조선후기 고문서에 등장한 喪不着 표기의 기록문화적 의의

Abstract

An analysis of the signatures of those who are in mourning written into various transaction contracts or property inheritance documents from the Joseon Dynasty era shows that from the early Joseon Dynasty era until the 17th century, those in mourning gave their signature on documents the same way they would if they had not been in mourning. But starting in the 18th century, there have been cases where the expression ‘Sangbulchak (喪不着)’ was used in lieu of a signature. This was later replaced in the 19th century by a phrase stating that one could not give a signature as he is in mourning. Such changes in the way people in mourning gave their signature can be traced back to Confucian transformation taking place in Joseon society. While Confucian values were adopted as the founding philosophy of governance in Joseon, it was only in the 17th and 18th centuries that the value system based on Jujahak and associated customs firmly took root. Phrases such as Sangbulchak being recorded in the old documents of Joseon from the 18th century are good examples that show how Confucian values were firmly incorporated into the daily customs in late Joseon society.