This study looks to newly interpret the folk tale, “Dohwanyeo and
Bihyungrang” in The Heritage of the Three States, with a wide range
of motifs. It is widely accepted that two kinds of perspectives are
academically established.
From a more concrete perspective one represents the viewpoints of
historians. Who have pointed out that Jinji of Silla had been ironically
described as the good king in that folk tale, despite the fact that he had
been dethroned because of his lack of faithfulness and creation of political
chaos. They further insisted that descendants from Muyeol of Silla may
have tried to restore the honor of their ancestor, Jinji of Silla, revering
him as the good king. Scholars of Korean literature, though. only partially
agree with historians views on the matter. Focusing on Bihyung’s
spiritual ability to chase ghosts, they often view it as a motif to analyze
folk tales on the basis of folk beliefs.
These two viewpoints seem to provide only a partial or fragmentary
interpretation, having overlooked many motifs within, “Dohwanyeo and
Bihyungrang.” The characters in the folk tale should be examined as
integrated motifs. Therefore the purpose of this study is to analyze how
Jinji of Silla, Bihyung, and Jinpyeong of Silla are closely related to each
other as motifs or meanings in the folk tale.
To illustrate, Jinji of Silla himself was dethroned from his position king. However. regardless of his humble birth, his son, Bihyung, was
brought up well and made an effort to help Jinji of Silla recover his honor
and admiration as the good king in the folk tale. Bihyung was born out
of wedlock. and, despite this he succeeded in ‘building a bridge across
Sinwonsa Temple’ with the help of spirits. This reflects his spiritual
ability not only to integrate spirits representing the humble or the
alienated, but also to expel those spirits. Jinpyeong of Silla had shown
his greatness, accepting Bihyung, son of his political opponent, and
curtail conflict and division in Silla. In other words, he was shown as
the great king and received the jade belt from the heaven. This folk tale
reveals social integration as the critical theme, discussing characters who
embraced the son of an opponent’s spirits, and the humble and alienated.