A Study Of Korean Short Stories In 19th Century

China and Korea have closed relationship which can be traced back to ancient times. Korean culture is among the circle of Han culture and is under significant and profound influence of the central plains of China. It is spattered with the marks of Han culture.Literature in Chinese language was the only form of peninsula literature for a long time thanks to the direct cause of use of chinese script. It has great importance in peninsular literature. However, when going through history of Chinese and Korean literature, it is easy to spot a neglect of literature in Chinese language in the nineteenth century. The core task of this essay is to remediate, restore and analyse the missing link in the history of literature.Introduction section introduces the topic choice, significance of research, research trends, research object and content. It also iterates the historical development of Chinese literature.Essay body consists of five chapters:The first and the second chapter is overview and the basis of unfolding the discussion from the perspective of literature history. The first chapter introduces the historical reality in Korea in the nineteenth century. Korea was in the transition phase of the feudal society and modern society in the nineteenth century. In the first half century, economics further developed. Agricultural productivity continued to rise. New technology continues to be put into use. The constant adjustment to tax system made it compatible with economic development. It also gave people freedom to survive. The city continued to expand. Craftsmen obtained more freedom to operate independently. Mining was developing as well. Capitalism emerged in the peninsular economy. Capitalism caused the change in production relation in economy which in turn changed social class identity structure. The traditional identity hierarchy began to collapse. The former upper class of aristocratic were declining. The former lower class of civilians, even the servants were arising in social status due to significant improvement of economic conditions. A considerable number of the population moved up the ranks by various methods. The dominant political patten was the delegate of the king rules the Korean peninsula during this period. This political patten was faulty and caused growing social conflicts and increasing people revolt. During the second half of the century, Korean Peninsula was constantly harassed or intruded by Western forces. Inside and outside threatsended centuries of feudal ruling. Culture and political disturbance went hand in hand. The theories of idealist philosophy lost its unified control of Science World. The ideas of real learning further developed. Buddhism and Taoism were in recovery. Maitreya Faith which was with strong civil nature and Eastern Thought won broad support from the people. Christianity fought its way through nurture and suppression and gathered more and more faithful followers. Language Literature gradually matured and prospered. It became a counterpart of literature in Chinese language.The second chapter comprehensively depicts the research object. Firstly, it introduces the main contents, authors and the relevant circumstances of short stories in Chinese language in the nineteenth century. "The Complete Works of Korean Novel in Chinese Language" volume nine contains four categories altogether 120 pieces of short stories in Chinese language in Korea in the nineteenth century classes, of which 39 pieces of Ghost Legends,49 pieces of chivalrous character,28 pieces of social state,4 pieces of civilized stage. Most of the authors were born in the family of bureaucracy, and mostly from illustrious family of nobles; most of the authors are in authority, undertaking key positions, even at the center of power; "committee Lane Poet" Xiusan Zhao and some civilizing authors are of civilian nature with respect to traditional writers in high positions. Secondly, short stories in Chinese language are reflection of economic development, revolution in social classes and social conflicts. Section two discusses it from the perspectives of merchant’s image and business activities, servants’image and plot, the status of two classes of nobility and thieves’image.The third chapter analyses the characters, themes, art and etc. of Korean short stories in Chinese language in the nineteenth century. It points out their different levels of performance in tradition and breakthrough.120 pieces of works shape a series of individual images: officials, women, thieves, chivalrous, ghost warren, literati scholar, Buddhist monks and civilians. The main character image is a civilian image in short stories in Chinese language in the nineteenth century. The second image is the female figure. Then it comes to literati scholar. They are all the major character images in the inheritance and breakthrough in the nineteenth century. The main content still is the adherence to traditional values. In the mean time, business topics and conversion of values become the most contemporary expression. Comparing with the previous two changes, the art seems rather conservative. It prones to inherit the tradition rather than transform. This chapter presents the short stories in Chinese language in the nineteenth century in specifics. Chapter two and three together show the original face of the short stories in Chinese language in the nineteenth century.Chapter four and five interpret Korean short stories in Chinese language in the nineteenth century from different angles. They are the main body. The fourth chapter discusses the breakthrough from traditional concept. It relates the authors overturn their personal values and the hardship of the effort in doing so. They were defenders of Chinese traditional culture. But they made changes. It covers the angles of the image of women, marriage theme, individualism and the perspective of the civilian consciousness. A lot of feminism information is the most exciting discovery. But it is easy to see traditional values constrain feminism. This constraint makes feminist incomplete or unfulfilled in the short stories in Chinese language in the nineteenth century. Works with marriage theme exhibited a new quality, that is, love has replaced political and monetary purpose and becomes the link in relationships. Love is the main topic in literature. Tragic ending takes place in short love stories in Chinese language in Korea in the nineteenth century. Individualism and civilian concept are also found in short stories and took a substantial portion. For example, weakening heroism, collapsing authoritarian, civilians getting more attention, the pursuit of life and career gradually shifting to wealth, people persisting a clearly defined personality, more and more description about civilian life.Chapter five compares Korean short stories in Chinese language with Chinese literature. As a direct result of the impact of Chinese culture, the short stories in Chinese language in Korean Peninsula are influenced by the short stories created in Central Plains. Its narration features "a concise reference", "cool suggestion" and "expounding ideas in writing" and its theme choices are about "sadness in time of chaos and scholar and bookman", "Love and Marriage ", "plight of the people and the human spirits strange", which is the imitation and inheritance of Chinese literature. Comparing Ming and Qing novel "Tom Piper Biography" and "gold Yu Chan" with Korean novel in Chinese language, it clearly shows the relationship between the Central Plains and peninsula novels.The last part relates the decline of the creation of literature in Chinese language and the possibility of a recession in the future. This article believes the decline of the creation of literature in Chinese language in Korean Peninsula is due to the main reasons as following:1. Invasion of the international forces to the peninsula and the decline of China; 2. Lack of innovation in Han literature itself; 3. Development of literature in native language; 4. Influence from publishing, reading groups, critics. However, if North Korea writers still have confidence in the future of creating works in Chinese language, we can expect a better future to come.