THE REPRESENTATION OF HUMAN PSYCHE IN THE SYMBOL OF PHOENIX

In his novella Phoenix, Korean writer Lee Mun-yeol portrays the character of a disciple—his life, inner world, and attitude toward art—by comparing it to the life journey of the mythical phoenix bird. Throughout his life, the disciple is inspired by his master to be as passionate and resilient in art as the phoenix, emphasizing that for a true artist, talent and personal worldview are the most essential values. According to the master, ability is the radiance of wisdom, and skill is its outer shell. If wisdom is not followed, ability cannot be fully expressed, and consequently, skill cannot be acquired. Through the symbol of the phoenix, the author sheds light on the master-disciple relationship, highlighting their reverence for the sublimity of art. At the same time, the phoenix serves as a key to understanding the essence of generational conflict.