Song China’s Role in Shaping Late Koryŏ Literature: An Analytical Survey of the Tongmunsŏn

Abstract:This article explores Koryŏ-Song literary relations by conducting an extensive survey of the Tongmunsŏn, the largest literary collection of pre-modern Korea. The chronological distribution of contributions by outstanding Korean writers in the Tongmunsŏn follows a pattern that is hard to explain solely from the point of view of Korean internal political developments. Rather, the pattern reflects the historical and diplomatic contact between Korea and China and connects Koryŏ literature to the broad scope of Chinese literary trends. Yi Kyu-bo and Yi Che-hyŏn, widely known today as two of the best Korean hanmun writers from late Koryŏ, receive focus as being exemplars of Song influences on late Koryŏ literature. In general, Northern Song played an indirect role and Southern Song played a direct role in shaping late Koryŏ literature. The purpose of this study is to open up literary studies on Koryŏ Korea to comparative research and examine the wider civilization of East Asia in a pluralistic manner.