漢 劉向이 편찬한 《說苑》에 대해 연구하던 중 흥미로운 사실을 알게 되었다. 일찍이 신라시대에 유입되었을 가능성이 높다는 것이었다. 이후 조선시대의 문헌에 인용된 《說苑》의 내용을 살펴보니 정식으로 출판되었을 뿐 아니라 서울과 지방 관청의 벽에 게시하여 참고토록 하였고, 외전과 승정원에 붙여놓고 수시로 참고한 기록을 찾게 되었다. 이러한 기록들은 《說苑》이 조선시대에 다양한 방면에서 활용되고 있었음을 보여주었기에 당시의 지식인들은 《說苑》을 어떻게 인식하고 어떠한 양상으로 받아들이게 된 것인지 궁금해졌다. 그런데 그동안의 《說苑》연구는 출판 현황과 판본 등 문헌학적 논의에 집중되어 있어 조선시대 《說苑》의 구체적인 수용 의미와 영향관계를 파악하기 어려웠다. 따라서 조선시대 문헌에 인용된 《說苑》의 내용을 분석하여 조선시대의 지식인들은 《說苑》을 어떻게 인식하고 있는지, 《說苑》이 적극 활용될 수 있었던 배경은 무엇인지 고찰하였다.

While studying 《說苑》compiled by Han Dynasty 劉向, I discovered an interesting fact. It was highly likely that it had been introduced into the Silla period earlier. Later, the contents of 《說苑》cited in the Joseon Dynasty literature were examined. It was also politically referenced during the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Joseon Dynasty, it was further officially published. Also, during the Joseon Dynasty, it was quoted and used in various fields. Therefore, the intellectuals of the Joseon Dynasty became curious about how they perceived and utilized 《說苑》. If we summarize these cases, we can look at the influence and acceptance process of 《說苑》. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, first, 37 cases cited in the 《Annals of the Joseon Dynasty》were extracted and organized. and then 118 were calculated from the classical translation. Through the research subjects calculated in this way, the research was conducted in the following three areas. First, the types of use of 《說苑》cited in the Joseon Dynasty literature were divided. Second, the use of 《說苑》was analyzed. Third, the characteristics of 《說苑》that could be actively utilized were derived. When we summarized the types of use of 《說苑》, it was most often used as a reference for cultivation of customs, followed by a means of drawing out the boundaries of the magistrates and as a standard of testimony. What could be known through the type of application is as follows. First of all, the Joseon Dynasty was actively accepted in the process of establishing Zhuzixue(朱子學). Second, it seems to have paid attention not only to the political content but also to the practical nature of 《說苑》. Third, as the status of 《說苑》increased after the middle of Joseon Dynasty, it was used in various ways. Through this study, the foundation for a closer examination of the political and ideological acceptance of 《說苑》was laid.