The Parent-Child Relationship in Traditional Korean Society Described in Korean Classic Novels

고전을 통해 본 한국 전통사회의 부모-자녀 관계

The purpose of this study was to explore the parents and child relationship in traditional Korean society through the Korean classic novels. The Data were analyzed through latent content analysis in focusing on the parents and child relationship. Forty-six Korean classic novels written in Chosun Dynasty (from 1392 to 1910 AD) were chosen to analyze and they were represented the characteristic Confucian ideas. The sentences containing the expression of child-care and parent-child relationship were selected during intensive reading line by line and analyzed. Sixty-nine meaningful concepts were drawn out from 258 significant sentences by the similar meaning and common theme and classified as 3 categories and 11 sub-categories. The important parent-child relationship expressed in Korean traditional society were as follows: From the category of the Meaning of Child, 4 sub-categories were drawn; gift of heaven, successor of the family line, driving power of life, and rewards from the offspring. From the category of attitude to the child, 3 sub-categories were drawn; a notion of preferring a son to a daughter, close maternal-child relation, and expectation to the future of child. From the category of nurturing behavior, 4 subjects were drawn; Tae-Gyo(fetal education), affective behavior, socialization, and health management behavior. Above result helps to improve the basic understanding the relationship of parent and child in modern society. And by the understanding of child in the family, unhealthy relationship of parent and child can be prevented and furthermore family centered child health promotion can be achieved.