Aesthetic Imagination and Romanticism in Joseon Dynasty Sadaebu Kasa: A Study of Bongnae Yang Sa-eon's Miinbyeolgok

Bongnae Yang Sa-eon, a prominent figure in 16th-17th century literature, left a lasting legacy. This study examines his position in literary history, focusing on his Korean Kasa, MiinbyeolgokWhile details of his life are scarce, anecdotes reveal his activities and the memories surrounding them. He was a renowned calligrapher, known for his travels to scenic spots, which earned him recognition among contemporary scholars. The ambiguity surrounding his social status, coupled with his artistic talent and works imbued with transcendentalism, likely contributed to his fame as a “celestial being.”His Chinese poetry reflects 16th and 17th century trends, characterized by a strong transcendental and romantic tone. This tendency is also applicable to understanding his Korean Kasa, Miinbyeolgok. The conventional interpretation of Miinbyeolgok as a tribute to a beautiful woman requires revision. The sudden appearance of hermitage allusions and the hybrid nature of various modifiers suggest alternative interpretations. Ultimately, this work expresses the sentiments of his reclusive days and his penchant for the celestial, using romantic expressions of the time. It reflects his own difficult circumstances while longing for understanding, or perhaps it was created by comparing himself to sorrowful scholars and beauties. Miinbyeolgok can be understood as an example of the expanded use of the beauty trope as a poetic figure in works predating Jeong Cheol's. This has significance in broadening the understanding of female figures in classical poetry. Furthermore, the literary dispositions of Bongnae (Yang Sa-eon) and Songgang (Jeong Cheol), namely the transcendence and romanticism stemming from the ambiguity blurring the boundaries between the earthly and the celestial, seem somewhat similar. In this light, Bongnae Yang Sa-eon can be reevaluated as a writer who paved the way for a new phase in the Korean Kasa of the Joseon Dynasty's literati. He can be seen as a bridge between Jeong Cheol and earlier writers.