중국 용 신화의 에콜로지 ― 물의 신으로서의 용을 중심으로 (An Ecological Approach to the Chinese Myths of Dragon as the Water Deity)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 중국어문학연구회
· 수록지 정보 : 중국어문학논집 / 86호 / 429 ~ 446페이지
· 저자명 : 홍윤희

초록

Dragons in Chinese myths are depicted as the animal that lives in waters such as river, sea or lake. In agricultural society, dragons were recognized as the rain deity; and to seamen, they were perceived as the being that determined the smooth sailing. In other words, they possessed the attributes of the water deity. Also, water not only makes life possible on earth, but takes it away when in dearth such as the drought, or in excess such as the flood or hail. Deep water possesses the images of both the source of life and the place of darkness or death. Thus, water is an object for which we must feel grateful when it maintains the optimum level; but when the delicate balance is broken, it becomes a fearful object or the one that exerts merciless violence by drowning or withering everything. This very ambivalence of water is also reflected in its mythical embodiment, that is, the dragon. Then, what kind of relationship has human maintained with this incontrollable power?Based on this question and idea, this paper focuses on the mode of relationship that existed between the natural and cultural principles expressed in the myths or documents pertaining to dragon. In so doing, I examined the story of Goulong(句龍), one that is worshipped in the Dragon Tablet Festival (龍牌會) held in Fanzhuang Village in Heibei Province; the story of Yinglong (應龍) appearing in Shanhaijing(山海經); the process of dragon worship rituals or the sacrificial methods described in historical records; and the legends of heroes who prevented the river from flooding by killing the monstrous dragons. By examining a series of such narratives and rituals, this paper demonstrates that myths do not just present an ideal state that should be restored. They, in fact, unfold a diverse range of tension and paradox that exist within the fragile relationship between culture and nature, which can be broken at any time.
The path of reconciliation and mutual respect is in fact the ecology that we must seek from these dragon myths. What we must bear in mind is that human culture is something that has been constructed upon them, using their monstrocity as its material.

영어초록

Dragons in Chinese myths are depicted as the animal that lives in waters such as river, sea or lake. In agricultural society, dragons were recognized as the rain deity; and to seamen, they were perceived as the being that determined the smooth sailing. In other words, they possessed the attributes of the water deity. Also, water not only makes life possible on earth, but takes it away when in dearth such as the drought, or in excess such as the flood or hail. Deep water possesses the images of both the source of life and the place of darkness or death. Thus, water is an object for which we must feel grateful when it maintains the optimum level; but when the delicate balance is broken, it becomes a fearful object or the one that exerts merciless violence by drowning or withering everything. This very ambivalence of water is also reflected in its mythical embodiment, that is, the dragon. Then, what kind of relationship has human maintained with this incontrollable power?Based on this question and idea, this paper focuses on the mode of relationship that existed between the natural and cultural principles expressed in the myths or documents pertaining to dragon. In so doing, I examined the story of Goulong(句龍), one that is worshipped in the Dragon Tablet Festival (龍牌會) held in Fanzhuang Village in Heibei Province; the story of Yinglong (應龍) appearing in Shanhaijing(山海經); the process of dragon worship rituals or the sacrificial methods described in historical records; and the legends of heroes who prevented the river from flooding by killing the monstrous dragons. By examining a series of such narratives and rituals, this paper demonstrates that myths do not just present an ideal state that should be restored. They, in fact, unfold a diverse range of tension and paradox that exist within the fragile relationship between culture and nature, which can be broken at any time.
The path of reconciliation and mutual respect is in fact the ecology that we must seek from these dragon myths. What we must bear in mind is that human culture is something that has been constructed upon them, using their monstrocity as its material.

참고자료

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