Comparative Study of Chinese and Korean Novels in the Ming and Qing Dynasties - Focusing on Marriage and Love

Author: Li Hua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: China and Korea (North/South Korea) have engaged in numerous frequent cultural exchanges throughout their long history, and literary exchange has been one of the most important aspects. The Joseon Dynasty roughly corresponds to the Ming and Qing dynasties in terms of time, and over more than five hundred years, a large number of Chinese literary works, including classical novels, were continuously transmitted to Korea and accepted and imitated by local readers. Therefore, incorporating the spread of Chinese novels in Korea into the research scope has become an important topic for many comparative literature scholars in China and Korea. This thesis primarily examines the theme of love and marriage in Chinese and Korean novels during the Ming and Qing periods. To date, there has been no specialized research monograph comparing the theme of love and marriage in Ming and Qing-era Chinese and Korean novels. Only in some other comparative literature studies on Chinese and Korean novels can one find brief discussions on Chinese and Korean love novels. Unfortunately, these works do not provide a thorough and in-depth analysis of the theme of love and marriage in the novels of the two countries. "Love and marriage" is the focal point of this thesis. The most important aspect of examining the theme of love and marriage between the two countries is to combine the sociological and historical research methods that emphasize cultural context with the thematic methods of comparative literature, striving to analyze the interaction between the novels of the two countries and the moral and life perspectives of their people. The thesis can be broadly divided into the following two aspects: First, the theme of love and marriage in both Chinese and Korean novels was influenced by Confucian thought. After Confucianism in China emerged and developed, it not only had a profound impact on China but also spread to countries in East Asia, such as Korea, where it merged with traditional thought and became an integral part of their cultural identity. During the Ming and Qing periods, both China and Korea, whether in terms of authors or readers, were immersed in a shared Confucian cultural atmosphere and accepted the same Confucian concepts. Additionally, the influence of national policies and regulations meant that most writers, acting as "megaphones" for the state machine, inevitably reflected the state's ideology through their writings. Second, the expression of love and marriage in the novels of the two countries differs. Shared ideas led to similar themes and emotions in the literature of both countries. While Ming and Qing-era Chinese and Korean novels may appear unified, they were also diverse. This is particularly evident in the expression of love and marriage, especially in how "emotion" and "reason" are handled in the novels. For instance, the "mutual affection" between men and women is expressed more modestly and implicitly in Korean novels compared to Ming and Qing novels, whereas, in contrast, Ming and Qing novels show a more outward and bold expression of emotions and content, as well as a higher number of erotic novels. I believe it is not surprising that the expression of love and marriage in the novels of the two countries exhibits similar phenomena, as shared Confucian thought allows them to express similar themes and emotions. The differences, however, arise because the Korean people naturally accepted Confucian culture while retaining their deeply rooted traditional national ideology. It cannot be denied that the strong emphasis on Confucianism during the Joseon Dynasty influenced the implicit and restrained expression of love and marriage in Korean novels. However, what is more important is the unique "Hwaryangdo" spirit of the Korean people, which influenced the creative mindset of writers and the reading preferences of readers. As demonstrated in works like "Nokkae-ssi deuldeul," Korean novels effectively convey both harmony and rectitude, meaning that while they contain limited explicit descriptions of sexuality, they still express enough love, showing that the portrayal of love themes is neither rigid nor constrained. This aligns with the harmonious balance between morality and pleasure inherent in the Hwaryangdo spirit. The Hwaryangdo spirit of Korea is a perfect combination of morality and aesthetics. One of the educational principles of Hwaryangdo is: "Polish each other with righteousness, delight each other with songs and music. Wander in mountains and waters, reaching far and wide." The joyful "songs and music," combined with the restraint and discipline of "righteousness," create a balance that is not overly rigid. Moreover, the supervision of "righteousness," or moral norms, prevents people from falling into degradation due to excessive indulgence in play and recreation. This philosophy is reflected in the creation of erotic novels in Korea, even when depicting the seven emotions and six desires of men and women, they remain "moderate" and do not escalate to the level of being deemed "obscene books" as they were in the Ming and Qing periods. It is worth noting that even today, South Korea is arguably the country that preserves the most Confucian ethics in the world. Confucianism has had a widespread and profound impact on Korean society, which is directly related to the fact that Confucian education and activities have never been interrupted in Korea. Whether in ancient times or modern times, Korea has inherited China's Confucian traditions, emphasizing the ethical values of society, which has played a significant role in maintaining the purity of social customs and improving the quality of the entire nation.