前漢 시기 爵位와 贖罪의 관계 ― 貢禹의 “除贖罪之法”에 관한 논의를 중심으로 ―

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationship between the perception of atonement (贖罪) during the Western Han period and ranks, and examines the policies and changes regarding atonement in the early Han dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Yuan of the Western Han, Gong Yu advocated for the abolition of the law of atonement, arguing that it did not exist during the reign of Emperor Wen but was introduced during the reign of Emperor Wu, leading to social problems. However, during the reign of Emperor Wen, Chao Cuo proposed a policy in which grains were paid to obtain ranks, resulting in a reduction of penalties, and this was implemented by Emperor Wen. Previous studies understood “receiving a rank” and “reduction of penalties” as separate concepts, but this study argues that one of the functions of ranks was to reduce penalties (減罪), and that the two were inseparable. However, atonement (贖罪) meant the direct exchange of wealth and penalties, and since reductions through ranks were not recognized as atonement in the early Han dynasty, the policy of selling ranks (賣爵令) at that time was merely a policy permitting the reduction of penalties, not atonement. Analyzing the atonement policies of the reign of Emperor Wu, criticized by later Confucian officials like Gong Yu, reveals that Emperor Wu implemented various policies exchanging wealth and penalties directly, unlike the early Han period, which did not involve ranks. In particular, the atonement function of the Wu Gong ranks (武功爵) was maintained for a long period and appears to have influenced the critical assessments of later generations.