메이지 전기 일본 료칸 연구

Abstract

메이지 전기(前期)의 일본은 서양문물의 수용을 통하여 이전의 관습을 교정하거나 덧칠하는 등 다양한 변화를 시도한 혁명기였으며, 외부의 방문자를 위한 숙박시설에 대한 규제도 메이지 신정부에 의해 점진적으로 해제됨에 따라 기존의 숙박시설에 변화가 초래된 과도기였다. 오늘날 일본식의 고유한 숙박시설로 총칭되어 불리는 료칸(旅館)은 근대 문명의 보급과 함께 근세까지 발달해 온 여러 종류의 숙박시설이 변화와 발전을 거듭하면서 메이지 시대에 통합되어 비로소 완성된 일본의 독자적인 숙박시설이다. 한편 메이지 전기는 대외적으로 교통이 발달되어 서양인이 이동하는 관광여행의 범위에 일본이 포함되게 되었으며, 일본 내부에서도 서양인에 대한 국내여행의 제한이 사실상 해금됨에 따라 서양인이 일본을 방문하고 체류할 수 있는 여건이 이전 시대보다 획기적으로 개선되었다. 일본에 체제하게 된 서양인은 일본을 여행하는 과정에서 자연스럽게 현지의 숙박시설을 이용했으며, 그들 중 일부는 자신의 숙박 경험과 인식을 여행기, 체류기 등의 기록으로 남겼다.

이 논문의 목적은 메이지 전기에 재정립되는 료칸 개념과 역할의 변화와 당시 숙박시설에 대한 인식과 평가의 특징적 추이를 고찰하는 것이다. 이때 본고는 자국민은 일상화되어 느끼기 어려운 료칸의 다양한 면을 객관적인 시각으로 파악하기 위하여 당시 일본을 방문했던 서양인의 기록을 선정하여 탐구하고자 했다. 이를 위해 메이지 전기 일본 료칸의 변화를 서양인의 시각에서 관찰할 수 있는 귀중한 역사적 자료인 어니스트 사토(Ernest Mason Satow)의『메이지일본여행안내』를 집중적으로 조명한다. 아울러 당시 일본에 체류하며 숙박시설에 대한 경험담을 기록으로 남긴 바질 홀 체임벌린(Basil Hall Chamberlain), 에드워드 모스(Edward Sylvester Morse), 에르빈 폰 벨츠(Erwin von Bälz), 이사벨라 버드(Isabella Bird Lucy), 피에르 로티(Pierre Loti) 등 서양인의 기록 12건도 살펴보았다. 결론적으로 메이지 전기가 현대 일본의 고유한 문화로 손꼽히는 것 중 하나인 료칸 형성의 주춧돌 역할을 한 과도기라는 점을 논하고자 한다.

료칸 시스템의 형태와 기능에 대한 서양인의 기록을 분석한 결과, 메이지 전기를 맞이한 숙박시설은 변화의 필요에 따라 에도 시대 숙박업의 기능상의 장점을 차용하고 있는 것이 드러났다. 특히 서양인의 이동이 많은 특정 지역의 료칸은 서양인 고객을 확보하기 위하여 의자, 테이블 등 서구문물을 도입하는데, 이는 서양식 숙박시설인 호텔의 등장과 영역 확장에 따른 료칸과의 경쟁관계를 암시하는 변화였다. 이와 함께 숙박시설의 옥호(屋号) 분석을 통해 메이지 전기에는 료칸이라는 업태(業態)가 아직 등장하지 않았지만, 이를 위한 발판을 마련한 시기임을 확인하였다. 이렇게 료칸이 형성되는 과도기적인 시점에서 일본 숙박시설의 구분조차 어려웠던 서양인의 인식과 불합리한 숙박 요금체계에 대응하는 서양인의 자세, 그리고 영어 간판을 설치하여 서양인을 모객하는 료칸 경영자의 모습이 서양인의 자료에 기록된 것은 자연스러운 귀결이라고 판단된다. 이와 함께 서양인의 기록에서는 메이지 전기 일본 료칸의 풍경이 전체적으로 낙후되어있는 모습으로 묘사되면서도 다른 한편으로는 깨끗하고, 정성스럽고, 아름다우며, 세심하여 흥미를 유발시키는 서로 다른 두 가지의 풍경이 포개져 중층적으로 퇴적되는 모습의 서술들이 나타나고 있었다.

