A Study on Literary Representation of Jeongsan Ilgi

This study aims to elucidate the literary significance of Jeongsan Ilgi. Until now, Jeongsan Ilgi has mainly been utilized as a historical source in the study of the history of the Catholic Church in Joseon. In consideration of this, the present study first examines how Jeongsan Ilgi functions as a historical document while simultaneously being recognized as a work of literature, and then proceeds to analyze its modes of literary representation. Chapter 2 explores both the historical and literary dimensions of Jeongsan Ilgi. Records concerning Yi Dogi can also be found in other sources, such as Bishop Daveluy’s letters, Brief Accounts of Major Martyrs in Joseon, Memoirs on the History of the Martyrs of Joseon, Father Mauban’s letters, and Father Dallet’s History of the Korean Church. Through an examination of these materials, it is confirmed that Jeongsan Ilgi serves as a valuable historical document for understanding the Jeongsa (1857) Persecution, the martyrdom of Yi Dogi and other believers, and more broadly, the history of the Catholic Church in Joseon. At the same time, Jeongsan Ilgi transcends the boundaries between silgi(factual record) and jeon(biographical narrative), while expressing an intention to evoke collective affection through the depiction of personal suffering. This demonstrates that Jeongsan Ilgi can be fully recognized as a work of literature. Chapter 3 examines the literary representation techniques of Jeongsan Ilgi. It first considers how the narrator highlights core events through selective narration. Rather than describing events in a straightforward chronological order, the narrator provides detailed accounts of days the narrator deemed significant, while summarizing less important days briefly. This selective emphasis reveals the narrator’s attempt to draw the reader’s sympathy toward particular events. Next, the study investigates Jeongsan Ilgi’s tendency toward a pathos-oriented writing style based on “objective subjectivity.” Although the narrative maintains an ostensibly objective tone, traces of the narrator’s inner consciousness are discernible. Such consciousness not only indicates the narrator’s emotional engagement with the subject but also reflects an effort to elicit empathy from readers, thereby enhancing the emotional resonance of the work. Through these analyses, the study deepens the understanding of Jeongsan Ilgi’s literary characteristics and significance.