忠壯公 鄭撥에 대한 再考察

Abstract

Jung-Bal(鄭撥) was a General of BuSanJinSung(釜山鎭城, BuSan-fortress castle) in the late 16th century, JoSeon period of Korea. He bravely fought against the Japanese army’s invasion in BuSanJinSung in 1592, and died gloriously in the battle of BuSanJinSung. After his death, he was accused of many rumors and slanders about his final battle. This paper shows us the truth of Jung-Bal’s life, especially the battle of BuSanJinSung. After Jung-Bal’s death, even though he was granted a posthumous conferment of honors as a ByungJoPanSeo(兵曹判書), his accomplishment was unappreciated because he was defeated by Japanese troops, and groundless rumors about his final battle. But in 1597, Yanakawa Sigenobu[柳川調信], who was a warrior of the japanese army, also praised Jung-Bal’s courage. In 1603, three soldiers of JoSeon army who fought with Jung-Bal in BuSanJinSung battle, testified Jung-Bal’s brave fighting. Because of this testament, he continues to get posthumous conferment of honors to this day. The process of adding the posthumous conferment of honors to Jung-Bal shows the atmosphere of admiring heros of the late JoSeon period. After the ignominious defeat by the troops of the qing(淸), the korean people wanted to win against foreign invaders. At the time they were powerless, war heros of JoSeon were in the limelight in the late Joseon period(17～19th century).