일본의 전통적인 문화예술, 생활양식 등이 현대의 시점에 이르기까지 고스란히 전해져 내려오고 있는 전통적인 공간인 료칸에서 머무른다는 것은 일본 그 자체를 느끼는 것과 비등하다. 그러한 의미에서 료칸은 일본의 국가 이미지 혹은 일본의 정체성을 대표하는 상징물로서의 역할을 수행하고 있다고 할 수 있다. 따라서 료칸을 찾는 다양한 숙박객들은 전통과 현재의 연결고리이자 상징적 장소로서 료칸을 개념화하고 있으며, 옛 일본의 정취를 현대의 비일상적 공간에서 체험하고 있다. 하지만 현재의 료칸의 형태는 일본 숙박시설의 역사적 맥락에서 볼 때 그다지 오래되지 않았다. 다만 기능의 단절이 아닌 통합에 의한 계승 과정과 변화하는 시대에 따른 보완과정을 거친 료칸에서 숙박객들은 일본의 전통과 고풍스러운 품격을 느낄 수 있는 것이다. 무엇보다 이러한 전통의 계승과 통합의 과정들 속에서 일본ㆍ일본인이 주체가 된 것은 두말할 나위가 없지만, 분명히 서양인의 기호가 반영된 전통 역시 존재하기에 그 가치가 오늘날까지 지속되고 있는 것이다. 본 논문을 통해 지금 이 시기에 우리가 체험하고 있는 일본의 고유문화를 일회적인 사건으로 치부하거나 고대로부터 연원한다는 식의 막연한 환상을 걷어내는 시대 인식에 접근하게 될 수도 있을 것이다.|The purpose of this study is to investigate the establishment of concept and roles of accommodation of Ryokan in the early Meiji period. Early Meiji period in Japan would be the period of revolution, attempting to various changes, such as correcting or repainting over previous conventions or customs following the adoption of western cultures in every sides. Therefore, it was the transition times that underwent the transform of the regulations of accommodation for visitors from the outside as gradually released by the Meiji new government. Today's Japanese Ryokan is commonly known as the general term of Japanese unique accommodation that was completely finished its styles and patterns and services after integrating into the Meiji period of various Japan accommodations through their continuously changes and developments in the effects of the modern civilizations. In the meantime, externally-developed transportation was to be included in the scope of Japanese tourism to move Westerners during the early Meiji period so that Japanese domestic travel restrictions for Westerners to visit and stay in Japan had been more relaxed dramatically than before. Westerners who had traveled in Japan were used to stay in local accommodations naturally in the course of a trip around Japan, and some of them left their travel records with experiences and perceptions of traveling about local accommodations including Ryokan. This study has selected and explored records of Westerners to investigate various aspects of the Ryokan because Japanese citizens could not feel the characteristics of Ryokan as the daily scenery around them. At first, this study intensively illuminates valuable historical document, "Meiji Japan Tour -A Handbook for Travellers in Central and Northern Japan-" which was written by Ernest Mason Satow, is the special document that can be observed from the perspective of a Westerner about the accommodation of Ryokan. In addition, this research examines 12 records of Westerners such as Basil Hall Chamberlain, Bird Isabella Lucy, Edward Sylvester Morse, Erwin von Bälz, Pierre Loti and so on who left their experiences of the accommodation of Ryokan during stayed in Japan. According to the analysis of Westerners' records about the form of systems and functions of Ryokan, it was turned out that the accommodation in early Meiji period had borrowed functional advantages of the accommodation of Edo period, depending on the needs of the change and development. In particular, Ryokan had introduced the new Western way of life including chairs, tables and so on in order to attract a large Western customers, as the result, which was meaned to Ryokan’s position into the rival with the Western Accommodation Hotel at his rise and expansion in Japan. Along with the history of the records Westerners’, we can find two different landscapes of descriptions have been superimposed about the scenery of Ryokan portrayed as generally being outdated and on the other hand clean, careful, beautiful, attentive. Staying in Ryokan today, a traditional space coming handed down of Japan's traditional culture and art, lifestyle, is similar to feel Japan itself. In this sense, it can be said that Ryokan serves as an image or a symbol to represent the state of the identity of Japan. Therefore, a variety of guests looking for a traditional Ryokan are conceptualized as links and symbolic places between the tradition and contemporary, and experience the atmosphere of old Japan, a non-routine space of the modern world. However, the form and style of the current Ryokan has not very long history when viewed in the historical context of Japanese accommodations. The guests of today just can feel the old-fashioned elegance and tradition of Japan thorough the Ryokan in the result of the successful succession process and changing times due to the non-interruption of functional integration. It goes without saying that Japanese people and Japanese accommodations owners had took the leading part of the process of succession and the integration of these traditions more than anything. However, its value would definitely