It is very interesting and notable that Jae-gong Chae, the chief minister who assisted King Jeongjo in the late era of Joseon dynasty, created a novel titled “Mandeokjeon” on the basis of a regional narrative about Mandeok, a heroine who contributed to saving Jeju islanders from famine even in the capacity of woman under confusing circumstances in the late era of Joseon dynasty, so that this novel has been a model even for the literature of follow-up generations. And a fact that Jeju Island was the background of this work may imply that it could be useful as a good substance of regional literature. In particular, it is wonderful that a local woman played a major role in such heroic story, although contemporary high officials tended to view and diagnose her deeds from the standpoint of their partisan coloring. Ironically, this heroic real story indicates that regional matter was re-spotlighted as a social issue in the center of national power. On the other hand, it becomes a good story helpful for improving the standing of Jeju Island and understanding the contemporary circumstances. Therefore, this story is valuable as a substance for researching in regional literatures, and it is possible the duty of literary people that is to make positive use of this substance, create a new story and thereby tell it to our contemporary people. This study summed up and narrated Chinese traditional poems related to Mandeok along with “Mandeokjeon”, and thereby discussed the backgrounds of their literary creation. As a result, this study could come to a conclusion that “Mandeokjeon” and related Chinese poems are so valuable works as regional literatures.

It is very interesting and notable that Jae-gong Chae, the chief minister who assisted King Jeongjo in the late era of Joseon dynasty, created a novel titled “Mandeokjeon” on the basis of a regional narrative about Mandeok, a heroine who contributed to saving Jeju islanders from famine even in the capacity of woman under confusing circumstances in the late era of Joseon dynasty, so that this novel has been a model even for the literature of follow-up generations. And a fact that Jeju Island was the background of this work may imply that it could be useful as a good substance of regional literature. In particular, it is wonderful that a local woman played a major role in such heroic story, although contemporary high officials tended to view and diagnose her deeds from the standpoint of their partisan coloring. Ironically, this heroic real story indicates that regional matter was re-spotlighted as a social issue in the center of national power. On the other hand, it becomes a good story helpful for improving the standing of Jeju Island and understanding the contemporary circumstances. Therefore, this story is valuable as a substance for researching in regional literatures, and it is possible the duty of literary people that is to make positive use of this substance, create a new story and thereby tell it to our contemporary people. This study summed up and narrated Chinese traditional poems related to Mandeok along with “Mandeokjeon”, and thereby discussed the backgrounds of their literary creation. As a result, this study could come to a conclusion that “Mandeokjeon” and related Chinese poems are so valuable works as regional literatures.

Mandeok, Jeju, regional literature, partisan interests