이 글은 <이현경전>의 이본을 소개 검토하여 善本을 선정하고, 주요 이본을 대비하여 계열을 살펴본 뒤 후대의 변모 양상과 그 의미를 파악하는 데 목적을 두었다. 필사 간기가 앞서 보이는 이본 작품 명칭이 <이현경전>이고, 18세기 소설 상황을 알려 주는 문헌에 ‘니현경’이라는 인물이 등장하는 것으로 볼 때, 작품 명칭은 <이현경전>이 바람직하다. 善本은 완본의 형태이고 다른 이본에 비해 오탈자나 첨가가 적은 기축년에 필사된 사재동 A본이 타당하다. 사재동본은 초기 여성영웅소설의 특징인 여성우월 남성열등의 남녀불균형이 심화되어 있고, 수학-과거급제-출정입공-지위극대화’의 입공서사가 온전히 구사되어 있으며, 이현경의 남장 노출을 둘러싼 지리한 공방과 결혼 이후 갈등이 장황하게 펼쳐진다. 이밖에 경북대본은 정자의 궁체로 필사되어 있고 표현이 정제되어 있다. 세부 장면 묘사가 축소되는 경향을 보이지만 인물간의 관계가 세밀하고 성격 묘사가 생동적이다. 전반적으로 이현경의 능력이 남성에 비해 우월하지만, 남성 인물의 자존심이나 가부장적 사고가 상대적으로 강조되어 있다. 그리고 활자본은 이현경 수학담의 유무에 따라 8회본과 12회본으로 나뉜다. 8회본은 이현경 수학담이 유일하게 존재하고 양충이라는 인물이 새롭게 등장한다. 활자본 역시 장면이나 인물의 세부 묘사에서 내용이 축소되었고, 남녀간의 갈등이 완화되어 있으며 남성을 배려하는 차원으로 서술되어 있다. <이현경전>은 가상의 모본에서 전승되어 단국대본, 박순호본, 사재동 AㆍB본이 한 계열을 이루고, 경북대본이 또 한 계열을 이룬다. 활자본은 사재동본을 계승하되 경북대본을 참조하여 다시 8회본과 12회본 두 계열로 간행된 것으로 보인다. 이 작품은 이본간의 차이가 크게 두드러지지 않다. 여성영웅소설사에서 <이현경전>이 초기 작품이고, 대중적인 흥미가 후대 여성영웅소설의 인기에 밀려 전승이 활발하게 이루어지지 못한 것이 원인이라고 생각한다. <이현경전>은 후대로 갈수록 사건의 세부 묘사가 생략되거나 축소되고, 인물 관계에서 남성의 체통이 강조되거나 부각되며, 문체 및 표현에서도 초기 필사본의 정제되지 않은 어투가 후대에는 정제되고 순화된 모습으로 변모하고 있다.

This theme is to aim to choose <LeeHyunKyeongJeon> texts and verify the properties of the main texts and examine the changing aspects in the later ages. It is rational that this writing's title is <LeeHyunKyeongJeon>. That's because <Lee HyunKyeongJeon> is the earliest work title in the publishing period. Also the character of <LeeHyunKyeongJeon> appeared in the 18th century. <SaJaeDong>A is the best literature among the texts of <LeeHyunKyeongJeon>. This work contained all the stories. It had few mistakes and didn't add anything to the story. The characteristics of the main texts are as follows. <SaJaeDong> text had the complete properties of heroines' novels in the early age. As KyeongBookDae text was read in the palace, it emphasized men's self-esteem and patriarchism thinking. The printing books are divided into 8th and 12th sections. The fact that LeeHyunKyeong was studying was presented in the 8th section. But the later texts didn't contain the story too much. <LeeHyunKyeongJeon> consisted of two aspects. DanKookDae, ParkSunHo, and SaJaeDong formed one group. The other one was KyeongBookDae text. Printing text was made in reference to SaJaeDong and KyeongBookDae text. This work was the early heroine's novel. But this work ran short of the interests and exciting parts. So people didn't read this book. As time went by, many things in the work have changed a lot. The accident of the story was diminished. It focused on male character. And also the writing style was changed into a respect manner of talking.

This theme is to aim to choose <LeeHyunKyeongJeon> texts and verify the properties of the main texts and examine the changing aspects in the later ages. It is rational that this writing's title is <LeeHyunKyeongJeon>. That's because <Lee HyunKyeongJeon> is the earliest work title in the publishing period. Also the character of <LeeHyunKyeongJeon> appeared in the 18th century. <SaJaeDong>A is the best literature among the texts of <LeeHyunKyeongJeon>. This work contained all the stories. It had few mistakes and didn't add anything to the story. The characteristics of the main texts are as follows. <SaJaeDong> text had the complete properties of heroines' novels in the early age. As KyeongBookDae text was read in the palace, it emphasized men's self-esteem and patriarchism thinking. The printing books are divided into 8th and 12th sections. The fact that LeeHyunKyeong was studying was presented in the 8th section. But the later texts didn't contain the story too much. <LeeHyunKyeongJeon> consisted of two aspects. DanKookDae, ParkSunHo, and SaJaeDong formed one group. The other one was KyeongBookDae text. Printing text was made in reference to SaJaeDong and KyeongBookDae text. This work was the early heroine's novel. But this work ran short of the interests and exciting parts. So people didn't read this book. As time went by, many things in the work have changed a lot. The accident of the story was diminished. It focused on male character. And also the writing style was changed into a respect manner of talking.

LeeHyunKyeongJeon, SaJaeDong text, KyeongBookDae text, Printing text, Good text, Text change