existed until this day due to the reflected Westerners’ tastes. This study can be help to access the awareness of reality on Japan’s Ryokan culture to kick out the vague illusion about Japanese unique tradition that was originated from ancient times which nobody knows or very deep beyond historical description.; The purpose of this study is to investigate the establishment of concept and roles of accommodation of Ryokan in the early Meiji period. Early Meiji period in Japan would be the period of revolution, attempting to various changes, such as correcting or repainting over previous conventions or customs following the adoption of western cultures in every sides. Therefore, it was the transition times that underwent the transform of the regulations of accommodation for visitors from the outside as gradually released by the Meiji new government. Today's Japanese Ryokan is commonly known as the general term of Japanese unique accommodation that was completely finished its styles and patterns and services after integrating into the Meiji period of various Japan accommodations through their continuously changes and developments in the effects of the modern civilizations. In the meantime, externally-developed transportation was to be included in the scope of Japanese tourism to move Westerners during the early Meiji period so that Japanese domestic travel restrictions for Westerners to visit and stay in Japan had been more relaxed dramatically than before. Westerners who had traveled in Japan were used to stay in local accommodations naturally in the course of a trip around Japan, and some of them left their travel records with experiences and perceptions of traveling about local accommodations including Ryokan. This study has selected and explored records of Westerners to investigate various aspects of the Ryokan because Japanese citizens could not feel the characteristics of Ryokan as the daily scenery around them. At first, this study intensively illuminates valuable historical document, "Meiji Japan Tour -A Handbook for Travellers in Central and Northern Japan-" which was written by Ernest Mason Satow, is the special document that can be observed from the perspective of a Westerner about the accommodation of Ryokan. In addition, this research examines 12 records of Westerners such as Basil Hall Chamberlain, Bird Isabella Lucy, Edward Sylvester Morse, Erwin von Bälz, Pierre Loti and so on who left their experiences of the accommodation of Ryokan during stayed in Japan. According to the analysis of Westerners' records about the form of systems and functions of Ryokan, it was turned out that the accommodation in early Meiji period had borrowed functional advantages of the accommodation of Edo period, depending on the needs of the change and development. In particular, Ryokan had introduced the new Western way of life including chairs, tables and so on in order to attract a large Western customers, as the result, which was meaned to Ryokan’s position into the rival with the Western Accommodation Hotel at his rise and expansion in Japan. Along with the history of the records Westerners’, we can find two different landscapes of descriptions have been superimposed about the scenery of Ryokan portrayed as generally being outdated and on the other hand clean, careful, beautiful, attentive. Staying in Ryokan today, a traditional space coming handed down of Japan's traditional culture and art, lifestyle, is similar to feel Japan itself. In this sense, it can be said that Ryokan serves as an image or a symbol to represent the state of the identity of Japan. Therefore, a variety of guests looking for a traditional Ryokan are conceptualized as links and symbolic places between the tradition and contemporary, and experience the atmosphere of old Japan, a non-routine space of the modern world. However, the form and style of the current Ryokan has not very long history when viewed in the historical context of Japanese accommodations. The guests of today just can feel the old-fashioned elegance and tradition of Japan thorough the Ryokan in the result of the successful succession process and changing times due to the non-interruption of functional integration. It goes without saying that Japanese people and Japanese accommodations owners had took the leading part of the process of succession and the integration of these traditions more than anything. However, its value would definitely existed until this day due to the reflected Westerners’ tastes. This study can be help to access the awareness of reality on Japan’s Ryokan culture to kick out the vague illusion about Japanese unique tradition that was originated from ancient times which nobody knows or very deep beyond historical description.