Cross Penetration of Empire and Colony in Chunhyangjeon by Jang Hyukju

장혁주의 「춘향전」을 통해 본 제국과 식민지의 변주

This article considers Chunhyanjeon written in Japanese by Jang Hyukju in 1938. His Chunhyangjeon was presented from among the collusion and crack of 'things Japanese' and 'things Chosun' discussed in Japanese literary world in the 1930's. This article analyzed the writing method and the meaning of the text. Jang Hyukju(張赫宙, 1905~1997) became known to Japanese literary world by the second grade nomination of the prize contest of the magazine Kaizo in 1932. Since then, he worked actively in the Japanese literary world by writing novels in Japanese and introducing the literature of Chosun. Thanks to his activity, the literature of Chosun drew attraction from the Japanese, which can be called 'boom'. Jang Hyukju was in the middle of this boom. So, his text presented the collusion and crack of empire and colony. We can make sure this issue from his play Chunhyangjeon. When he presented Chunhyangjeon, Jang Hyukju mentioned his purpose of writing. He intended to write modern play in new literary style. Chunhyangjeon was surely the material of things traditional Chosun, which was corresponded to the demand of Japanese literary world. Through the story of Chunhyangjeon, however, he formed the modern text style. He wrote in standard Japanese language, and described things from the perspective style which is often used in modern novel. And he renewed the character characteristically and arranged the structure of the play. His writing style showed clear distinction in the comparison to Chunhyangjeon written by You Chijin which was presented in Korean language 2 years earlier than Jang Hyukuju's. The text Chunhyangjeon written in Japanese by Jang Hyukju reflected specificity as a district of Japan. But on the other hand, a new literary method of modern realism was tried. Chunhyangjeon written by Jang Hyukju shows the cross penetration of empire and colony. And in his Japanese-language literature, the literature of Chosun is coexisting and playing variation.