제주 문자도 연구

Abstract

Jeju's character pictures are largest in quantity and come in a wide variety of types. In addition, they are unique in that they are structured in three layers. As a result of tracking the origin of this three-layer structure in various viewpoints, I found out that it has a close relationship with the legends of the three clans and Bonpuri, shamanistic rituals involving the narration of the story of ordinary gods. First of all, since the number 'three' has the implication of several meanings―including holiness, perfection, supremeness, and creation―the number frequently appears in a multitude of area such as religions, myths, legends, folktales, proverbs, customs, and everyday life around the world. As a concept that encompasses not only all things, materials, and objects but also time and the world of perception, I can rest assured in my belief that the number is cherished. In "the Myths of Samseong", about three demi-gods with three different family names, the number 'three' is closely connected to all of the three brothers, three groups, three princesses, and the notion with 3 elements of kings, servants, and subjects. Moreover, the fact that the story unfolds in three sequences in "Cheonjiwang Bonpuri", a myth regarding the lord of Heaven and Earth, and three thousand scholars and three brothers appearing in "Chogong Bonpuri", a myth about the transcendental space, shows how related they are to the number. On top of that, three flowers and the third daughter in "Igong Bonpuri," a myth about an orphan, and three messengers and changing three years to three thousand years in "maenggam Bonpuri", a myth as to the youngest daughter of a beggar couple, are all connected to the number 'three'. In "Chasa Bonpuri", a myth in regard to a messenger who takes a dead soul to the underworld, three older brothers, three brothers in the middle, and three younger brothers as well as a three-colored marble, three sons, and a table set for messengers of the underworld with three pairs of straw shoes, three bowls of rice, and three dried pollack are related to the number. We can see that the threefold structure or idea or the symbolization of the number 'three' acts as a controlling principle that composes almost all areas of Jeju's culture ―including its world view, religions, living culture and spaces, childbirth customs, and seasonal customs. It can be considered that such ideas are reflected in Jeju's character pictures. After all, the three layers in Jeju's character pictures symbolize the celestial world, earthly life, and the underworld. On the upper part appear birds or trees, flowers, and mountains, all of which can be regarded as things belonging to or pursuing Heaven. On the bottom, there are a palace of sea kings symblizing the sea, fish, marine animals, a pair of female and male pheasants, and a table with food. All of these are interrelated with the Earth and the underworld (or under water). In this regard, we can see how closely they are related to the number three. When people more accurately recognize that Jeju's character pictures are not mere drawings, but a symbolic system reflecting Jeju people's consciousness and psychology as well as the embodiment of the origin, it is expected that new light can be shed on the culture and the consciousness of the people of Jeju.