『國朝續五禮儀』 「嘉禮」구성과 국왕 위상

Abstract

Confucianism and courtesy is a basic and essential ruling principle of the Joseon Kingdom whereby quite many books on decorum are published. The first book of that sort is 『Sejong Silok』「Orye」(五禮) compiled in the early Joseon. Another volume is 『Gukjosokoryeui』. It had begun publishing in King Seongjong, and was the book finally completed not until twenty years after King Youngjo‘s ascension to the throne. It contains a wide range of methods about newly organized formalities, so it is called a code of courtesy. Orye is the core decorum of the country and royal families, among which ‘Garye’ includes the formalities for a king and royal family members. Therefore, in a sense, the book is partly designed to strengthen regal power of the Joseon Dynasty. The articles on Garye recorded in 『Gukjosokoryeui』 play an important role to heighten royal families’ status. Accordingly, not only are newly arranged formalities recorded, but the book also includes the higher stature of a sovereign ruler and its family. Those complicated and rigid formal rites are realized by actually conducting those rules. The host of the formalities are kings, queens, or royal princes. The book describes the formalities mostly carried out by King Sukjong and Youngjo. 『Gukjosokoryeui』 was complied, and its rituals were conducted to show off the solid status of a ruler, on the one hand. On the other hand, it was also used to cover up the then suspicious things and points in dispute, through which King Youngjo grabbed power more tightly. The King also showed great devotion to royal elders with sincere respect, setting a good example to his subjects and people. In conclusion, the book certainly does have a major implication that King Younjo secures and consolidates his own legitimacy by the methods.