This study is about Haesangrok, which Wolbong Jeong Hee Deuk, a Confucian scholar, wrote based on his experience when he was captured in Japan as a war captive at the time of the two invasions of Japan from 1592 to 1598, and Jeongyupirangi, which his ...
This study is about Haesangrok, which Wolbong Jeong Hee Deuk, a Confucian scholar, wrote based on his experience when he was captured in Japan as a war captive at the time of the two invasions of Japan from 1592 to 1598, and Jeongyupirangi, which his relative, Eunwa Jeong Ho In, another Confucian scholar, wrote about the same event. Wolbong`s Haesangrok and Eunwa`s Jeongyupirangi are a journal and a poetry about one`s life story from the year when he became a war captive in Japan in the 30th year of King Seonjo (1597) until the year he came back from Jana in the 32nd year of King Seonjo (1599). They are not only remarkable historical resources, but they are also invaluable pieces of literature. Haesangrok and Jeongyupirangi writes about Japanese culture, people, interaction with the people of Apa, and spirit of Yuja. Because the author of Haesangrok was a war captive, his book was different from any other book written by envoys or diplomats to Japan. He still had the pro-China ideas of Confucian scholars in the mid-Joseon Dynasty and was antagonistic to Japanese culture, which they thought was inferior to theirs. However, Jeong Hee Deuk and Jeong Ho In had different ways of interaction with Japanese people. Jeong Hee Deuk wrote poetry for them to return to Joseon, but Jeong Ho In rejected their request to write poetry for them as he waited to return to Joseon. The way how they interacted with Japan was different, but they had a common purpose to return to Joseon. They were able to return in the end because they were both faithful scholars. The Korean poetry they left mirror their unwavering spirit and faith. Also, in result of comparing Haesangrok and Jeongyupirangi, it was found that Jeongyupirangi is first edition.