高麗 太祖代 姓貫 賜與와 그 의미

Abstract

In this paper, I attempt to explain the meaning of the bestowing of surnames and clan seats that occurred during the reign of Taejo, the founder of Goryeo dynasty. Taejo bestowed surnames not only to some specific powerful gentry(local strongman) but also to the commoners who formed part of their kinship group or communities. In later centuries erroneous perception developed amongst certain communities about having a common ancestor or common clan-seat, but in reality they had different patrilineal genealogical ties. Gradually the expansion of clan seat took place. After Taejo unified the country give family name with their place of origin serving as clan seat to his ministers, high official and local strongmen. In 940 he also reorganized the administrative units, and powerful gentry in each area were allowed to use their respective places to use clan seat. In 943 genealogical registers started to be made. The founding ancestor of the Family name was recognized as the common ancestor and protector deity of those who traced their clan-seat to that specific regional unit. They also performed common rituals and sacrifice which enhanced clan solidarity or a sense of common origin and brought about peace and security of the people in that region. Bestowing of surname and clan seat by Taejo and the attendant manufacturing of family registers and the sense of common origin may be interpreted as tool to stabilize the population to their specific regions and thereby establish social order during the early Goryeo period.