실록 편찬에 나타난 세조 정권의 정당성 추구

Abstract

The article aims to analyze the historical texts of the King Sejo’s reign and illustrate its unique nature of the historiography at the time when were urgently needed to justify their governance of new nation gained nefariously. The political chaos followed by Sejo’s usurpation(1455-1468) of the throne seemed to be gradually settled down, but Neo-Confucian scholars of Joseon dynasty continued challenging to political authority of Sejo for more than two hundred years from Seongjong to Sukjong. Yet, there is no in-depth studies to elucidate how the political memories remains and how they impacts to historical writings and the people’s attitude to history at the time. This study, as a first step of the series of research to examine the process, will overview the political attempts of Danjong and Sejo reigns in the historical writings and examine in detail historigraphic practice of Danjong sillok and Sejo Sillok. The compilations of historical texts, Mujeongbogam, Dairy of Nosangun and Sejo Sillok dates back to the first year of King Yejong. These texts was influenced strongly by the political perspectives of the ruler and the meritorious elites(Hunsin). Mujeongbogam played the most critical role to uphold the political cause of Sejo and pass it down to the next generation, but unfortunately it has been known that the original copy of the book was completely lost during Gwanghaegun’s reign. Danjong Sillok and Sejo Sillok are only copies which report the political turmoil of the time. These Silloks describe Sejo’s usurpation of the throne as an inevitable consequence for the nation's political stability. Sejo and his followers described themselves to position a morally- higher ground than that of their oppositions, and even highlighted their humanistic aspects which hesitate ruthless bloodshed caused by the forced removal of his nephew from the throne. This view was reflected in the a whole process of the compilation of the books. This political justifications of new government significantly impacted the compilation process and the emergence of political argument which legitimizes Sejo’s seize of the power. This view also influenced on forming opinions against it. So it is important to examine the philosophical and political ground of the two Silloks because it reveals the hidden intent of politics to compile Sillok and leads to re-consider the nature of Joseonwangjo-sillok. It is no-doubt that Sillok is a work with high historical values and consists of the various political events and materials of the official dynastic histories, but we should understand that Sillok is also a records which was adopted political perspectives of the ruler, so it requires a critical review to understand what they actually mean.