북촌의 지명 유래와 한말일제시기 인식 변화

Abstract

This paper intends to examine historical perception on the area of bukchon (North village) and its origin. To this end, first, the paper examined where the name bukchon had originated and how it had been recognized by people from the late Joseon period to Japanese colonial period. Second, the paper looked into the bukchon’s role of creating national consensus during the Japanese colonial period. Bukchon is located north of Jonggak (bell tower) and sits in the North bu (district) among the five districts of Hanseongbu (Seoul City). Therefore, the name of bukchon can be considered to have originated from its location. On the other hand, however, its origin can also be found in symbolism since the North means the direction of the place where the king resides and Polaris is reckoned to be at the center of politics. This is also because the bukchon area, located between the two palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, reflects the idea on royal palace construction based on the Taekjung theory (the capital should be located in the center of the country) and the astronomical idea. The name of bukchon is believed to have begun to be used widespread since the mid-Joseon period, but it is clear that the name itself and a concept on it were formed in 1777 when the name first appeared in Joseon Wangjo Sillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty). Notably, the name of bukchon was mentioned only three times throughout the King Jeongjo period and all in a negative manner. As a center for politics and culture, bukchon had always been the center of power struggle and the stage for fierce moments in history. This is why buckchon had been the target of such criticism. Secondly, looking at the way people in the periods of the late Joseon and Japanese colonial rule think of bukchon in the late Joseon period, we can see that bukchon was the envy of contemporary people, an area where only the top class of the munban (the scholarly class) was allowed to reside. Studies on jobs and social status of home owners in bukchon in 1906 found that the Yangban class (the gentry or aristocracy) and government officers accounted for 43.6% of all residents in bukchon. This demonstrates that bukchon was mainly resided by the Yangban class and government officers. Even Japanese people in the Japanese colonial rule period recognized buckon as an area inhabited by the rich and the powerful. Thirdly, bukchon was described in a writing as a stagnant area in comparison with namchon (South village) which had developed further, although a soaring number of Japanese people had begun to live with Joseon people in bukchon in 1924. This writing illustrates how Joseon people spent their Lunar New Year’s Day, representing Japan’s unfair policies and discrimination against Joseon people. The description of bukchon, at the same time, may have laid the foundation to create national consensus. During the Joseon period, bukchon was recognized as an area between the two palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung north of Jonggak. On the other hand, during the Japanese colonial period, bukchon even covered all Hyehwa-dong and Changgyeonggung palace areas, centered on the north of Jonggak. Currently, the bukchon hanok village encompasses a smaller area between the two palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, north of Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3). This shows that Korean people’s perception on the spatial scope of bukchon has changed according to the times, defining a spatial characteristic of bukchon which people have recognized throughout history.