A Study On Korean Column Couplet From The Perspective Of Cultural Exchange Between China And Korea

Antithetical couplet is a unique literary genre created by Chinese people in the process of development of the Chinese nation and Chinese culture, combining the characteristics of Chinese with the spirit and culture of the nation. Antithetical couplet is not only popular in China, but also introduced into and has great impact on China’s neighboring country—Korea. For thousands of years, South Korea has been receiving profound influence of "Chinese culture" in all aspects of the social and cultural life, among which the antithetical couplet is a typical example. It is China’s valuable cultural heritage as well as an instance of Korea influenced by ancient Chinese culture. In Korea, as a term corresponding to the concept and meaning of Chinese "antithetical couplet","column couplet" is most widely used.Since Korea is greatly influenced by Chinese language and culture, the introduction of antithetical couplet into Korea is a very natural phenomenon. However, just like other foreign culture, antithetical couplet changes gradually under the influence of social and cultural conditions in Korea, showing characteristics different from Chinese antithetical couplet. Therefore, this dissertation attempts to make investigation and research on the changes as well as development of a language and culture when it is spread from the birthplace to other countries.This dissertation probes into the characteristics, similarities, and differences of Chinese language used in both countries by contrasting Chinese antithetical couplet with column couplet in Korea. It is aimed at studying the characteristics, similarities, and differences of Chinese Philology and the historical and cultural exchanges between the two countries through the comparative analysis of Chinese antithetical couplet and Korea’s column couplet in aspects of grammar, vocabulary, form, sentence patterns and content. This is an unprecedented attempt which has great significance. This tentative research will help people deepen the understanding of language, culture and history of exchanges between China and Korea. The author believes that the previous study on column couplet in Korea only focuses on cultural aspects, while this dissertation will center on widening the vision of research on column couplet for the purpose of promoting academia in Korea to make research from the perspectives of linguistics as well as literature. In addition, this dissertation will bring a new wind to the research on column couplet in Korea which is in its infancy, and also can provide slight help for those scholars who start to study column couplet in Korea. On the other hand, column couplet has inextricable link with traditional culture such as architecture, folklore, calligraphy, and religion. The dissertation is expected to provide a new perspective for the multi-field research on column couplet in Korea.There is no doubt that antithetical couplet is not only excellent material can be used to study the characteristics of language and cultural exchanges of the two countries, but also important element of such traditional culture as literature, garden art, cultural landscapes, calligraphy, and folklore in both countries. On this ground, the comparative analysis of Chinese antithetical couplet and column couplet in Korea is of great significance.This dissertation consists of six chapters.Chapter1is the introduction which points out the significance of the topic and the research value of comparatively studying Chinese antithetical couplet and column couplet in Korea, and discusses the current situation of the research on Chinese antithetical couplet and column couplet in Korea. It also includes discussions of the scope and methods of the study, targeting at exploring the influences that ancient Chinese culture has on Korean culture on which the study of Chinese antithetical couplet and Korean column couplet is based.Chapter2presents a thorough analysis of antithetical couplet. Antithetical coupletdevelops on the basis of the characteristics of Chinese characters, and is a literary genre written in Chinese characters. The understanding of antithetical couplet is the premise of comparing Chinese couplet with Korean column coupling. The author studies the definition, metrical characteristics, and history of antithetical couplet based on the existing research on couplet by Chinese scholars, and tries to have an in-depth understanding of the origin, history, and rules of antithetical couplet.Chapter3starts with the understanding of the definition, origin, development, and current situation of column couplet in Korea, examining the process of spread, development, and evolution of Chinese characters as well as Chinese culture in Korea, and studying how people in Korea understand and use metrical patterns of couplet like level and oblique tones and antithesis. The author also takes the Chinese definition of antithetical couplet as the standard in order to sum up the definition of Korean column couplet. Chapter4makes a classification of column couplet in Korea according to the places where it is hung or posted, and as well analyzes the basic characteristics of each type, studying its content and metrical patterns by citing a number of examples.Chapter5with reference to almanacs, the classical comprehensive database in the Academy of Korean Studies, and a collection of books as well as personal anthology of antithetical couplet, the author mainly summarizes the features of column couplet in Korea, and compares Chinese antithetical couplet with column couplet in Korea in respects of metrical patterns, method of creating couplet, rules of pasting couplet, and positions of arrangement. At last, the author reaches a conclusion of the characteristics of Korean column couplet and realizes the room for improvement.Chapter6is a conclusion of this dissertation in which the author summarizes the similarities and differences between Chinese antithetical couplet and column couplet in Korea.The author believes that the primary purpose of this study is to understand the basic situation of the academic research of column couplet in Korea by way of studying Chinese antithetical couplet. It also targets at analyzing the similarities and differences in language, characters, and culture between the two countries through comparing Chinese antithetical couplet with column couplet in Korea. The author hopes that the findings and results of this research can make people realize the necessity of promoting the study of column couplet in Korea, and help the preservation and development of antithetical couplet and column couplet—one of the valuable traditional cultures.