Miti e genealogie nelle narrazioni familiari in Corea

Narratives of self and family memory play the role of a framework and co-construction between individual identity and family identity. In addition to this,through its transmission functions, revivification of the past and awareness of the passing of time, it also opens up a new space between individuals and society,between the intimate and the public spheres. In the present article, I address genealogical memory. In particular I will focus on the following topics: possession of genealogies (chokpo) and the mythicization of the family. In Korea most people still hold onto their family genealogy even though it doesn‟t have as much importance in the modern era as it once did when it was heavily relied upon and served a legally binding function. The question thus becomes to what extent Korean people, especially young generation, perceive the genealogy as a legacy of their family history. Is the genealogy a tool to validate “self” identity and family continuity? Or is it something outdated, a tradition that will eventually die out? Further, if genealogies contribute to the family collective memory and the sharing of individual memory with other family members, how do Korean people build personal pasts? I will also examine family memory, focusing on how the individual works out recollections in relation to other family members, and the individual‟s sense ofidentity and belonging. The underlying idea was to capture some of the processes of transmission and continuity of “living history”, for example experienced and embodied history, through social and family interactions.