This study aims to elucidate the structural principles of the text found in Chugidonghyeopyusang (Reminiscence of an Excursion to the Eastern Gorge) by the 18th-century writer Jo Gwi-myeong (1693–1737). This work is a distinctive text wherein hetero...
This study aims to elucidate the structural principles of the text found in Chugidonghyeopyusang (Reminiscence of an Excursion to the Eastern Gorge) by the 18th-century writer Jo Gwi-myeong (1693–1737). This work is a distinctive text wherein heterogeneous elements—such as travelogue (yugi), biography and history (jeon-gi), and philosophical discourse (seol)—are intricately intertwined. Accordingly, this study demonstrates that the concept of ‘Gi (奇; the extraordinary)’ serves as the core organizing principle that integrates these disparate elements into a single unified text. Jo Gwi-myeong embodies ‘Gi’ through descriptions of extraordinary nature, eccentric figures, and supernatural events, utilizing it as a method for the juxtaposition, amplification, and concatenation of heterogeneous elements. The analysis reveals that ‘Gi’ acts as a catalyst mediating between scenery and memory, as well as between action and thought, thereby constructing a polyphonic structure and non-linear space-time within the text. Furthermore, the use of concrete metaphors, such as “candle wax” or “sheep’s entrails,” functions as an expressive strategy that highlights the writer’s distinctiveness, differentiating his work from conventional styles. Consequently, in Chugidonghyeopyusang, ‘Gi’ is not merely a rhetorical device but an aesthetic driving force that permeates the entire work.