근·현대 천황상(天皇像)에 대한 민중의 인식 변화 연구

Abstract

The Japanese Emperor System and traditional culture is considered so importantly that it is said to define the value system of Japanese people. Tracking back to the Meiji Restoration, which announced the beginning of the modern time, the Emperor was regarded as a human god with absolute power and transcendental authority. After the defeat in War, however, the Emperor was re-created as humanly/symbolic Emperor through Human Declaration. Re-created impression of Emperor enabled the image change as the symbol of nationwide unification. Through this it was meant to establish the national foundation with the Emperor System. Setting historical incidents like this as a turning point, The Japanese Emperor has been repeatedly regenerated and modified his public image. This thesis confirms that folkloric ritual or national culture was utilized for reconstituting the Emperor’s public image, and reconstituted impression is strongly correlated with the public’s perception change. Based on the broad literary reference within and out of the nation and closely analyzing the modified image of Emperor and everyday culture of the public, I verified that the correlation between the Emperor’s impression and the public has led the modernization of Japan. Thus, taking notice on the relationship between the image making of the modern Japanese Emperor and the public who accepted the created image, I studied that the image and the public are closely related to folklore rituals and national culture. Firstly, I confirmed that the image of modern Emperor, which was shaped in the process of nation-state creation, contained an absolute authority that transcended tradition and civilization. I also confirmed that in order to establish the Emperor’s image the era demands, tradition-claiming new folklore rituals and national culture are utilized as tools. Then I revealed that those national events have repeatedly re-formed and reproduced as occasion demands. Lastly I took notice that the Emperor System overcame the risk of vanishing after the defeat in War and is maintained with the support of the public. This can be viewed as the result of emphasizing image renovation through re-formed/reproduced folklore rituals and national culture. In other words, the image of Japanese Emperor is the central role that created the Japanese modernity during the process of history. Lately, a new transition is predicted as Emperor Akihito expressed intention of abdication during his lifetime. Until now, Japanese Emperor System has been succeeded as a cultural tradition. Considering that the system came out as the leading role when nationwide unification is needed such as historical transition era or social crisis, it is demanded that the newly appeared Emperor System must be paid attention and examined.