The goals of the research of 'A Genealogical Approach to the Jumong Narrative in the Discourse of Nationalism in Korea and China' are to genealogically investigate the desire of each period inherent in the Jumong narrative and clarify conflicting vie ...
The goals of the research of 'A Genealogical Approach to the Jumong Narrative in the Discourse of Nationalism in Korea and China' are to genealogically investigate the desire of each period inherent in the Jumong narrative and clarify conflicting views on Jumong between Korea and China. The following 3 steps of he research process. <Jumong Narrative Represented in the Historical Materials>(Step 1)→<Jumong Narrative in the Early 20th Century>(Step 2)→<Jumong Narrative at the Beginning of the 21st Century>(Step 3).
(1) Step 1: Jumong Narrative Represented in the Historical Materials
The first-year research, which is based on the premise that "each text that reflects the times is the original text", is aim to explore the space of memory of author and his age. While intensively analyzing Weishu(A.D. 554, Beiqi), Samguk Sagi(A.D. 1145, Koryeo), Gwanggaeto Stele(A.D. 414, Koguryeo), with investigation of Jumong narrative of each text in a spatio-temporal context, I drew following conclusions. First, Jumong was different status in each text; Gwanggaeto Stele>Samguk Sagi>Weishu, specifically, Jumong's absolute status in the Gwanggaeto Stele. Second, Gwanggaeto Stele, describing Jumong as the 'son of Heaven', indicates that Koguryeo is the center of the world. However, this view may create a contradiction with the sinocentrism of China. There for, China is absent in Gwanggaeto Stele. Likewise, a record that describing Jumong as the 'son of Heaven' is absent in the historical materials of China. Third, the phenomenon that Jumong brought to the fore and was considered as Dongmyeong during Koryeo Dynasty is associated with historical awareness and identity construction of Koryeo. In conclusion, the greatness and the holiness of Jumong deriving from the different narrative points of view on him depends more on historical situation than on the fact itself. The ultimate goal of this study is to investigate the space of memory of our own now.
(2) Step 2: Jumong Narrative in the Early 20th Century
The second-year research is aim to investigate the meaning of 'Manchuria' in the first half of the 20th century, and reveal how the Jumong narrative was mobilized by China to turn Manchuria into 'Northeast' of China. For this, firstly, this paper examines the logic of Japanese argument. Then, it explores the debate on the correct name: 'Manchuria' or 'Northeast'. Also, focusing on Dongbei Shigang by Fu Sinian, it investigates how the Jumong narrative was mobilized by the 'Northeast' history project of China. Lastly, it looks into the image of Manchuria(Northeast) which had the substantially different aspects in imagined geographies of Korea, China, and Japan in the first half of the 20th century. In the first half of the 20th century, Japanese scholars supported Japanese expansionism, emphasizing Manchuria's own history separated from China. In response, Chinese scholars claimed that the region of Northeast had been an integral part of Chinese territory. The debate on whether it is 'the history of Manchuria' or 'the Northeast history of China' represents different understanding of history between China and Japan. Dongbei Shigang, representative work related to Northeast, is also the result of conflict over Manchuria between China and Japan. This study intends to critically examine how Dongbei Shigang deals with the Jumong narrative. By comparing the myths, Fu Sinian tried to prove that Northeast had been an integral part of China from the early Chinese history. Fu Sinian focused on the myths to relate the root of Northeast region with the Shang dynasty. As he related Northeast with the Shang dynasty, consequentially, Gojoseon was interpreted as being descended from the Shang dynasty, and also, Buyuo and Koguryeo were subordinate to China. Likewise, the myths related to the region, which was symbolic space that the modernity of nationalism and imperialism exist, are skilfully used as a tool of selfish nationalism.
(3) Step 3: Jumong Narrative at the Beginning of the 21st Century
The third-year research is aim to critically examine the discourse on the Jumong narrative between Korea and China in the beginning of the 21st century. To reflect on the contemporary significance of Jumong(Koguryo), this study reveals the biased interpretation of the Jumong narrative with a focus on the oviparous birth motif in these days, and furthermore, critically examines the Sinocentric interpretations. "All ethnic groups and histories that ever existed within the current PRC borders are part of China", this propaganda makes the Jumong myth fall into one of the myths of the Northeast China's ethnic minorities and a derivative of Chinese myth as well. Because Koguryo is interpreted as a regional government founded by an ethnic minority group in China, Jumong myth is destined to be fallen into the text of the Chinese nation. In this study, through an analysis of the difference of the discourse on the same text between Korea and China, it is revealed that the same materials and the evidences for the same subject shape a totally different meaning. It means that 'for what people say' is more important than 'what people say', and this is what I would like to emphasize. The Jumong narrative is surrounded by the many layers of the veil in the discourse of nationalism in these days. It would be desirable to read the veils stemming from the needs of the times. This paper is an attempt to provide insight into the way to realize existence of a blindfold blocking the sight of us.