『김현감호(金現感虎)』 설화의 전승과 신라인의 세계관

Abstract

Examined in this article is the ｢Kim Hyeon Gamho(金現感虎)｣ tale from Samguk Yusa, in order to determine how it was formed, transmitted and ultimately represented the people’s view of the world in the Shilla period. This tale is inserted not only in Samguk Yusa but in other texts like Daedong Unbu Gunok and Donggyeong Jabgi as well, and it should also be noted that Daedong Unbu Gunok listed Su’i-jeon as its source. A comparative analysis of various versions (from various texts) of this tale –as well as other tales that had circulated in other areas too- revealed that the versions inserted in Samguk Yusa and Su’i-jeon were from the same source, and the one in Samguk Yusa was the one that was the closest to the original source material. Several aspects of that version, such as the central theme of ‘circling the pagoda,’ or the idea of governmental seats offered as a reward, and Confucian notions such as ‘righteousness(義),’ all suggest that the tale itself was formed around the end of the 8SUPth/SUP century.BR Which can be sensed from this tale is not only a mythic world view which took the form of a love story between a human male and a tiger with a female form, but also a Buddhist world perception hinted by concepts like ‘circling the pagoda’ or ‘constructing a Buddhist monastery.’ This shows us that at the end of the 8SUPth/SUP century, when this tale was probably formed, the Shilla people was in possession of both of these different world views. Of course we tend to recognize its Buddhist elements more usually, but that’s just because Ilyeon, the compiler of Samguk Yusa, provided a commentary in which he emphasized the Buddha’s role in the connection made between Kim Hyeon and the femaleshaped tiger. In the end, this tale tells us that a particular form of human nature (性: in this case, love between a human and a tiger), and the mysterious hand of a godly power(聖), were no conflicting concepts or notions to the Shilla people.