The Symbolic Meaning and Shape of Rabbits in Oriental Classical Literature

This paper examined how the symbolic meaning and shape patterns of rabbits appear through various literature reviews of Oriental classical literature. In this paper, we mainly examined the categories of literature and scripture and reached the following conclusions. In Chapter 2, the symbolic background and meaning of rabbits were examined. First, reflecting the principle of the yin and yang five elements and the principle of Co-Existential to Medicine and I Ching(醫易同源), it was found that the weakness between rabbits was reflected in literary works. The weakness based on rabbits was roughly divided into positive and negative meanings. In literary works, it can be seen that rabbits are literary embodied as beings that showed the ambivalent meaning of empathy as beings with wisdom from the perspective of the weak and sneaky from the perspective of the strong. In Chapter 3, narrative techniques and figurative aspects were examined through prose and poetry. First, it was formed through the styles of Jeon(傳) and Seol(說). As can be seen from Han Yu’s “Moyeongjeon(毛穎傳)” the allegorical method was presented through the pseudo-form. As can be seen from Yoo Eui-geon(1687-1760)’s “Jeoktoseol(赤免說)”, the author described the article through a straightforward method of comparing Korean and Chinese characters with a rabbit year and expressing his views. In particular, “Jeoktoseol” focused on its meaning and correlation by comparing the lives of two characters corresponding to the rabbit year, that is, Jeong Hyeon and Yoo Eui-geon. In this way, it can be seen that in prose, the meaning is personified mainly in the way of transmission and theory or it is straightforward by suggesting the method of allegory. Next, in poetry, metaphors and satirical characteristics of life were shown. In Seo Geo-jeong’s “Little Eaves”, a lot of Yongsa(用事) and electricians were used to highlight the sneaky side of rabbits, using Chinese ancient times. In Lee Deok-moo’s “Yangduseomseom”, the rabbit hair brush is half white and half black, so he embodied the appearance of life as it was while writing. The significance of this study is that it examines the origin and principle of the symbolic meaning of rabbits in oriental classics, and then examines how they appear in literature. Here, it was found that rabbits had cunning and wisdom in terms of their nature, and that they were effective in treating diseases or lived a long life, while the positivity and negation of their effectiveness coexisted. In addition, metaphors and symbols permeating life were presented in various ways in poetry, while allegorical methods and directions were strong in prose. At this time, it was found that the meaning was ambivalent and existed together in the lives of the people according to the principle of acoustic five acts and the principle of Co-Existential to Medicine and I Ching(醫易同源), and appeared together in literature for a long time.