ABSTRACT
This chapter organizes and presents a rough overview of Korean and Japanese literary works on the Imjin Waeran from the perspective of comparative literature. The production of literary works in Korea and Japan displays different aspects in each country. In Korea, the production of literature on the Imjin Waeran was based on the experiences of the entire populace in the war, and was produced in all genres. These works mainly depict the tragic circumstances of the war and express a sense that the country's crisis will be overcome through loyalty. They regard the Japanese invaders with hostility and a condescending sense of superiority and offer fictional depictions designed to inspire spiritual victory over Japan. In contrast, efforts to discover the actual circumstances of the Imjin Waeran continued in Japan even under the strict control of the bakufu, and as a result, the Chosen gunkimono genre appeared. The contents of these works usually highlighted the military achievements of Japanese leaders.
