• Journal of Korean Classical Literature and Education
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• no.15
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• pp.463-499
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• 2008

This paper aims at investigating the characterization and author's consciousness of Okhwangibong written in about 18th century in Korea. Okhwangibong deals with the historical event in the Later Han of ancient China, that is to say the Empress Gwak's banishment and the royal harem Eum's accession to the queen consort. The author of this work created the focal characters freshly. Particularly Gwak is characterized as the vivid woman who desires the Emperor Kwangmu's love, reproaches his negative attitude toward her wants, and feels pains by reason of his affection to Eum. The author intended to justify Eum's accession to the queen consort through emphasizing Providence and her virtue. But the author's intention could not be realized fully. Because what is called Providence was lost persuasive power, and Gwak was characterized very affirmatively. Therefore it can be said that this work represents Gwak's trials and pains caused by Kwangmu. And the discord of the author's intent and the real meaning of the work occurred the dispute about affection and faithfulness between man and wife in following novels. Consequently the historical meaning of Okhwangibong in Korean Novel can be founded in successful characterization and occurring the dispute in following novels.

• Journal of Korean Classical Literature and Education
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• no.39
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• pp.99-135
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• 2018

This study aims at examining the discussions of Chilgeojiak, meaning seven vices that can be valid causes of divorce, and the discourse on a married couple shown in the deposal of Empress Kwak in Okhwangibong. The study first analyzes the relationship between the incidents of expelling wives from homes in the Joseon Dynasty Era and the seven vices. The divorce of Yi Mi and Shin Taeyeong and the deposal of Queen Yun by King Seongjong show that the standards of judgement in most of the seven vices are unclear or controversial. In Okhwangibong, the arguments about Chilgeojiak are examined through the form of a novel with the expulsion of Empress Kwak. Empress Kwak was deposed by her husband, Emperor Kwangmu, due to jealousy and evil deeds. However, she was devoted to her parents-in-law, bore sons, and above all, she was the emperor's first wife and had gone through hard times and supported her husband. Considering these circumstances, her deposal is not quite agreeable. Readers have the same question, and this has become a cause of the creation of a series. The reasons for Empress Kwak's jealousy lie in Okhwan-a jade ring, the existence of Empress Eum, and the partial love of Emperor Kwangmu. That is, it is not Empress Kwak's fault. Additionally, unrealistic elements involved in Empress Kwak's evil deeds and the story structure focused on her work as factors that make readers support Empress Kwak. Therefore, Okhwangibong displays the realities regarding the discourse of husbands and wives of the era rather than the love in Okhwan, the jade ring, between Emperor Kwangmu and Empress Eum. Such understanding continues to exist in the following series and is a valid problem in the present time.