태조 삼년상을 통한 태종 왕통의 완성

Abstract

The King Taejo died on May 1408, the King Taejong observed the rite of the three-year mourning period for him. All the government officials requested Taejong to resume managing state affairs as soon as possible by reducing the mourning period, but he did not accede. After the funeral service was over he was advised by an envoy from the Ming to eat meat, but he declined to do so by declaring that he was in mourning for his father. It was during his discussion with government officials about enshrining his father that, it was decided that the mourning period for Taejo be three years. Ming emperor's granting of posthumous title to Taejo provided an occasion for widely proclaiming that decision. Taejong also had an epithet “hwanggo”(皇考) inscribed on the mortuary tablet of memorial services for Taejo, thereby legitimizing his succession to the throne. Furthermore, he embellished Taejo's posthumous title bestowed by Ming emperor out of deference to the latter's favor on expectations of securing Choseon's international standing. On March of 1409 Taejong had his deceased stepmother, Sindeok Wanghu, exhumed and buried somewhere outside the capital city. This move is to be seen as part of an attempt to elevate his own mother to the status of the legitimate wife of his father and demote his stepmother to that of a concubine of his father, which would go a long way toward strengthening his right to the throne. Two months later he had a tombstone erected at his father's tomb to his memory. And Taejong had his own distinguished services to the country inscribed on it. Thus Taejong's wishes came true so far as royal success was concerned. Taejong performed a memorial service for Taejo on May 1410 that marked the second anniversary of his death. To months later he held another memorial service for Taejo, and this betokened the end of the mourning period for him and return to normalcy. During the same month Taejong dedicated a royal shrine to Taejo’s mortuary tablet. The next month he “informed” Taejo of the end of the three-year mourning period at his tomb, thereby fulfilling his filial piety of observing the three-year mourning period for his father.