東晉부터 初唐代 冥界敍事에 나타난 冥界이미지의 특징과 변화양상 - 『搜神記』, 『幽明錄』, 『冥祥記』, 『冥報記』를 중심으로

Abstract

The Nether world generally refers to the afterlife. There was an idea of the nether world early in China. Initially, the idea was that the soul stays with the body or becomes a spirit and moves to another world. The ancient Chinese expressed this belief in many ways, and it was embodied in the most detail in literary narratives. Accordingly, this paper examined the changing patterns of the nether world image by period by focusing on Sou-Shen-Ji, You-Ming-lu, Ming-Xiang-Ji, Ming-Bao-Ji written from Eastern Jin to the early Tang dynasty.<BR> In the early narrative, Sou-Shen-Ji, life in this world continues after one’s death. This is confirmed in the revival story in which the dead person revived from the tomb and the affection story in which the man and woman met as a human and soul. In addition, the nether world is also described as a separate world. Here, a nether world that reflects Chinese-specific beliefs and Taoist elements appears. the function and space of the afterworld are more emphasized in You-Ming-lu and Ming-Xiang-Ji of the Southern dynasties. In this period, Buddhism flourished significantly and influenced literature, reflecting the concept of hell in Buddhism. Tang dynasty’s Ming-Bao-Ji was greatly influenced by the predecessors’ narratives, and thus, endemic beliefs, Taoism, and Buddhism elements were integrated into the image of the nether world. Nevertheless, the doctrine of Buddhism is regarded as the most important, and some of the earlier ideas are denied.<BR> As such, it was believed that the nether world implemented by the Chinese was somewhat realistically managed by the authorities similar to this world. Further, it was considered that indigenous thoughts and folk beliefs are harmonized, and that Taoist and Buddhist gods co-exist. This implies that the image of the nether world changed in a close relationship with religion. This was a process in which the people’s ideas and imagination of afterlife changed with the times.