鄕歌의 時間意識 硏究

Abstract

Human life fundamentally inheres in time and space. The stream of time corresponds to the stream of consciousness. And the consciousness of time forms our own private time by realizing our own activities or experiences. The consciousness of time can turn the physical and objective time into the unique and special one for individuals. Especially in literature, the consciousness of time gives birth to another meaning for readers. Hence, in the study of literature, understanding the consciousness of time will be a good suggestion for the deeper understanding of literary works. The consciousness of time shown in hyangga can be divided into two categories: the positive consciousness of the present time and the negative consciousness of the present time. The positive consciousness of the present time is mainly shown in 'four-line hyangga', which contains features of Korean folk songs. All of the 'four-line hyangga' has the present tense, singing the things of 'now' and 'here'. The positive consciousness of the present time means the attitude of the belief in the present life at the very moment. It doesn't believe in the past life and the future life. It doesn't stand above religion towards Heaven, either. In these respects, the positive consciousness can be said the existential consciousness of time. The negative consciousness of the present time is mainly shown in 'ten-line hyangga'. The negative consciousness is future-oriented, denying the present time and yearning for the future. The present time in 'ten-line hyangga' is the time of loss and lack, meaning negation. Consequently, the poetic speakers in the works long for the future, that is, the new time and the new world. The future is not the time of loss and lack, but it is the time of abundance and fullness. For them, the future is the holy time to complete their living.