A Study on the Rhetorical Educational Strategies in Classical Literature Utilizing SamhanSupyu

This study proposes SamhanSupyu by Kim So-haeng as a foundational text for classical literature education. Recognized as a representative work of 19th-century classical Korean fiction written in classical Chinese, SamhanSupyu is well-known among scholars of classical literature, with extensive research conducted on the text. However, despite the breadth of academic engagement, its utilization in university curricula remains remarkably limited. The narrative of SamhanSupyu embodies Kim So-haeng’s endeavor to transcend the adversities of his unfortunate life and the societal constraints imposed upon him, confronting his limitations through the creation of this literary work. Particularly, the reconstruction of the historical figure Hyangnang serves as a projection of the author's ideals and aspirations, effectively realized within the text. This reconstruction reveals Kim So-haeng's progressive intellectual outlook. The meticulous structure and composition of the work, as well as the compelling articulation of arguments through Kim’s rhetorical prowess and logical rigor, have been esteemed to a level comparable to literary greats such as Li Bai, Du Fu in poetry, and Sima Qian, Zhuangzi in prose.Accordingly, this study suggests employing SamhanSupyu as a core text for rhetorical writing and debate in classical literature education. Notably, key narrative segments such as the contrasting perceptions of marriage between Hyangnang and her parents, Hyangnang’s reincarnation and remarriage, and the celestial battle between the Emperor and the Demon King provide students with profound thematic inquiries still relevant today. This study proposes utilizing these narrative elements to explore contemporary perspectives in literature education, addressing the divergence in views on marriage between Hyangnang and her mother. Through such an approach, Samhan Supyu offers a meaningful alternative to the questions of “what to read” and “how to read” in classical literature education.