The Connection between Korean Works and Akutagawa Ryunosuke's <i>Kim Shogun</i>

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  • 芥川龍之介の『金将軍』と朝鮮との関わり
  • アクタガワ リュウノスケ ノ キンショウグン ト チョウセン ト ノ カカワリ

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<p>　It is well known that much of Akutagawa Ryunosuke’s work is based on many Eastern and Western historical and mythological documents. Among his works Kim Shogun, published in the magazine Shin Shosetsu in 1924, is a short novel featuring General Kim Eung-Seo of the Choson period (1392 〜 1897) as its protagonist. It seems that Akutagawa took the idea for the framework of the story from the famous legendary literature of the Choson period, which deals with the invasion of the Choson dynasty by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1592.</p><p>　The setting of Kim Shogun is Pyung Yang which saw fierce battles during the invasion. The main story involves the murder of the Japanese General Konishi Yukinaga by General Kim Eung-Seo, who killed him with the assistance of the “Kisaeng” (courtesan), Gye Wol-Hyang.</p><p>　In particular it is noteworthy that Akutagawa adopted the grotesque descriptions of Imjinrok, a representative work of the Choson period describing “Imjin Waeran” (the invasion of the Choson dynasty) and then built on this image to create his work. In spite of its importance, this fact has never before been discussed in research work. Through a comparative study of Kim Shogun and Imjinrok, it is clear that Kim Shogun was greatly influenced by Imjinrok.</p>

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