency in herself and live a brave life. Many women like her actually gained the amazing achievement. Infinite trust in themselves can make jump in life.
I also explained a close correspondence between the three shaman epics and the Neo-Confucianism in Joseon Dynasty.
| Translated title of the contribution | Literary and Philosophical Merit of <Chogong · Igong · Samgong Bonpoori> |
|---|---|
| Original language | Korean |
| Pages (from-to) | 233-257 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | 한국고전여성문학연구 |
| Issue number | 21 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2010 |