『北廂記』에 나타난 기녀 형상의 복합성 ― 정절, 성애, 협기를 중심으로 ― = Buksanggi, Representation of Kisaeng: Focusing on Chastity, Sexuality, and Hyeopgi

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study analyzes the figure of Sun-ok, the female protagonist in the late Joseon period vernacular play Buksanggi, to reveal the multilayered and complex ethical discourses surrounding courtesans. Sun-ok embodies three ethical codes simultaneously: chastity, sexual desire, and the ethics of cooperative conduct (hyeopgi). She is portrayed not only as a conventional representation of a courtesan but also as a subject of desire and an ethical agent. This demonstrates that even within the male-centered performance literature of late Joseon, women could actively express emotions and ethical consciousness.
In Buksanggi, Sun-ok exhibits traits of a virtuous woman who maintains chastity, openly expresses her sexual feelings, and practices practical ethics by advising male characters. Unlike Chunhyangjeon or Okdanchunjeon, however, Sun-ok does not achieve social elevation or status improvement. This diverges from the typical narrative reward structure focused on chastity, instead making the completion of inner ethics itself the narrative goal. It suggests that the courtesan figure has evolved from a one-dimensional ideal to a complex subject negotiating personal desire and moral judgment.
Moreover, Buksanggi is not merely a romantic narrative. Through its critical depiction of reality by characters like O-yu, stereotyped figures such as Chim-seonbi, its spatial and scenic visual composition, and pansori-inspired expressive techniques, it reflects the complexity of sexual power structures and social desires in 19th-century Joseon. The characterization of Sun-ok represents a multifaceted portrayal of female subjectivity and ethical agency.
Ultimately, Buksanggi marks a turning point in late Joseon courtesan narratives, showing that ethical structures extend beyond idealized chastity to encompass overlapping dimensions of sexual desire, cooperative ethics, and self-awareness. This study highlights the literary-historical significance of Buksanggi’s narrative strategy and its contribution to the portrayal of female subjectivity in late Joseon vernacular drama.