The Study On The Letters Between Qing And Chos?n Literati In The Nineteenth Century

The nineteenth century was a prosperous period for communications of Qing and Chos(?)n literati as well as the phase when there were the largest numbers of communication letters of literati from these two countries retained until now.Currently there are 1,964 letters at least,with more than 700 thousand words.This article selects communication letters of Qing and Chos(?)n literati in the nineteenth century as research objects,aimed at studying overall conditions and special phenomena of academic and literary communications with letters as mediums.This article summarizes from five aspects of retention situations,communication reasons,main contents,major characteristics and literariness of letters,for overall investigations on communication letters of Qing and Chos(?)n literati in the nineteenth century.Retention situations of communication letters of Qing and Chos(?)n literati in the nineteenth century show the characteristics of“fragmentation”.First,they were fragmentarily recorded in the“Yeonhaeng Rok” of Chos(?)n or other writings in ancient books of Qing and Chos(?)n.Second,letters were partly separated as important records in the“Yeonhaeng Rok”of Chos(?)n and part of anthologies of Qing and Chos(?)n literati.Third,special collections of letters were handed down from ancient times in the forms of manuscript,handwritten copy or edition.Qing and Chos(?)n literati selected to use letters as one of the major forms for communications,mainly because letters were continuations after face-to-face exchanges of literati from these two countries,important carriers for academic communications between literati from these two countries,mediums to make friends with unseen literati,and tools to pass on diplomatic and military information.Letters of Qing and Chos(?)n literati in the nineteenth century were rich in contents,which mainly comprised communications on six aspects of academics and scholarly researches;literature;military and diplomatic information;books,calligraphy and paintings;eight-legged essays of imperial examinations;as well as etiquette and customs.Compared with other periods,communication letters of Qing and Chos(?)n literati in the nineteenth century didn ' t include communications on ineffable topics in contents and presented more diversified and periodical characteristics.The majority of Chos(?)n literati engaged in letter communications were members of Chos(?)n delegations to Yeonhaeng and famous scholars in academic circles at that time of a certain family and succession characteristics.In form,a complete letter was made up of envelope and texts.Some even had attachments.The literariness of communication letters of Qing and Chos(?)n literati in the nineteenth century mainly reflects on their conceptions and ornate dictions.Reciprocating poems enhanced lyricism of letters;applications of literary quotations made letters profounder and afford for thought;and applications of antithesis and “ four-six ” parallel construction patterns helped letters to achieve more structured linguistic form and harmonious rhyme.When individual investigation is carried out specifically to thespecial phenomenon of letters between Qing and Chos(?)n literatus in19 th Century,it mainly selected typical letter communication phenomenon in 3 periods,including the first two decades of 19 th Century,1820 s to 1850 s,and the last five decades of 19 th Century.In the first two decades of the 19 th Century,Fengshan Hong family from Korea,on behalf of Chos(?)n literatus succeeded Hong Yang-ho and Yun Ji's letter communication tradition in the late 18 th Century.First of all,Hong Hee-Jun and his son Hong Suk-mo,as descendants of Hong Yang-ho,vividly embodied the inheritance and development of family communication tradition in exchanging with Qing literatus by letters.Secondly,Hong Suk-Ju and his brother Hong Hyeon-ju carried out academic exchanges with Qing literatus by means of letters,which can be regarded as a kind of inheritance of scholar friendship established by Hong Yang-ho and Yun Ji.Finally,Hong Gyeongmo was a Chos(?)n literati who kept most frequent contact with Qing literatus by letters.From 1820 s to 1850 s,Chos(?)n literati Kim Jeonghui and his pupils,as representatives of literati group kept up regular correspondence with Qing literatus,of which exchange contents mainly involved in academic and literary studies.With regard to letters among Kim Jeonghui and Qing literatus represented by Fanggang Weng and Zhishen Ye,the exchanges mainly focused on epigraphy.Lee Sang Jeok,as a disciple of Kim Jeonghui,mentioned a large number of book presentation with Qing literatus in their letters.In the last five decades of 19 th Century,under the special historical background,exchanges between Qing and Chos(?)n literatus transferred to center on national potitical trends,prospect,etc.In this period,Shin Seok Woo,Park Gyu-su represented Chos(?)n literatus,while staff organization led by Changqing Wu representedQing literatus.Firstly,Chos(?)n literati Shin Seok Woo expressed his attention and treasure to friendship with Qing literatus in his letters and exchanged presents with Qing literatus,such as articles and articles for amusement,etc Secondly,in letters among Chos(?)n literati Park Gyu-su and Qing literatus,they not only discussed academic and scholarly exchange,but also revealed their pursuit of noble personality of scholars-bureaucrats and concern about national political situation.Finally,in the process of interaction among staff organization led by Changqing and Chos(?)n literatus,letters have been one of the most important channels for exchange of national political,military and diplomatic information.